Oachira Temple - Revision history

GayeKirkpatrick: further corrected details per sources and added references

2025-08-01T00:00:06Z

further corrected details per sources and added references

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:30, 1 August 2025
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	\| deity = It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to [[Parabrahma]]. Believed to be Lord [[Shiva]].		\| deity = It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to [[Parabrahma]]. Believed to be Lord [[Shiva]].
	\| festivals= [[Oachirakali]], Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam		\| festivals= [[Oachirakali]], Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam
	\| architecture = It has no Sanctum ~~Sanatorium~~.<ref>The Indian Encyclopaedia: Kamli-Kyouk Phyu		\| architecture = It has no Sanctum Sanctorum.<ref>The Indian Encyclopaedia: Kamli-Kyouk Phyu
	edited by Subodh Kapoor Page 4046</ref>		edited by Subodh Kapoor Page 4046</ref>
	\| temple_quantity =		\| temple_quantity =
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	}}		}}

	'''Oachira Temple''' is an ancient temple located in [[Oachira]] in [[Kollam district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Kerala]]. According to the [[Puranas]], this temple is one of the famous sacred places of [[Kerala]] and [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.kerala.nic.in/~~kollam~~/fest.html \|title=Fairs and Festivals \|access-date=21 February 2009 \|archive-date=2 May 2007 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502224808/http://www.kerala.nic.in/kollam/fest.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Oachira is on the border of Kollam and [[Allappuzha District\|Allappuzha]] districts, next to the National Highway 47. This temple is known "DakshinaKashi"(SouthaKashi).This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the [[Parabrahma\|ParaBrahma]] temple (that is dedicated to the [[Para Brahman]] (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal [[Consciousness]]), and covers thirty-six acres of land.		'''Oachira Temple''' is an ancient temple located in [[Oachira]] in [[Kollam district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Kerala]]. According to the [[Puranas]], this temple is one of the famous sacred places of [[Kerala]] and [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web \|url=http://www.kerala.nic.in/alappuzha/fest.html \|title=Fairs and Festivals \|access-date=21 February 2009 \|archive-date=2 May 2007 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502224808/http://www.kerala.nic.in/kollam/fest.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref> Oachira is on the border of Kollam and [[Allappuzha District\|Allappuzha]] districts, next to the National Highway 66. This temple is known "DakshinaKashi"(SouthaKashi).This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the [[Parabrahma\|ParaBrahma]] temple (that is dedicated to the [[Para Brahman]] (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal [[Consciousness]]), and covers thirty-six acres of land.

	Every year the Oachira Vrischikam Festival is celebrated during December and January. ''[[Oachirakali]]'' is a famous ritual performed here during June and it involves mock-fighting in muddy water by traditional martial art experts. And "Irupathattam onam" (28 days after Onam) is also celebrated. It is the festival of cattle. In this festival, huge "Eduppu kala" (gigantic idols of bull ~~madeof~~ cloth&hay) are made. They are then pulled on giant wheels to the Oachira Temple from the site where they are made. Normally there are around 50 such structures. It is the biggest festival in "Onattu Kara" which is an area of a few square miles. ''Oachirakkali'' was actually a war exercise performed annually by soldiers of [[Kayamkulam]] Raja. Nearby, about 108 Kalaries were in 52 karas up to the beginning of the 20th century. Soldiers belonging to the above Karas met together at Oachira in the [[Malayalam]] month of ''Mithuna'' every year and performed war-like exercises. This is what is called [[Oachirakali\|Oachirakkali]].		Every year the Oachira Vrischikam Festival is celebrated during December and January. ''[[Oachirakali]]'' is a famous ritual performed here during June and it involves mock-fighting in muddy water by traditional martial art experts. And "Irupathattam onam" (28 days after Onam) is also celebrated. It is the festival of cattle. In this festival, huge "Eduppu kala" (gigantic idols of bull made of cloth&hay) are made. They are then pulled on giant wheels to the Oachira Temple from the site where they are made. Normally there are around 50 such structures. It is the biggest festival in [[Onattukara\|"Onattu Kara"]], which is an area of a few square miles. ''Oachirakkali'' was actually a war exercise performed annually by soldiers of [[Kayamkulam]] Raja. Nearby, about 108 Kalaries were in 52 karas up to the beginning of the 20th century. Soldiers belonging to the above Karas met together at Oachira in the [[Malayalam]] month of ''Mithuna'' every year and performed war-like exercises. This is what is called [[Oachirakali\|Oachirakkali]].

