Oachira Temple

Oachira temple is one of the ancient temple in Kerala and situated on the borders  of Kollam and Alappuzha districts. Oachira temple has neither a structure to house nor an idol to worship. Oachira is dedicated to the formless, infinite Para Brahmam, the Absolute and Supreme Principle. The annual festival ‘Ochirakali’ and ‘Panthrandu Vilakku’ is held during the first and second of the Malayalam month ‘Mithunam’. Ochirakali commemorates the historic battle between the Chempakasseri and Kayamkulam Rajas. During the festival, men dress up as warriors and enact mock wars wielding  wooden sticks, brandishing swords and shields, enacting a kind of martial dance, standing knee deep in water. Two days of this ritual is followed by few days of brisk trading in cattle and agricultural produce, an old tradition now being revived.

The Oachira Temple is peculiar  in the terms of it does not have covered structures for temples. People worship the Para Brahma (the original formless power who manifests as the three Supreme forms of God, namely Brahma/Vishnu/Siva) under neatly preserved trees. Millions of pilgrims visit Oachira  temple for worshiping especially in the month of July and October.

There are many beliefs exist about the origin of the name of Oachira . The prominent  belief is that the place Oachira has its name from  Uvachanchira as Uvachan means Lord  Shiva. The town of Oachira is located at a distance of 32 km north of Kollam.

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