The major vazhipadu of Kottarakkara temple is the famous
Udayasthamaya pooja. There is an interesting legend behind this peculiar
vazhipadu. This incident took place at the time of the construction of the
temple. Kottarakkara Thampuran was not happy with Perumthachan, because
he consecrated the diety of Ganesa at the Kizhakkekkara temple. Actually
Thampuran’s plan to build a new temple came from some dislike with
the Mana, who owned the Kizhakkekkara temple. One day with much sarcasm,Thampuran
asked Perumthachan, “Is your Ganapathy that brilliant?” Thachan
asserted, “Yes”. Then Thampuran challenged Perumthachan and
asked him to ask Ganapathy to give him a son. Perumthachan accepted the
challenge and asked, “What you will you offer as a reward?”. Thampuran
declared “I will completely cover the idol with Unniyappam”
.Before one year Thampuratty become pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful
young boy. At the day of the newly born baby’s Choroonu preparations
began to make unniappam. The choroonu ceremony can take place only after
covering the idol with unniappam. The thampuran firmly believed that the
idol being small would be covered within no time. Though unniappam was made
right from morning, even at noon the idol could not be covered upto the
waist. An old man was witness to all that was happening there. He came forward
and asked the Thampuran,”Have you been testing Ganapathy? You will
not be able to keep your word as you are filled with pride. As you have
been making unniappams right from dawn to dusk and now that you have realized
that you are insignificant before Him, you can stop your offerings.”
That was the first Udayasthamanavazhipadu.
That night, Thampuran had a dream in which the old man
appeared before him and said,” I am Ganapathy. You should not test
me again. Every month you must do the Udayasthamana pooja.” Thus till
his death the Thampuran did the pooja. From then onwards Udayasthamaya pooja
become a major vazhipadu for Kottarakkara Ganapathy.
Like most other Vinayaka temples, here also Ashtadravya
Ganapathyhomam acquires a prominent place. Other important offerings includes,
breaking of coconuts, thulabharam,chathussatham,thrimadhuram,archana and
pushpanjali.Udayasthamaya pooja and Ashtadravya Ganapathyhomam can be performed
through advanced booking.
