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Panthrandu Vilakku

“Panthrandu vilakku” is being observed in temples with great fervour and enthusiasm to commemorate the ‘Ten Avatars of Lord Vishnu’. The first avatar was ‘Matsya’ or the ‘fish’ from the satya yuga. Lord Vishnu took the form of a fish. To save the earth from the Apocalypse, He took his boat to the new world along with one of every species of plant and animal. The second incarnation of Vishnu was Koorma or Tortoise. It is believed that the mount Mandara, while the Devas and the Asuras were trying to churn out the Amruth or Elixir from the ocean of milk, began to sing down. Immediately Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise, bore the weight of the mountain on Him, and stopped the Mountain from going down. The third incarnation is Varaha or the boar. According to the epic Hiranyaksha a demon King, took the earth and carried it away to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and had battle with Hiranyaksha. This battle continued for a Thousand years. Eventually the Varaha won the battle and brought back the earth to its place is the Universe.

The fourth incarnation is known as Narasimha or the half man and half-lion. Lord Vishnu took this form for kill Hiranyakashipu, the elder brother of Hiranyaksha a demon King. The Brahma had given Hiranya Kashipu a boom that he should not be killed by a man, or animal, day or night, on the earth or the stars with weapon either living or nonliving, visible or outside of his House. So Vishnu took the form an anthropomorphic incarnation, with the body of a man and head and claws of a Lion. Hiranyakashipu was disembowelled at the courtyard threshold of his home at dusk with his claws.

Vamana is the fifth embodiment of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu disguised as a Vamana or dwarf, descended on earth and appeared before Mahabali(an Asura King), demanded for a three feet land. Bali agreed and the dwarf then changed his size that of a giant. He covered heaven in his first spride and the underworld with the second realising that Vamana was the incarnation of Vishnu, the King showed his head as the 3rd place for Vamana to place his foot. The Vamana did so and pushed him down to the nether world.

Parasurama is the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu from the Treta Yuga. Born to Jamadagni Maharshi and Renuka, he is the first Brahman-Kshatriya in Hinduism. He received an axe after a penance to Lord Siva. Once King Karthaveerya visited Parasuraman’s asramam. Parasurama slew the king at his palace. The sons of Karthaveerya killed Jamadagni in revenge of it. Parasurama vowed to kill every kshatriya on earth. In the end his grand father Ruchika and made him a chiranjeevi (an immortal being) in penance on Mahendragiri.

Rama, the Seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is a commonly worshiped avatar in Hinduism. The story of Rama is found in the epic Ramayana. When his wife Sita was abducted by demon king Ravana along with his army fought with the demon. Rama won in the end and saved Sita from Ravana.

Balarama is referred as 8th avatar and Krishna is the 9th. The intention of incarnation was to kill Kamsa, the king. Lord Krishna is commonly worshiped deity in Hinduism. The last, that is the 10th incarnation is Kalki or Kali. He is believed to be appeared at the end of Kaliyuga destroying all unrighteousness and evil. On the 12th day after Dasavatharam, the Panthrandu vilakku is observed at Sabarimala Temple. In connection with this special Poojas are performed here. The Panthrandu vilakku celebrated at Oachira Parabrahma Temple is considered as the most reputed one. At Sabarimala, in connection with Panthrandu vilakku, thousands of devotees assembled here.