Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple

Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple in Thrippunithura, Kochi, honours Vishnu as Santhanagopala Murthy, or Poornathrayeesa, a god thought to grant childless couples children. Thrippunithura was once the capital of the Kingdom of Cochin, and this was its national deity and the first of its eight royal temples. Legend says Vishnu gave the idol to Arjuna when he sought help to bring back a Brahmin's ten children, so the sanctum was built in the shape of a chariot. Ganesha, who tried to take the spot for himself, was pushed to the south side, and the temple says it is the only shrine where he faces south. A fire in 1920 destroyed the wooden sanctum, and the present concrete structure replaced it.

The great event is the eight-day Vrischikotsavam in November–December, which opens Kerala's festival season with melam, Kathakali, concerts and elephant processions. On its fourth day, Thrikketta Purappadu, the deity rides a tusker in golden regalia among 14 elephants, and offerings are made in golden pots brought out of the temple vault.