Kerala - called God's Own Country is famous for many divine customs and cultures. It's a countryside attracts many tourists from all over the world because of its natural beauty and the various customs that keralites follows. Temples in Kerala plays a major role in progressing the tourism field. Many foreigners attracted the customs and cultures that they follows.The architecture of Kerala temples are unique and attracts the tourists eye with its beauty and harmony of their resources.
There are number of Vishnumaya Temples in Kerala. Vishnumaya also called Kuttichathan is a mischievous spirit and a minor god among Hindus in Kerala. The word implies an evil spirit. Lord Sri. Vishnumaya acts as an asylum for all the people who are suffering from illness and sorrows due to the effect of nine planets or black powers, insecurity and fear due to ill-vision of black powers, disturbed family life. Sri Vishnumaya is the ultimate word for people who are seeking success, happiness and peace in life. Vishnumaya temples are blessed land where there is no boundaries for religion, caste and colour bar.
According to Hindu mythology, Vishnumaya is regarded as the son of Lord Shiva. On the way to hunting, Lord Shiva happened to hear a sweet voice in the forest. He surprised to find that it belonged to a tribal girl named Koolivaka with immense beauty. The loneliness in the forest and beauty of the girl made Shiva lustful. He informed about his wish and told her to wait for him until he returned from his hunt.
Koolivaka who was a devotee of Parvathy devi prayed to her goddess to save her from that situation. Devi pleased with her innocence and appeared before her to reveal her identity. In her previous birth Koolivaka was Mansawini, servant of Parvathi happened to breast feed the child Ganesha. Parvathi got angry and doomed her that she was born in a chandala family. After she took pity on koolivaka and blessed her to gave birth to god Shiva’s son. She also told that the son who born from the union will be the destroyer of powerful asura Jalandhara.
The alluring unity of Lord Shiva with Koolivaka given a divine power named Vishnumaya or Kuttichathan. Lord Shiva was give a buffalo for the protection of newborn child. This divine child who become the chathan of Devasthanam temple, is one of the ancient traditional Vishnu temple in Kerala.
Chathan lived with Koolivaka about seven years. The tribals loved the boy who saved the tribals from all their hazards. On his seventh birthday, the tribals held a feast in his honour. In that time Narada came there and revealed the secret of his birth. He advised him to meet his real parents.Chattan started his journey to Kailasam. When he was about to reach Kailasam, he realized that Nandikeshwara would not allow him to enter Kailasam. So he took the form of Lord Vishnu. Shiva and Parvathy were happy and blessed her son that he will known as 'Vishnumaya'.
The real aim behind the birth of Lord Vishnumaya is to kill the Jalandhara, the powerful asura. Kuttichathan make a battle with Jalandhara. Chathan took the form of Sudharshana chakra and Killed the Powerful asura and thereby protect the world from all sorrows in past, present and future.
Vishnumaya Devasthanam is one of the heaven of trust that will give ultimate relief from all kinds of problems. Lord Vishnumaya is also the main deity in family temples of many of the lower caste Hindus in central Kerala.
