Oachira

Oachira or Ochira (Ōcciṟa) is an ancient temple town located 32 km away from Kollam city in Karunagappally taluk, Kollam district in Kerala, India.

Oachira

Dakshina kashi
town
Oachira
Location in Kerala, India
Oachira
Oachira (India)
Coordinates: 9°8′0″N 76°30′0″E
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictKollam
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
690526
Telephone code0476
Vehicle registrationKL-02& KL23
Nearest cityKollam City (32 km), karunagappally town
Lok Sabha ConstituencyAlappuzha
Legislative AssemblyKarunagapally (Kollam District)
Climategood weather all seasons (Köppen)
Free food for the pilgrim is distributed from here
Omkaram Guest House
Sacred Bull being worshipped
Gigantic effigies of Lord Shiva's vehicle Nandi, portrayed in white and red colours.

Temple town

Oachira is one of the famous sacred places of Kerala and in India.[1] Oachira is on the border of Kollam and Allappuzha Districts, next to the National Highway 66 (NH 66). It is a very ancient pilgrimage center that is centered on the ParaBrahma Temple (that is dedicated to the Para Brahman (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal Consciousness), which covers thirty-six acres of land. Oachira North Muslim Masjid is another historical monument near Oachira town.

Festivals

The major annual festivals are Oachira Kali or Oachirakali (held on the first and second of Midhunam, i.e., June–July) and the twelve-day Panthrandu Vilakku (twelve lamp festival), which is held in November/December. Oachira Kali is celebrated in commemoration of the battle of Kayamkulam, fought between Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore and the Raja of Kayamkulam, on the plains of Oachira.[2] It is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors on the padanilam (battlefield). They perform a martial dance standing in knee-deep water, brandishing swords and shields, and splashing water in every direction. A big cattle fair is also held as part of the festival.

Yet another festival celebrated in Oachira Temple is the "Irupathiyettam Onam" (Thiruvonum in the month of Kanni, second month of Malayalam Calendar). It is considered the Onam of cows and bulls and is celebrated on Thiruvonam. These concepts are related to the agricultural prosperity of Onattukara.

Panthrandu vilakku (12 Lamps) festival

The "Panthrandu vilakku" festival celebrated at Oachira Parabrahma Temple is considered as the most reputed festivals of this temple. In the month of Vrishchikam, or Vrishchika Masam, is the fourth month in a traditional Malayalam calendar and is a highly auspicious month.Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple opens on the day for the two-month-long annual pilgrimage season.[3] The first twelve days are celebrated as "Panthrantu vilakku"."Panthrandu vilakku" is being observed in temples with great fervour and enthusiasm to commemorate the ‘Ten Avatars of Lord Vishnu’[4] The Panthrandu vilakku celebrated at Oachira Parabrahma Temple is considered as the most reputed one[5] At Ochira Para brahma temple, during "Panthrantu vilakku" pilgrims reside in hundreds of small huts for twelve days in the premises of temple following religious rituals. Thousands of people stays near a temple premises for a period of twelve days .This tradition is one of its kind in Kerala .Lakhs of people visit the temple during this period. There are various religious programs and meetings are being conducted during this period. Days are filled with speeches of Eminent scholars, religious leaders and political leaders. In the night cultural programmes of veteran artists are conducted. For pilgrims these days will be truly rejuvenating experience.

There is no sanctorum in Oachira Temple. The statues of the deities are placed below large banyan trees; the Prasadam is holy mud from the temple, which supposedly has medicinal value.

The temple has a rich tradition of religious harmony, which is open to people of all religion and faith. The main offering of the temple is 'Annadanam'-offering food to the poor. The temple administration manages a speciality hospital, nursing college and two guest houses. Recently built guest house 'Omkaram' is having 102 rooms with all modern amenities to cater the need of pilgrims.

Celebrities

Eminent cartoonist Shankar hails from near Oachira. The government of Kerala paid a tribute to him, in the form of a museum in memory of the country’s best known and most revered political cartoonist, near his birthplace Oachira. Kerala Lalithakala Akademi was behind the ambitious project, which costs an estimated initial cost of Rs. 3. 5 crore which spreads over 15,000 sq.ft. of land.

Access

To reach Oachira, by air, the nearest airports are Trivandrum International Airport, which is 104 km away, and Cochin International Airport, which is 135 km away. By rail, Kayamkulam Jn. is just 7 km away, all major express trains having stop here and Ochira railway station just 1.5 km from town. It is also near NH 66. Oachira is the gateway to Matha Amruthananda Mayi Devi Asramam (HQ) at Vallikkavu, which is just 3 km away.

Education

RVSM Higher Secondary School, situated at Prayar is the oldest and biggest educational institution in and around Oachira. Started in 1909, this school was elevated as a higher secondary school and boasts a lower primary division too. Students gaining entry at the LKG can complete their pre-university exams (now known as +2) and attend the graduation courses of universities. Oachira Govt. Higher Secondary School is another well-known educational institution.PRAGATHI Hindi Vidyalay is another famous Hindi college

Places near Oachira
  • Madathilmukku- A junction west to Oachira temple and Edayanambalam. This is the place where Sakthikulangara Sri Krishna Swami Temple is located.
  • Ragam JN.- Location in 1 km West of oachira JN.
  • Prayar - Prayar RVSM High School is located here.
  • Oachira Parabrahma Temple

Notable people
  • Cartoonist Shankar, Famous political cartoonist.
  • K. P. Nambiathiri, Noted Indian Director of Photography
  • K.Surendran, ( Famous Malayalam writer and Vayalaar Award winner)
  • S. Guptan Nair, (Malayalam writer, literary Critic, Scholar, Orator, Essayist, Lexicographer, Translator and Educator)
  • S. Ramachandran Pillai, C.P.I (M) Politburo member.
  • Prayar Gopalakrishnan,(ex MLA,ex President of Travancore Dewaswam Board)
gollark: I really hope I haven't broken anything irrecoverably...
gollark: I can do that tomorrow. In bed presently.
gollark: The field can be configured to deal damage too, which is helpful.
gollark: We may not.
gollark: … yes?

References
  1. Fairs and Festivals
  2. Oachira Kettukazhcha
  3. http://www.hindu-blog.com/2009/11/vrishchika-masam-vrishchikam-month-2009.html
  4. http://www.ayyappaseva.org/blog/panthrandu-vilakku
  5. http://www.ayyappaseva.org/blog/panthrandu-vilakku
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