Varkala of Kerala State, India, is mainly a Pilgrim Town, thanks to its Prominent Temples, namely, Janardhana Swamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt or Monastery, etc.
Believed to be more than two millennia or 2000 years old the Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Janardhana Swamy Temple, is an important Pilgrim Centre of Hindus. The Sivagri Monastery established by Social Reformer Sri Narayana Guru on its Sivagiri Hill is also a Dominant Pilgrim Centre.
Janardhana Swami Temple
Located on Beach Road at Temple Junction it stands on cliffs overlooking the Varkala or the Papanasam Beach or The Beach of Destroyer of Sins.
The Temple can be reached from Temple Junction or from western part of the beach. ‘Padmatheertham’ or the ‘Perennial Canal’ is an important feature of the temple which can be seen even from outside.
Erected upon the steep cliff lining up the Arabian Sea the Temple is a circular structure with red coloured tile roof that houses the main shrine dappled up with colour sculptures of Hindu Deities.
Main idol has four arms which are the identification marks of Lord Vishnu. It is the only shrine that has dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the name of Janardhana as temples are generally dedicated to Lord Krishna in India.
Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter into inner sanctum of the Temple but they are permitted to move around the Temple.
Sivagiri Monastery
Sri Narayana Guru, the Reformer, Philosopher, Teacher, Preacher and Leader of the Ezhava Community, which is one of the Hindu Religious Communities of Kerala, had made Varkala his area of operation from 1855 to 1928. With his efforts the Monastery came into being in 1904 at the top of Sivagiri Hill located 10 km away from Varkala. He made Monastery the Headquarters of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham or S.N.D.P., the Organization that he set up to propagate his concept of ‘one caste, one religion and one God’.
Even after nearly a century after the demise of Guru in 1928 his Mausoleum is continued to be visited and worshipped by thousands of devotees donned in yellow attire from different parts of Kerala and elsewhere every year during Sivagiri Pilgrimmage Days from 30th December to 1st January shows the influence that he exerts amongst his community and followers even today.
How To Reach Varkala
By Air
The Nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram Airport at Valiyathura, 50 km
By Rail
The Nearest Railway Station is Sivagiri of Varkala itself which is located at a distance of about 5 km from the Town. Other Nearest Railway Stations are Kollam about 37 km and Trivandrum about 50 km.
By Road
Varkala is well connected by road to major towns of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc.
Copyright © 2017 by Davis Akkara
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