Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathi temple

Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathi Temple is one of the renowned Lord Ganesh temples in Kerala, situated at the heart of East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram.

The original idol of the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple is a small idol of Lord Ganesh, with the right leg in the folded posture.

Other deities worshiped at Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapati Kovil are Lord Ayyappa, Goddess Durga, Nagaraja, and Brahmarakshas. Devotees can see beautiful paintings of the 32 forms of Lord Ganesh inside the temple complex.

Temple History :

This is a very famous temple, situated in the heart of Trivandrum. One can visit this temple and then visit the Sri Ananthapadmanabha TempleJust walkable distance only.This temple is being maintained by the Indian Army, while majority of the temples of Kerala are managed by the Devaswam Board and some are private.There is info about this temple in the Sakthi Vikatan of 27-4-2006 issue.When the headquarters of the Travancore Kingdom was at Padmanabhapuram (Now part of Tamilnadu), the soldiers who kept vigile at the fort were said to be disturbed by a Yakshi during night time.

One soldier was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganapathy. He was given duty one night, he believed that the Lord will take care and went to have a bath in the river. He stumbled upon an idol of the Lord then and he took that with him when he went to keep vigil.

He was unaffected by the Yakshi. A temple was built at that place for the idol and the soldiers worshipped the Lord. In 1795, the headquarters was shifted to Trivandrum and the soldiers shifted their Lord also.The present temple was built in 1860 and the Lord was kept there by the then ruler Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal.Thus the temple is being managed by the Army.

This temple is very famous, sitauted in the heart of the city and is always thronged by the devotees. The main ritual is breaking coconut, soora thengai udaipathu. Around 2500 coconuts are broken everyday.The place used to be a fruit market in olden days- Pazha angadi, and called Pazhavangadi now.

Offerings to Lord Ganesh:

The main vazhipadu (offering) of Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapati is the breaking of coconut for removing obstacles and fulfillment of any desire. Ganapathi Homam, Appam, and Modakam are other main offerings to Lord Ganesh.

Temple Festivals:

Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ganesh Chaturthi), Ganesh Jayanthi, Varad Chaturti, and Sankashti Chaturti are the main festivals in Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy Temple. Special poojas (pujas) are performed for other Hindu festivals including Thiruvonam, Vijaya Dasami, Ayilyam, Sahasra Kalasam, Thirkkarththika, Thirvathira, Makara Vilakku, Maha Shivaratri, Vishu, Thriveda Laksharcchana, and Nira Puththari.

Dress Code:To enter inside the main complex male devotees need to wear Mundu (Veshti or Dothi or Laacha). Any traditional dress code like Saree, Churidar, Salwar Kameez, or Pavadai Chattai is allowed for ladies.

Temple Address:

Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple,

Pazhavangadi,

East FortThiruvananthapuram,

Kerala, India Pin- 695 023

Phone - 0471 2461929

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