	Ward and Conner, two British officials entrusted to survey of [[Travancore]] in the beginning of the 19th century, made their observations about Oachira in their report. In the report it was made clear that there was a very old and damaged [[temple]] on the eastern side of the ''Padanilam''. It was also disclosed that there was a large reservoir at the center of the vast ground on which the temple stands, (which was now known as Kallukettuchira), and which is outside the temple compound today.		Ward and Conner, two British officials entrusted to survey of [[Travancore]] in the beginning of the 19th century, made their observations about Oachira in their report. In the report it was made clear that there was a very old and damaged [[temple]] on the eastern side of the ''Padanilam''. It was also disclosed that there was a large reservoir at the center of the vast ground on which the temple stands, (which was now known as Kallukettuchira), and which is outside the temple compound today.
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	== Films ==		== Films ==
	Malayalam film ''[[Padamudra (film)\|Padamudra]]'' , directed by [[R. Sukumaran]] and starring [[Mohanlal]] in the lead role, contains a reference to the beliefs of Ochira. The song ' ''Omkaramoorthy Ochirayil'' ' is very popular in this movie<ref>{{Cite news\|date=September 21, 2017\|title=Malayalam anchor threatened after he names TV show about a temple as 'god of vagabonds'\|work=Thenewsminute\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malayalam-anchor-threatened-after-he-names-tv-show-about-temple-god-vagabonds-68760}}</ref>		Malayalam film ''[[Padamudra (film)\|Padamudra]]'', directed by [[R. Sukumaran]] and starring [[Mohanlal]] in the lead role, contains a reference to the beliefs of Ochira. The song ' ''Omkaramoorthy Ochirayil'' ' is very popular in this movie<ref>{{Cite news\|date=September 21, 2017\|title=Malayalam anchor threatened after he names TV show about a temple as 'god of vagabonds'\|work=Thenewsminute\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malayalam-anchor-threatened-after-he-names-tv-show-about-temple-god-vagabonds-68760}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==
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	==References==		==References==
	{{commons category\|Oachira ~~ParaBrahma~~ Temple}}		{{commons category\|Oachira Temple}}
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

117.204.124.32 at 13:01, 22 September 2021

2021-09-22T13:01:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:31, 22 September 2021
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	\| location = [[Oachira]]		\| location = [[Oachira]]
	\| elevation_m =		\| elevation_m =
	\| deity = It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to [[Parabrahma]].		\| deity = It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to [[Parabrahma]]. Believed to be Lord [[Shiva]].
	\| festivals= [[Oachirakali]], Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam		\| festivals= [[Oachirakali]], Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam
	\| architecture = It has no Sanctum Sanatorium.<ref>The Indian Encyclopaedia: Kamli-Kyouk Phyu		\| architecture = It has no Sanctum Sanatorium.<ref>The Indian Encyclopaedia: Kamli-Kyouk Phyu

imported>IPN23 at 09:51, 21 August 2021

2021-08-21T09:51:06Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Oachira Temple
| image = ഓച്ചിറആൽത്തറ.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Kerala
| map_caption = Location in Kerala
| coordinates = {{coord|9.1360|76.5102|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = Oachira Parabrahma Temple
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Kerala]]
| district = [[Kollam district|Kollam]]
| location = [[Oachira]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = It has no deity or idol but is dedicated to [[Parabrahma]].
| festivals= [[Oachirakali]], Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam
| architecture = It has no Sanctum Sanatorium.<ref>The Indian Encyclopaedia: Kamli-Kyouk Phyu
edited by Subodh Kapoor Page 4046</ref>
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| established =
| creator = [[Velu Thampi Dalawa]]
| governing_body =
| website =
}}

'''Oachira Temple''' is an ancient temple located in [[Oachira]] in [[Kollam district]] in the [[South India]]n state of [[Kerala]]. According to the [[Puranas]], this temple is one of the famous sacred places of [[Kerala]] and [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kerala.nic.in/kollam/fest.html |title=Fairs and Festivals |access-date=21 February 2009 |archive-date=2 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502224808/http://www.kerala.nic.in/kollam/fest.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Oachira is on the border of Kollam and [[Allappuzha District|Allappuzha]] districts, next to the National Highway 47. This temple is known "DakshinaKashi"(SouthaKashi).This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the [[Parabrahma|ParaBrahma]] temple (that is dedicated to the [[Para Brahman]] (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal [[Consciousness]]), and covers thirty-six acres of land.

