{"id":871,"date":"2026-10-29T12:29:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/65.2.218.168\/?p=871"},"modified":"2026-10-29T12:29:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T12:29:51","slug":"are-vishnumaya-and-chathan-the-same-understanding-kanadikavu-vishnumaya-kuttichathan-swamy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/65.2.218.168\/?p=871","title":{"rendered":"Are Vishnumaya and Chathan the Same? Understanding Kanadikavu Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is Vishnumaya Swami a different god from Chathan, or are they one and the same?<\/p>\n

Many first-time devotees to the Kanadikkavu Vishnumaya Swami Temple Thrissur<\/a> ask this
\nquestion at the temple gate. The answer, and the story behind it, makes your visit far more
\nmeaningful.<\/p>\n

The short answer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vishnumaya Swami and Chathan Swami are the same Lord. At Peringottukara he is
\nworshipped as Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy. Vishnumaya is the
\nname Lord Shiva gave him, and Kuttichathan is the form in which he was born.<\/p>\n

How he received the name Vishnumaya<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once travelled through the earth as pilgrims. From their
\ndivine union, a boy was born in the forest of King Marathan, and Koolivaka raised him with a
\nmother\u2019s love.When he grew, Sage Narada told him the purpose of his birth.<\/p>\n

The young Lord travelled to Mount Kailasa to meet his parents. Out of love for his father, he
\ntook the form of Lord Vishnu through his power of Maya and bowed at Shiva\u2019s feet. Shiva
\nwas delighted and declared that, because he had taken Vishnu\u2019s form through Maya, the
\nworld would know him as Vishnumaya. Goddess Parvati blessed him with two small sticks,
\ncalled kuruvadi, and sent him forth to protect the world.<\/p>\n

Why he is also called Chathan<\/strong><\/p>\n

The same Lord is known in Sanskrit as Kukshi Shastha and in Malayalam as Kuttichathan.
\nYou will also hear him called Shri Chathan Swamy and Shri Bhootanathan. These are
\ndifferent names for one Lord, and each one speaks of a different part of him.<\/p>\n

The 390 Kuttichathans<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is where the confusion often begins. In the war with the demon king Bhringasura,
\nVishnumaya was wounded on the little finger of his right hand. From the drops of his blood,
\nfour hundred Kuttichathans were born identical. Ten have sacrificed their lives by swallowing
\nthe demon\u2019s divine weapons. The remaining 390 Kuttichathans stayed with the Lord as his
\nfaithful companions.<\/p>\n

So when devotees at Kanadikavu speak of the Chathans, they often mean these 390, who
\nform an invisible, protective shield around the shrine. Vishnumaya is the principal Lord, and
\nthe 390 stand beside him. His close companion from his forest days, Karinkutti, is also
\nremembered with love.<\/p>\n

Other sacred presences at the temple<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Peringottukara Kanadikkavu Vishnumaya Temple<\/a> is home to more than the Lord and his
\ncompanions. Bhadrakali, Bhuvaneshwari Devi, Subramanya Swami, Kukshi Kalpam,
\nNagaraja, Nagayakshi and Brahmarakshas are also worshipped here, under the guidance of
\nthe Madathipathi, Brahmasree Dr. K K Vishnubharatheeya Swami.<\/p>\n

Visiting the Swami<\/strong><\/p>\n

You do not need to choose a name. Whether you say Vishnumaya, Chathan Swami or
\nKuttichathan, you stand before the same Lord. Tuesdays are special, with poojas such as
\nthe Guruthi Kalasham and the Nivedhya Pooja. The Amavasi Shakthi Pooja is held on new
\nmoon days, and the Pournami Shaktheya Pooja on full moon days. You can book poojas on
\nthe website or arrange them at the temple. For help, call 0487 2272277 or 1800 891 9369.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are Vishnumaya and Chathan the same?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes. Vishnumaya and Chathan Swami are the same Lord, worshipped at Peringottukara as
\nKanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy.<\/p>\n

Why is he called Vishnumaya?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord Shiva gave him the name after he took the form of Lord Vishnu through his power
\nof Maya at Kailasa.<\/p>\n

What does Kuttichathan mean at Kanadikavu?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kuttichathan is his Malayalam name, and Kukshi Shastha is his Sanskrit name. He was born
\nto Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and raised by Koolivaka.<\/p>\n

Who are the 390 Kuttichathans?<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are the Kuttichathans born from the drops of Vishnumaya\u2019s blood in the battle with
\nBhringasura. Ten gave their lives in the war, and the remaining 390 serve the Lord and guard
\nhis shrine.<\/p>\n

Where is the Vishnumaya temple in Thrissur?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Kanadikavu Sree Vishnumaya Swami Temple is at Kizhakkummuri, Peringottukara,
\nThrissur, Kerala, PIN 680571, about 20 kilometres southwest of Thrissur city.<\/p>\n

Come and meet him<\/strong><\/p>\n

Names are only doorways. What matters is the heart that walks through. Come to
\nKanadikavu, stand before Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy, and leave your sorrows at his
\nfeet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is Vishnumaya Swami a different god from Chathan, or are they one and the same? Many first-time devotees to the Kanadikkavu Vishnumaya Swami Temple Thrissur ask this question at the temple gate. The answer, and the story behind it, makes your visit far more meaningful. The short answer Vishnumaya Swami and Chathan Swami are the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":{"language":"English","title":"Are Vishnumaya and Chathan the Same? Understanding Kanadikavu Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy","description":"","keywords":"","canonical_url":"","no_index":"Yes","og_title":"","og_description":"","og_image":""},"yoast_head":"\nAre Vishnumaya and Chathan the Same? 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