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Vaikom, the traditional Kerala Village

Vaikom is a village on the eastern border of the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam. Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam, and among the oldest in South India. Vaikom is populated by people from all communities, including Ambalavasis, Arayans, Christians, Dheevaras, Ezhavas, Iyers, Muslims, Nairs,Namboodiris, Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Varmas. The ancient Sanskrit texts, Bhargava Purana & Sanalkumara Samhita mention this place as Vaiyaghra geham and Vaiyaghra puram. As per legends Vyaghrapada Maharshi got Siva darsana here, so it was fittingly called Vyaghrapadapuram. Later, when Tamil spread, the word Vaiyaghra got transformed as Vaikom. Today Vaikom is one of the most revered Shiva shrines in South India. The temple alongwith Ettumanoor Siva Temple, Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple  is considered a powerful trisome. The  belief is that if a devotee worships at these three temples before 'Ucha pooja', all the wishes are fulfilled. Though Vaikkath Asthami is the the better known festival at the temple, it celebrates many other festivals, some of them unique to the temple.