Temple History

SREE VETHALAMKUNNU PARABRAHMA TEMPLE

(A Universal Pilgrimage Centre)

Sree Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple is situated in Budhannoor, in Alappuzha district, Kerala. This ancient temple, with a history believed to span thousands of years, stands without a conventional roof, surrounded by mango trees, banyan trees, Ilanji trees, creepers, sacred groves, ponds, stone lamps, and a naturally formed sanctum.

This temple, which has no installed idol, is different from other temples in many ways. Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple is one of the rare temples where the five elements of nature are directly experienced, as the temple remains open to rain, sunlight, wind and all the changes of nature. There is no Nalambalam, Balippura or Thidappally here, and its rituals are not bound by the conventional practices followed in other temples. It is a sacred abode where devotees of all castes and religions can directly worship the divine.

Temples are inexhaustible treasures of Indian culture and heritage. The life, culture and traditions of a people are interwoven within them. Temples are centres of spiritual energy that transmit this culture from one generation to another. There is a traditional saying, “Ksheeyath Trayate Iti Kshetram” — that which protects and liberates one from decay and suffering is a Kshetram. The suffering referred to here includes sorrow of the mind, illness, ego and difficulties. A temple is a divine sanctuary that protects us from these forms of suffering.

The origin of the thirty-three crore deities and all living and non-living beings in this universe is believed to be the Parabrahma. At this sacred place, where the Lord of the universe, the Parabrahma, is believed to reside, the concept of the temple consists of a naturally formed sanctum, a sacred banyan platform, stone lamps and serpent groves.

“Om” is the sacred sound representing the Parabrahma. Through the three Gunas, the Parabrahma manifests as Brahma with Rajasika qualities, Vishnu with Sattvika qualities and Mahadeva with Tamasika qualities, assuming different names, forms and powers.

This temple, believed to be thousands of years old, is regarded as one of the earliest temples of Kerala. Known traditionally as the original spiritual centre of Ochira Temple, it stands as an enduring symbol of the ancient Dravidian tribal Shaiva culture.

According to the Rudra Samhita of the Shiva Purana, Bhairava, the chief gatekeeper of Lord Shiva, committed an offence and received a curse from Goddess Parvati: “May you become Vethala.” Due to the curse of the Goddess, Bhairava became Vethala and came to Earth, establishing his presence at Dronachala on the banks of the Kaushiki River in Bharata.

He subsequently established 108 sacred places throughout India. These 108 sacred Vethala sites came to be known as Vethalaghats or Vethalamkunnu. Among them, the sacred centre at Budhannoor is regarded as the only such divine centre in South India.

Lord Shiva, worshipped by Vethala Bhairava, became known as Vethaleshwara Shiva, lovingly called Vethalam Valiyachan. Vethala is traditionally considered the king of subtle forces such as Bhutas, Pretas and Pishachas. Vethala is also regarded as the vehicle of Goddess Bhadrakali. Vethalamkunnu temples are found predominantly in North India and in the states of Maharashtra and Goa.

This sacred centre, with its tradition of Shaiva worship, is regarded as a contribution of ancient Indian civilisation, particularly that of the Dravidian people. Due to the reforms and strong influence of Buddhism and Jainism, along with the decline of various Shaiva sects, Shaivism began to lose its prominence. At that time, the Kalamukha tradition had some influence, although it too faced challenges for its survival.

The five major Kalamukha Shaiva monasteries of that period were known as the Panchacharya Mathas. It is believed that their followers came here during the twelfth century.

The Ay kings, who followed Dravidian Hindu traditions until the end of the eighth century, are said to have adopted Buddhism during the reign of Vikramaditya Varaguna. Buddhism subsequently became powerful, and this region, which was also part of the border area of the Ay kingdom, became a Buddhist centre.

According to legend, Buddhist monks built a temple here with the support of the king. However, perhaps because the Parabrahma does not require a conventional temple, the temple was later completely destroyed by a natural calamity. It is believed that the land was overturned and the temple became buried beneath the earth.

This region, which was once a Buddhist centre, later came to be known as Buddhannoor. Nearby places such as Mavelikkara, Thakazhi and Kuttanad were also important centres of Buddhist influence.

Around the twelfth century, Shaiva Brahmins who migrated to Kerala from the Chalukya kingdom are believed to have arrived on the banks of the river near Vethalamkunnu. Recognising the spiritual presence of this place, they meditated here and erected the stone lamps discovered at the site and lit them.

Even during a time when temple entry was inaccessible to many communities, Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple remained a divine sanctuary where people of different castes and religions could enter and worship the divine directly, without intermediaries.

The pilgrimage season here is from the first to the twelfth day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, although Shivaratri is also an important festival. The greatest offering at this temple is Annadanam, the offering of food.

“Gajathuraga Sahasram, Gokulam Kotidanam,
Kanakarajitha Patram,
Medini Sagarantam,
Udayakala Vishuddham, Koti Kanya Pradhanam,
Nahi Nahi Bahudhanam, Annadana Sammana.”

The verse praises Annadanam by stating that even the donation of a thousand mighty elephants, a thousand horses, a crore of cows, countless golden ornaments and vessels studded with precious gems, land extending to the ocean, and the donation of a crore of maidens born in noble families cannot equal the merit of Annadanam.

Lighting a lamp at the sacred shrine is offered for the removal of sorrow. Other important offerings include Tamboolam, Vithu Vatti, Naanaya Para, Nira Para, Poorna Kumbha Jaladhara and offering of coconuts, which devotees perform for the fulfilment of their wishes and objectives.

