Dwajasthamba Punar Prathista - 2022

Year 2022 marked a significant milestone in the sacred history of the Ernakulam Thirumala Devaswom (Gosripuram), one of the oldest and most revered GSB temples in Kerala. On 21 February 2022, the temple witnessed the solemn and spiritually elevating ceremony of the Dhwajasthamba Punarpratishta—the reconsecration of the temple’s holy flagstaff, a ritual steeped in centuries of tradition and symbolic meaning for the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community.

The Dhwajasthamba, rising prominently at the temple’s eastern entrance, has always been regarded as the axis of divine energy, representing the temple’s connection between the earthly realm and the divine presence of Lord Venkatachalapathy. Over time, as part of the temple’s preservation and renewal efforts, the need for its reconsecration had arisen. The 2022 Punarpratishta thus became not merely a ritual, but a historic act of rejuvenation — restoring the sanctity, vigor, and spiritual potency of the sacred structure.

The day of the ceremony unfolded with traditional Vedic rituals, poorna-abhishekam, homams, and the chanting of ancient mantras by learned priests. As the consecration neared its culmination, devotees gathered in large numbers, filling the temple precincts with devotion, prayers, and bhajans. The ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag (dhwaja) symbolized the divine acceptance of the renewed dhwajasthamba, heralding auspiciousness, protection, and renewed vibrance for the temple and the community.

The event, streamed live by GSB youth groups and temple supporters, allowed devotees across regions to spiritually partake in the historic moment. The Punarpratishta also served as a reminder of the temple’s rich lineage—from its origins in Mattancherry to its role as a cultural and spiritual anchor for thousands of GSB families across Kochi.

The 2022 Dhwaja Pratishta rightfully stands recorded as a landmark chapter in the temple’s timeline, reaffirming the collective devotion, unity, and cultural heritage of the community. It strengthened the sacred bond between devotees and the presiding deity, while ensuring that the temple’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.