Katkarai Appan at Thiru-Katkarai

Temple features:
Name of this place	Thiru-Katkarai
Deity in sanctum	Katkarai-Appan (south facing standing pose.)
Consort of Vishnu in sanctum	Perunselvi Nachiyar
Deity for festivals	Appan-perumal
Consort for festivals	Vatsalyavalli nachiyar
Tower is called	Pushkala-vimanam
Holi tank	Kabila-Theertham
Devotees who have seen the god here	Sage Kabilar
Devotional song sung on the deity by	Thirumangai Alzhwar
Legend: says it was the deity in this place Katkarai that incarnated as Vamana (dwarf). This legend is recalls Dasavathar. Once Mahabali was performing a big "yaga"( offering things in the sacrificial fire) and at the end of the yaga was giving away gold and other things in charity. Whoever went to the palace on that day could ask whatever they wished and the king would certainly oblige them. God seized this opportunity and came to Mahabali's palace as a dwarf-mendicant. The dwarf asked the King only for the land that his three steps would cover. The king was perplexed and wondering why the dwarf was asking for only a 3 foot-measure of land when he could ask for acres and acres. However the king agreed and asked the dwarf to start measuring the land with his feet. Ho! God assumed gigantic proportions - his head reaching up to the sky to the highest world above and his feet down to Pathala-loka, the lowest of the worlds below the earth. God took one step and that covered all the worlds above in the skies, the second step covered all the worlds below and there was no place left for his third step. God asked the king " Mahabali , I have taken two steps and have covered all the lokas. Tell me where to keep my foot for the third foot-measure." Mahabali realizing that the dwarf was no other than God himself bowed before the dwarf and said " Please my lord you may keep your foot over my head as the third measure." Accordingly God put his foot on Mahabali's head and pressed hard to push the King to 'Pathala-loka' and told him "O king! this is where you belong and you should confine your self to this loka only." Mahabali realised his folly and ruled long over Pathala-loka. While he was going to Patala-loka the Emperor requested the Lord for a boon that he should meet the people of the world atleast once in an year. The Lord granted the wish and said "This will be on this ' Thiruvonam' day which people will celebrate every year in honour of my Vamana avathar. " Accordingly this temple's important festival day is 'Onam'. People celebrate this day in a grand manner.It is said king Mabali also participates in the celebrations with the people on this festival day.   Om Namo Lakshmi Narayanaya Namaha   Location: This temple is located at Katkrai 9 kms from Thiruchoor rail-way station in Kerala                                                                 Home