Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple, in Chengannur in Kerala, is dedicated to Devathideva Perumal (Imayavarappan) with consort Rakthapankajavalli. It is also known as Thiruchengundrur, Thiruchenkundrur, Imayavarappan Temple, Thrichittattu Temple.
Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints (praised here by Nammalvar). It is also one of the five ancient Pandava shrines of the Chengannur area, and the temple considers itself the principal one among these five. Tradition holds that the five Pandava brothers, after crowning Parikshit king of Hastinapura, went on a pilgrimage and each installed a Krishna/Vishnu image along the Pamba river region; this temple is attributed to Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, who is said to have performed penance here.
Kerala carries a distinct temple identity of its own: God's Own Country, where copper-roofed shrines and centuries-old rituals draw pilgrims to Vishnu, Krishna and Ayyappa.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 4:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Sources differ slightly on exact hours; one source lists 5:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on regular days, with the temple open until 11 AM on Thursdays.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ashtami Rohini | August or September | Considered the most important festival of the temple, marking the birth of Krishna. |
| Annual ten-day festival | Meenam month (mid-March to mid-April), from Atham to Thiruvonam nakshatra, ending with Arattu | A ten-day festival culminating in the Arattu ceremonial bath on the Thiruvonam nakshatra day. |
| Vaikuntha Ekadashi | December or January | Observed as a major Ekadashi festival at the temple. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Kerala style temple, rectangular in plan without a gateway tower (gopuram), with a metal-plated flagpost (dvajasthambam), an outer pavilion (Chuttuambalam) and pillared halls (Nallambalam). The circular sanctum has a granite base, laterite superstructure and a conical terracotta tile roof. The roughly 4-foot standing image faces east and is shown in Vishvarupa (universal form), holding the conch, discus and lotus; the main image is unusual in holding the conch in the right hand. A temple pond called Shankha Theertha (Amurtha Pushkarani) lies within the complex.
History
Tradition holds that the five Pandava brothers, after crowning Parikshit king of Hastinapura, went on a pilgrimage and each installed a Krishna/Vishnu image along the Pamba river region; this temple is attributed to Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava, who is said to have performed penance here to atone for the untruth he told his guru Dronacharya during the Kurukshetra war.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway station is Chengannur, about 2 km away; nearest airports are Trivandrum International Airport and Cochin International Airport.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Timings differ between sources (see notes); entry fee, dress code and an official website could not be verified