Oachira

Oachira Dakshina kashi
town
Oachira Location in Kerala, India Oachira Oachira (India)
Coordinates: 9°8′0″N 76°30′0″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	690526
Telephone code	0476
Vehicle registration	KL23&KL29
Nearest city	Kollam (32 km)
Lok Sabha Constituency	Alappuzha
Legislative Assembly	Karunagapally (Kollam District)
Climate	good weather all seasons (Köppen)

Oachira (or **Ochira**; Malayalam: ഓച്ചിറ) is a major town and pilgrimage center in the Karunagappalli taluk of Kollam district, Kerala, India. The town is located on NH 66 and is situated on the border of Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

Oachira is globally renowned for the ancient Oachira Parabrahma Temple, which is unique in Hindu worship for having no idol or physical temple structure. The town is also known for its historical and cultural events, most notably the Oachirakali mock battle and the Irupathiyetttam Onam cattle festival.

Etymology

The name Oachira is believed to be derived from one of several possible Malayalam terms:

• Omkarachira: A combination of *Omkaram* (representing Para Brahma) and *chira* (meaning pond or water body).
• Uvachanchira: Uvachan is a name historically used to refer to Lord Shiva, which links the site to ancient Shiva worship.

Oachira Parabrahma Temple

The Oachira Parabrahma Temple is one of the most famous sacred places in Kerala and is often referred to as Dakshina Kashi (Kashi of the South). The entire pilgrimage center covers approximately thirty-six acres of land.

Architecture and Philosophy

The temple is unique because it engages in worship without a sanctum sanctorum or a consecrated idol (murti).

• Deity: The temple is dedicated to Para Brahma (also known as Param Brahma or Ohmkaram), which represents the ultimate, formless Universal Consciousness. The supreme power is worshipped in an open-air enclosure under the shade of massive banyan and peepal trees, signifying the omnipresent and formless nature of the divine.
• Customs: The bull is highly revered at Oachira and is considered the vehicle (vahana) of Parabrahman. Annadanam (free distribution of food) is considered the most important offering and spiritual practice at the temple.

Festivals

Oachira hosts three major annual festivals that draw large crowds and showcase unique cultural rituals:

Oachirakali (Mock Battle)

• Date: Held on the first two days of the Malayalam month of **Mithunam** (usually mid-June).
• Ritual: Oachirakali is a ritualistic mock battle performed by men and boys in the Padanilam (battlefield), a waterlogged paddy field adjacent to the temple.
• Historical Basis: The event commemorates the historic Battle of Kayamkulam, fought between the armies of Marthanda Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, and the Raja of Kayamkulam. The mock fight is performed in a festive spirit, with participants using sticks instead of swords, in a display that reflects the region's ancient Kalaripayattu martial traditions.

Panthrandu Vilakku (Twelve Lamps)

• Date: A twelve-day festival held in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (November/December).
• Ritual: Devotees engage in vratham (austere observance) and stay in temporary thatched huts, known as *kudil*, erected on the temple grounds for the duration of the festival, engaging in meditation and worship.

Irupathiyetttam Onam (Cattle Festival)

• Date: Celebrated on the 28th day after the main Onam festival (Thiruvonam), and is considered the Onam of the cattle.
• Kettukazhcha: The highlight is the Kalakettu ceremony, where gigantic effigies of bulls (Kettu Kaalakal), crafted from cloth and straw, are constructed by the different sub-divisions (karas) of the Onattukara region. These impressive structures are pulled in a procession to the temple premises as a ritualistic offering.

Places of Worship (Other)

• Oachira Town Masjid: The Oachira Town Juma Masjid is a significant mosque located in the town. It is known locally as a centre for Islamic learning, particularly for the Daras (an educational centre) associated with it, which has historically attracted religious scholars.

Education

RVSM Higher Secondary School, situated at Prayar is the oldest and biggest educational institution in Oachira. Oachira Govt. Higher Secondary School is another famous educational institution. PRAGATHI Hindi Vidyalay is a famous Hindi college

Economy and Infrastructure

• Cattle Market: Oachira has historically been one of the largest centers for the traditional cattle market in Central Travancore, especially during the festival season, underlining the town’s close ties to the agrarian economy.
• Connectivity: The town is a key transportation point on NH 66, connecting major cities like Kollam and Alappuzha. The Ochira railway station (Code: OCR) serves the town, providing access to regional rail services. The nearest major junction is Kayamkulam Junction railway station (KYJ), approximately 8 km away.

Notable people

• Abdul Sathar Kunju, 21st Chief of Kerala Police
• Cartoonist Shankar, (kayamkulam oachira), Political Cartoonist
• K. P. Nambiathiri, Indian cinematographer who has worked in a number of 3-D films
• K. Surendran, Malayalam writer and Vayalaar Award winner
• Ochira Velukkutty, Indian dramatist in the early days of Malayalam theatre
• S. Guptan Nair, Malayalam writer, literary critic, scholar, orator, essayist, lexicographer, translator and educator
• S. Ramachandran Pillai, C.P.I. (M) politburo member
• Prayar Gopalakrishnan ,(kayamkulam oachira), ex mla
• Sanju Sivram ,(kayamkulam oachira), film actor
• Geetha Salam film actor