Every year the Oachira Vrischikam Festival is celebrated during December and January. ''[[Oachirakali]]'' is a famous ritual performed here during June and it involves mock-fighting in muddy water by traditional martial art experts. And "Irupathattam onam" (28 days after Onam) is also celebrated. It is the festival of cattle. In this festival, huge "Eduppu kala" (gigantic idols of bull madeof cloth&hay) are made. They are then pulled on giant wheels to the Oachira Temple from the site where they are made. Normally there are around 50 such structures. It is the biggest festival in "Onattu Kara" which is an area of a few square miles. ''Oachirakkali'' was actually a war exercise performed annually by soldiers of [[Kayamkulam]] Raja. Nearby, about 108 Kalaries were in 52 karas up to the beginning of the 20th century. Soldiers belonging to the above Karas met together at Oachira in the [[Malayalam]] month of ''Mithuna'' every year and performed war-like exercises. This is what is called [[Oachirakali|Oachirakkali]].

Ward and Conner, two British officials entrusted to survey of [[Travancore]] in the beginning of the 19th century, made their observations about Oachira in their report. In the report it was made clear that there was a very old and damaged [[temple]] on the eastern side of the ''Padanilam''. It was also disclosed that there was a large reservoir at the center of the vast ground on which the temple stands, (which was now known as Kallukettuchira), and which is outside the temple compound today.

==Toponymy==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2012}}
There are many beliefs as to why this place is called Oachira. Some people believe that the place name came from the word ''Omkarachira'' and some others believe that the name is originated from the name ''Oymanchira''. Also there are strong beliefs that the name derived from ''Uvachanchira'' as Uvachan means Lord [[Shiva|Siva]] as per belief. All these assumptions are based on myths.

The real reason for arriving at the name of Oachira is possibly different. For that, we should understand the observations made by the two British officials, Ward and Conner, who conducted a survey in the erstwhile Travancore during the beginning of the 19th century. In their survey report, it was mentioned that there was a large reservoir at the center of the large ground called Padanilam. This reservoir (tank/pond/chira) was at the center of the Padanilam. This chira was used by the soldiers in olden days for bathing and for supplying water to the horses used in the war exercises. This ''chira'' might have been known in olden days as ''Onattuchira'', as the place belonged to the [[Kayamkulam]] Raja who was also called the ''Odanattu Raja'' or simply ''Onattu Rajah''. The Headquarters of Kayamkulam Raja was at that time at [[Krishnapuram, Alappuzha|Krishnapuram]], very near to the Padanilam (which is hardly 1 km away from Oachira). So it is believed that the word ''Onattuchira'' was gradually accepted as the place name and as time passed by further, that word was corrupted into ''Oachira''. This is quite a plausible explanation as there are so many examples in known history about the transformation of place names.

The Oachira Temple is unique in the sense that it does not have covered structures for temples. People worship the [[Para Brahman]] (the original formless power lord shiva) under neatly preserved trees.

== Films ==
Malayalam film ''[[Padamudra (film)|Padamudra]]'' , directed by [[R. Sukumaran]] and starring [[Mohanlal]] in the lead role, contains a reference to the beliefs of Ochira. The song ' ''Omkaramoorthy Ochirayil'' ' is very popular in this movie<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 21, 2017|title=Malayalam anchor threatened after he names TV show about a temple as 'god of vagabonds'|work=Thenewsminute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malayalam-anchor-threatened-after-he-names-tv-show-about-temple-god-vagabonds-68760}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Temples of Kerala]]
* [[Chettikulangara Devi Temple]]
* [[Padanilam Parabrahma Temple]]
* [[Kayamkulam]]

==References==
{{commons category|Oachira ParaBrahma Temple}}
{{reflist}}

{{Hindu temples in Kerala}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Kollam district]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]