THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The restoration of the 300-year-old Vishwaksena idol at Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is in its final stages. The consecration will take place in May or June.

Vishwaksena Pratishtha, an aspect of Lord Vishnu, is on the foot side of Sri Padmanabha on the north side of Ottakal Mandapam. The deity is 4 feet tall and seated on a pedestal holding conch, chakra, mace and abhaya mudra. After invoking Vishwaksena, the old idol was burnt in Agni Moola. All objects offered to Vishnu should be shown to Vishwaksena. The temple's daily offerings should also be presented in front of Vishwaksena.

It was suggested in the devaprashnam that the idol should be renewed. The shoola prathishta of the idol was done a year ago under the leadership of Tantri Tharanallur Satheesan Namboothiripad as chairman and Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad, Cheruvalli Namboothiripad and Pazangaparambu Unnikrishnan Namboothiri as members. Shoolam was prepared by Shivdasan Achari of Thrissur Elavally.

Mrunmayam mixture

The idol made in Katu Sarkara Yogam should not be moved. So the sculptors are building the idol at the place of worship itself. The idol is being made by Mrunmayam, which is made by collecting different types of pearls and grinding them for 45 days by adding Kashayam, glues, minerals, grains, sandalwood, Gorochana, Kasthoori, saffron, gold and silver. The idol is being made by Kanipayyur's disciple Pradeep Namboothiri. Assistants are Tirukostiyur Madhavan, Shelvakumar and Balu.

Kazhakkoottam Thonnal Temple, Kanthaloor Sree Mahadeva Temple, Malayalapuzha and Thiruvattar Temple also have Katu Sarkara Yogam idols.