Are Vishnumaya and Chathan the Same? Understanding Kanadikavu Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy - Kanadikavu Sree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy Temple
Is Vishnumaya Swami a different god from Chathan, or are they one and the same?
Many first-time devotees to the Kanadikkavu Vishnumaya Swami Temple Thrissur ask this
question at the temple gate. The answer, and the story behind it, makes your visit far more
meaningful.
The short answer
Vishnumaya Swami and Chathan Swami are the same Lord. At Peringottukara he is
worshipped as Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy. Vishnumaya is the
name Lord Shiva gave him, and Kuttichathan is the form in which he was born.
How he received the name Vishnumaya
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once travelled through the earth as pilgrims. From their
divine union, a boy was born in the forest of King Marathan, and Koolivaka raised him with a
mother’s love.When he grew, Sage Narada told him the purpose of his birth.
The young Lord travelled to Mount Kailasa to meet his parents. Out of love for his father, he
took the form of Lord Vishnu through his power of Maya and bowed at Shiva’s feet. Shiva
was delighted and declared that, because he had taken Vishnu’s form through Maya, the
world would know him as Vishnumaya. Goddess Parvati blessed him with two small sticks,
called kuruvadi, and sent him forth to protect the world.
Why he is also called Chathan
The same Lord is known in Sanskrit as Kukshi Shastha and in Malayalam as Kuttichathan.
You will also hear him called Shri Chathan Swamy and Shri Bhootanathan. These are
different names for one Lord, and each one speaks of a different part of him.
The 390 Kuttichathans
This is where the confusion often begins. In the war with the demon king Bhringasura,
Vishnumaya was wounded on the little finger of his right hand. From the drops of his blood,
four hundred Kuttichathans were born identical. Ten have sacrificed their lives by swallowing
the demon’s divine weapons. The remaining 390 Kuttichathans stayed with the Lord as his
faithful companions.
So when devotees at Kanadikavu speak of the Chathans, they often mean these 390, who
form an invisible, protective shield around the shrine. Vishnumaya is the principal Lord, and
the 390 stand beside him. His close companion from his forest days, Karinkutti, is also
remembered with love.
Other sacred presences at the temple
The Peringottukara Kanadikkavu Vishnumaya Temple is home to more than the Lord and his
companions. Bhadrakali, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, Subramanya Swami, Kukshi Kalpam,
Nagaraja, Nagayakshi and Brahmarakshas are also worshipped here, under the guidance of
the Madathipathi, Brahmasree Dr. K K Vishnubharatheeya Swami.
Visiting the Swami
You do not need to choose a name. Whether you say Vishnumaya, Chathan Swami or
Kuttichathan, you stand before the same Lord. Tuesdays are special, with poojas such as
the Guruthi Kalasham and the Nivedhya Pooja. The Amavasi Shakthi Pooja is held on new
moon days, and the Pournami Shaktheya Pooja on full moon days. You can book poojas on
the website or arrange them at the temple. For help, call 0487 2272277 or 1800 891 9369.
Frequently asked questions:
Are Vishnumaya and Chathan the same?
Yes. Vishnumaya and Chathan Swami are the same Lord, worshipped at Peringottukara as
Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy.
Why is he called Vishnumaya?
Lord Shiva gave him the name after he took the form of Lord Vishnu through his power
of Maya at Kailasa.
What does Kuttichathan mean at Kanadikavu?
Kuttichathan is his Malayalam name, and Kukshi Shastha is his Sanskrit name. He was born
to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and raised by Koolivaka.
Who are the 390 Kuttichathans?
They are the Kuttichathans born from the drops of Vishnumaya’s blood in the battle with
Bhringasura. Ten gave their lives in the war, and the remaining 390 serve the Lord and guard
his shrine.
Where is the Vishnumaya temple in Thrissur?
The Kanadikavu Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple is at Kizhakkummuri, Peringottukara,
Thrissur, Kerala, PIN 680571, about 20 kilometres southwest of Thrissur city.
Come and meet him
Names are only doorways. What matters is the heart that walks through. Come to
Kanadikavu, stand before Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy, and leave your sorrows at his
feet.
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