Although the main hill is predominantly associated with the divine presence of Lord Shiva, the presence of Bhadrakali and Yogeeshwara is also believed to exist here.

As this is considered a manifestation of the Parabrahma, circumambulating the main hill, which represents the sanctum, is traditionally believed to provide the spiritual merit of having visited 108 Shiva temples. Devotees are expected to complete the circumambulation in 108 steps while chanting the Shiva Panchakshara Mantra.

According to Hindu philosophy, including the Advaita philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya, Brahman is the stream of consciousness that pervades the entire universe. Everything in the universe is considered a different manifestation of Brahman.

Brahman is infinite and all-pervading. Everything originates from Brahman. While existing, everything remains a part of Brahman, and when it is destroyed, it returns to Brahman.

According to Hindu philosophy, Brahman is the ultimate reality of the universe. Brahman is both the cause and the effect of the universe. The universe originates from Brahman and is sustained by Brahman. Ultimately, everything dissolves into Brahman.

Brahman itself is supreme knowledge and illumination. Brahman is formless, infinite, eternal, everlasting and omnipresent. Creation, preservation and dissolution are all contained within Brahman.

These are conceived in their Saguna form as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. The various deities are manifestations of the Saguna form of Brahman.

Kerala is traditionally said to have only two Parabrahma temples without an installed idol: Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple at Budhannoor in Alappuzha district and Ochira Temple.

Mahavishnu, Paramashiva, Adi Parashakti, Vighneshwara and Subrahmanya are presented as manifested forms of Brahman.

When you cross the entrance and step inside this sacred place, you may experience a unique spiritual energy. It is a feeling that someone has been waiting and expecting you.

A divine force is believed to reside here — a force that gives shelter to the helpless, prosperity to the poor and peace to the mind that is lost in the waves of unrest.

That divine presence is Vethalam Valiyachan.

It is the Parabrahma that decides what is to be given to you. The measure of that blessing is believed to be determined by the prayer and love that you offer to the Parabrahma.

In this sacred place where nature and humanity become one, Annadanam Prasadam, the food offering dear to the Lord, is available every day to all devotees who come for darshan.

The 12-Day Vrischikam Pilgrimages

The 12-day pilgrimage to Vethalam Hill in the month of Scorpio has a spiritual uniqueness that is not found anywhere else in India. Devotees firmly believe that the pride and bad qualities in the human mind will be pacified through this 12-day fast.

The Vethalam Hill pilgrimage is a direct testimony to this universal truth.

Participating in the 12-day pilgrimage to Vethalam Hill means traveling with the cycle of time of the universe itself, purifying yourself, and being reborn as a new human being.

To obtain the blessings of the 12 zodiac signs and the virtues of the 12 months, participate in the Vethalam Hill pilgrimage in the month of Scorpio.

This temple is maintained by a registered trust registered under the Public Trust Act. All donations are eligible for the benefit of Section 80G under the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Thirty-three crore deities and all beings originate from Parabrahma.

A holy shrine where Parabrahma, the Lord of the Universe, resides.

The only temple in Kerala where devotees can worship the Lord directly.

The origin of Ochira, which is accessible to people of all religions. A great temple with the power of transmitting the energy of Parabrahma, which can do anything if you pray with your heart.

Sree Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple is one of the 108 devasthanams in India, a holy shrine mentioned in the Rudrasamhiti of Shiva Purana.

A shrine where one gets liberation from sins by chanting the Panchakshari mantra while performing the Pratikshinam on 108 stones, a naturally formed shrine.

The miracle of the Parabrahma Temple at Vethalam Kunnu in India

The Parabrahma Temple at Vethalam Kunnu is a direct glimpse of the truth of this universe.

A Pratikshinam path made of 108 sacred stones surrounds the naturally formed shrine, which is not seen anywhere else in India.

The Wonder of Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple in India

Vethalamkunnu Parabrahma Temple is a direct manifestation of the eternal truth of the universe.

In a manner believed to be unique in India, a circumambulatory path made of 108 sacred stones surrounds the naturally formed sanctum here.

What is the significance of this?

1. Circumambulating the Universe: When the devotee circumambulates these 108 stones, he is spiritually circumambulating the 12 zodiac signs, 9 planets and 27 stars. It is a complete Kalachakra Pradakshina.

2. Awakening the 108 Marma Points: Each stone represents 108 secret points in the body. It is believed that with just one circumambulation, all the vital forces in the body are awakened.

3. Overcoming the 108 Desires: By leaving behind the 108 desires mentioned in Buddhism with each step, and with each stone passed, a person becomes pure. When he reaches the 108th stone, it is a spiritual perfection.

4. Completion of the Japa Mala:Instead of counting the 108 beads on the rosary, when you step on the 108 stones here and perform pradakshina, it becomes an active mantra chanting. One pradakshina = the virtue of chanting 108 times.

Like the ratio of the sun-moon distances to 108, the relationship between the sanctum sanctorum and the 108 stones in this temple has also been calculated and established by the universe itself.

To perform a pradakshina along this 108 stone path on Vetalam Hill means walking with the heartbeat of the universe itself.

Come, to witness the truth of the universe, to attain the virtue of the 108 stones, to the Parabrahma Temple on Vetalam Hill.

A flower garden where nature and man are one.

Mantras of Vethalam Hill

Om Tatsat Parabrahman_
_All is Brahman, the universe_

"That true Parabrahman is the only reality.
Everything you see, all these characters
are only His forms."

Aham Brahmasmi

I am Brahman