The case of Thrikkakara Temple

There are quite a few Temples devoted Vamana within and outside Kerala. The most famous of them is the Vamanamoorthy Temple at Thrikkakara in Ernakulam District of Kerala. Thrikkakara is considered as the place where Vamana stamped on Mahabali’s head and banished him to the Netherworld.  There are two myths connecting the Onam festival to the village of Thrikkakara other than the Mahabali story.

 Parasurama in Hindu mythology is considered as the warrior who created Kerala by reclaiming the land from the ocean. He is also credited as the one who ‘gifted’ the entire land of Kerala to Brahmins! The place where Parasurama gave the land of Kerala to the Brahmins is considered as Thrikkakara. While doing so Parasurama granted them a boon by saying that whenever the Brahmins needed him all they had to do was meditate on him. One day the Brahmins experimented with this boon for no necessary reason. As a result when Parasurama appeared he was angry and demanded that there should be a festival ready when he visited Thrikkakara on Thiruvonam day. To fulfill that demand Onam is celebrated according to this version.

According to the Malayalam calendar, the Onam programmes at the Temple are carried over ten days starting with the Attham period in the month of Chingam (August- September). The beginning of Attham is observed with the Kodiyettu (flag hoisting) ceremony conducted by Brahmin priests. A pyramidal statue symbolizing Vamana called Onathappan or Thrikkakara-appan is installed during this time.

The public procession of Atthachamayam soon follows where performances of dance and music such as Panchavadyam and Pulikali take place. In earlier times the Maharaja of Kochi used this occasion to show his regal splendor in front of his subjects. The festival ends on the tenth day when the flag is lowered and the Vamana idol is bathed.

Is the occasion of Mahabali returning to his kingdom and meeting his subjects being celebrated here?...Or is it the defeat and banishment of an Asura king by the Brahmin Vamana being celebrated?..

And is it possible to celebrate both?..