Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple or ThriKaviyoor Mahadeva Temple is at Kaviyoor, in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The temple worships Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu is also one of the main deities here. Furthermore, the temple falls under the Thiruvalla Group of Temples. As River Manimala flows by, the environment is serene.

Due to its immense historical value, the temple is a heritage monument. The Archaeological Department of India protects the shrine. Locals believe that the shrine is a thousand years old. December or January is the best time to visit the temple as many festivals take place during this time.

What is the history of Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

According to history, Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple was built in the 8^th century. The Kaviyoor Sasanaas refer to the temple. This Sasanaas is oldest among the sasanaas. There are two inscriptions at the basement which state that the temple was built in the 950 and 951 AD.

As per myth, the Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple dates back to the Mahabharata times. When Mother Kunti along with her sons, the Pandava brothers were looking for a shelter during their exile, they built a rock shelter. They also built a Lord Shiva temple and this temple is the Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple.

What is the significance of the Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

Here’s the significance of Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple:

• Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple shows the Pallava architectural style. It is a triangle in shape.
• The sculptures are the earliest stone architecture we see in Kerala. These also depict stories from the great Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. These sculptures were made in the 17^th century.
• Lord Shiva is enshrined in a squared cave. There is a Shiva Lingum inside the cave. The lingum is 3 feet high. It is carved out of a rock.
• The shrine also worships Lord Ganapati, Lord Hanuman, Sreemoola Rajeswari and Maharshi. Sreemoola Rajeswari is Goddess Parvati. There is also another deity in the temple. It is Dakshinamoorthy. This is an idol of Lord Shiva along with Lord Ganapati. There is also a shrine for Lord Krishna.
• Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple also has sculptures of Dwarpalakas. They are the temple guards.
• Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple is famous for its wood sculptures. This is Daarusilpas as per local language. These carvings were made in the 17^th century. Tourists can see these sculptures at the outer wall of Sreekovil, on the inner roof of Balickalpura and Namaskara Mandapam. These sculptures depict Kerala architecture.
• Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple also has a round Sreekovil. It shows the Sandhara construction style.
• The roof of the sanctum is copper. There is a golden flag and 18 entry steps to the shrine.
• Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple also has expensive ornaments which depict intricate designs. The main Sreekovil is covered with 44 rafter shoes. These also feature beautiful designs. The ornaments mainly include golden pots, ezhunnallippu chatams, golden reliefs of deities, golden umbrellas and golden chains.

What are the timings of Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

Here are the timings of Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple:

What is the Dress Code at Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple has a strict dress code. Men need to be in traditional attire. Also, men need to open shirts before entering the temple premises. Women also need to be in traditional dress at the temple.

What are the festivals celebrated at Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

The Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple celebrates many festivals such as:

• Thiruvutsavam: The festival takes place in December or January. It is the Danu month as per Malayalam calendar. The celebration starts with a unique ritual. People call this Thiruvaathira. Utsavabali, Seva, Pallivetta are the other parts of the festival. The festival goes on for 10 days. A fair goes on during this time. People decorate the temple with colourful lights, candles and flowers.
• Shivaratri: This festival takes place every year, either in February or in March. Vilakkezhunnellippu is a unique custom of the festival. In this custom, 8000 oil lamps are lit. Devotees from 8 desam lit the lamps. This is a single day festival. Devotees fast for the day and worship Lord Shiva at four phases.
• Sahasra Kalasam: This festival goes on for 10 days. In this festival, Abhishekam is the main custom. Devotees do Abhishekam with 100 pots. Moreover, 1 is a gold pot, 10 silver pots and the rest are copper pots.

What are the Poojas and Rituals at Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple?

The poojas and rituals of Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple are:

• Dhara, Muzhukkappu and Chatussatham are the main offerings made to Lord Shiva.
• Also, daily different offerings are made to Lord Shiva. Devotees can offer Aval Nadyam and Vada Mala to Lord Shiva.
• The temple is also famous for its Mangalaya puja.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

Here’s how too reach Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple:

• Air: The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport while the Cochin International Airport is 160 km from the place.
• Rail: The Thiruvalla railway station is 5 km from Kaviyoor while Chengannur railway station is 82 km.
• Road: There are direct buses from Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta, Kottangal, Ranni, Thottabhagom.

Where to stay near Kaviyoor?

The best hotels near Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple are at Pathanamthitta. Mannil Regency, Hey Day Hotel, Mariam Lodge, Mannaas Veedu and Hotel Hills Park are some of the good hotels near the temple. Also, these hotels serve good food.

Where to eat near the temple?

Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple is a popular tourist spot. Hence several eat outs are near the temple. Joyces Baker, Hotel Sehion Restaurant, Anjali Restaurant, News Star, Uday Bakery and also Biryani Centre are very near to the temple.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples near Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple are:

• Hanuman Swami Temple: This temple is also in the temple complex. The shrine worships Lord Hanuman. As per Indian mythology, Lord Hanumana helped Lord Rama win the battle against demon Ravana. This is the great Indian epic, Ramayana. The temple is also important for its unique construction. It represents the gable architectural style, which is rare in Kerala. Hanuman Jayanti is the main festival. This is the birth anniversary celebration of Lord Hanumana.
• Malayalapuzha Bhagavathy Temple: Only 8 km away from Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, this temple is very famous. Goddess Bagavathy is the main deity here. Also, as per locals, the goddess can grant wishes. The temple is famous for its wall paintings and sculptures.
• Njaliyil Bhagavathy Temple: Another important temple of Kaviyoor is Njaliyil Bhagavathy Temple. This temple also worships Goddess Bhagavathy. Makaram is the main festival here. People also come here to see the old folk drama. Padayani is the drama name.
• Sabarimala: This is a very famous temple of Kerala. The temple worships Lord Ayyappa. The temple is on a hillock and offers breath taking beauty of the surroundings. November to Mid- January is the best time to visit Sabarimala temple as this time the temple celebrates Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku. Also, the temple is closed for the rest of the year.  Besides the first five days of Vishnu month. This is a Malayalam month which is generally April as per English calendar.

Hence, visit Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple for a peaceful holiday. Moreover, this trip can be a gift to your family. Feel refreshed at the serene climate and feel divine.

Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple is at Kottayam. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity here. The temple is a must-visit to view the exquisite sculptures and paintings of the 1542- 1545 AD. The idol of Lord Shiva is 3 feet tall. There is also a holy tank on the northern side of the shrine which is oval in shape.

History and Legend of Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

This is an ancient temple of Kerala. Hence there are several myths associated with this shrine.

• The construction of the temple has a long history. As per myths, Saint Kharasura had a pupil named Pingala. Pingala was poor and hence after completion of his education, the saint did not ask for anything from him. Pingala persuaded the saint to ask for something. Kharasura was angry and asked for 180 billion gold pieces from his disciple. Pingala was distressed and the compassionate saint thought of helping him out. Both of them travelled to Harinadweep and worshipped Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. When Lord Vishnu appeared Pingala asked for the 180 billion pieces of gold and offered the same to Kharasura. After that Lord Shiva appeared and Kharasura used all the gold to worship the Lord. Pleased with his worship, Lord Shiva offered the same amount of gold to the saint. The saint then used the gold to worship Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva reappeared and gifted three Shiva Lingas to Kharasura. One of these Shiva Lingas stayed buried at Harinapura. After thousands of years, a woman hit the Linga while digging for edible roots and the Shiva Linga began to bleed. Lord Shiva appeared angry in front of the lady and turned her into a stone. The Shiva Linga was brought at Ettumanoor and the Mahadeva Temple was formed.
• Another myth states that Saint Lomharsha came to offer prayers at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple and fell in the tank while bathing. People laughed at him and he cursed that the place will turn into a jungle. It gradually became a jungle until Vilwamangalathu Swamiyar discovered the Siva Linga within the forest. He also reconstructed the temple and established the rituals that are performed at this temple.
• There are two Dwaarapaalakas at the Sreekovil sanctum. They are the guards of the temple. It is said that these guards used to beat the devotees who came to the temple. Hence to stop them, holes have been placed on their hand and feet.
• Another myth states that Goddess Parvati stays at the eastern end of Sreekovil. Hence this door is never opened.
• There are two large Nanni statues at the Mukhamandapam. One statue is made of wood and the other is made of bronze. As per legends, the bronze statue was gifted by the King of Chempakassery after he was cured of stomach pain. This statue was filled with paddy.
• Another myth states that if a grain from this statue is eaten it can cure stomach ache. There is also a hole in the belly of the statue for this purpose.
• Adi Shankaracharya wrote Saundarya Lahari on his visit to Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. He is a famous Indian philosopher.

Significance of the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

The temple bears the rich culture and history of Kerala. Some of the important features of the temple are:

• Lord Shiva is worshipped in three forms. In the morning He is worshipped as Ardhanareeshwara. In the afternoon He is worshipped as Kirathamoorthi and in the evening He is worshipped as Samhararudra.
• There are other Hindu gods at the temple. Lord Ganapati, Goddess Bhagavathy, Lord Dakshinamoorthy, Sastha and Yakshi are some of them.
• The temple is also famous for its mural paintings. The most famous mural of the shrine is that of Nataraja, which is present within the Gopuram. Ezharaponnana painting is also famous. This painting shows seven and a half elephants finished in gold.
• The other mural paintings of the temple exhibit Anantasayana on the northern wall. The Akhoramoorthi and Pradoshathandava paintings decorate the southern part of the sanctum.
• The Thandava painting represents Lord Shiva in a dancing pose. This mural represents Lord Shiva with River Ganges and crescent moon on his coppery, matted hair. He also holds a bow and drum in the right hand. While the bow is known as Pinaka, the attached drum is named as Udukku. There is a sword and arrow in another hand. The sword is Khatwanga in local language and the arrow is Varunapaasa. There are bells, fire and a blazing mace in the other hands. This idol depicts the courageous and angry Lord Shiva. This painting is present in the main sanctum. The main gopura is at the western side.
• The Sreekovil is a circular gopura with wood sculptures. The sculptures narrate stories from Purana which is the mythological book of the Hindu religion. The sculptures show Ashtaaavakra Maharshi, Lord Ganesha with his wife, Raasaleela, Aditya, Vaamana, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva in Tandava pose and Sree Rama’s coronation ceremony.

Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple Timings

The Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple opens early in the morning with the first rays of the sun.

• At 4.00 am Sreekovil sanctum temple opens.
• Within 4.00 to 4.30 am Nirmalyam takes place.
• From 4.30 am to 5.00 am Abhishekam takes place.
• Madhavippalli Pooja, also you can call as Usha Pooja, is between 5.00 am to 6.00 am.
• Ethruthu Pooja takes place from 6.00 am to 6.30 am.
• Pantheeradi worship takes place between 8.00 am to 8.30 am.
• At 10.00 to 10.30, Dhaara and Navakom rituals take place.
• Ucha Pooja takes place between 11.00 am and 11.30 am.
• From 11.30 am to 12.00 pm Ucha Sree Bali worship takes place.
• The temple closes during the afternoon.
• The temple again opens at 17.00 pm.
• Deeparadhana is between 18.30 pm and 19.00 pm.
• Athaazha Pooja takes place between 19.30 pm to 20.00 pm.
• Athaazha Sree Bali worship is the last phase of ritual which takes place on a day. This is performed between 20.00 pm and 20.30 pm. The temple closes after that.

Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple Food Timings

After the daily worship at the temple, devotees can have prasadam.

Dress Code at Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

Though there is no specific dress code at the temple, people prefer traditional dressing. Men have to remove shirt before entering the temple. Also, tourists need to remove shoes.

Festivals celebrated at Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

This temple celebrates all the rituals associated with Lord Shiva.

• Ezharaponnana Ezhunallathu Festival: This is the most famous festival at the shrine. The festival goes on for 10 days. It is during February or March. The month name is Kumbha as per Malayalam and Hindu calendar. Araat is a significant part of the festival. This falls on the Thiruvathira day. Also, on the 8th day, the idols of seven and a half elephants are brought outside the temple. There is a great procession during the festival.
• Shivaratri: This is also celebrated with great pomp and show at the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. The festival generally takes place during February or March. Thousands of devotees gather here to bath Lord Shiva with milk and offer flowers, fruits and sweets.

Poojas and Rituals at Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

There are some special rituals at this temple.

• The temple has a golden idol of Akhoramoorthi. This idol is placed before Lord Shiva every morning and is removed from the place the next day, after Nirmalya Pooja. The idol of Akhoramoorthi is two and a half feet tall.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is famous among the devotees of Lord Shiva. Hence easily accessible from all parts of Kerala.

By Air: The Cochin International airport is the nearest airport to Kottayam. This airport is at 77 km from the place. There are private cars available from the airport which takes tourists directly to the shrine.

By Rail: The Ettumanoor railway station is the nearest railway station to the temple. The railway station is at 2 km from Kottayam. The other nearby railway station is the Kottayam railway station. This main railway station is at 11 km from the temple. Local vehicles are available outside the railway station which can directly take you to the temple.

By Road: The temple is near the MC road and 10 km from the main Kottayam city. besides bus, you can hire private cars to the temple.

Hotels in Kottayam: Where to stay

There are both budget and premium hotels near the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. The Palakunnel Residency is a budget hotel at 0.7 km from the temple. The Abad Whispering Palms is a luxury hotel at 18.7 km from the shrine. Kumarakom Lake Resort, Cocobay Resort and Lakesong Resort are the other options.

Where to eat

Due to the immense popularity of the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, several eateries have developed around it. The Astoria and Annapurna restaurants are just 2 km from the shrine.

Nearby Temples

Kottayam is a famous pilgrimage in Kerala. The place is famous for Hindu, Christian and Muslim pilgrim centres.

• Vaikom Shiva Temple: This is another famous Shiva temple of Kerala. The temple is at 31 km from Kottayam. The temple is also legendary as associated with Parasurama. It is a beautiful temple featuring Kerala style of architecture. Also, the temple is the Kasi of the South. Several elephant pageants and art performances take place at the temple complex. The Vaikathashrami is the largest festival here. The festival takes place during November or December.
• Thangalppara, Kottayam: This is a Muslim pilgrimage. Thangalppara is the mausoleum of Sheikh Fariduddin. The mosque is also a major tourist destination as located near the Kurathikallu hill station.
• Kurisumala, Kottayam: This is a popular Christian pilgrimage of Kerala. During the Christian holy months, numerous devotees climb the hill with a wooden cross in their hands. Also, there is a monastery at the hilltop. The serenity of the place brings out prayer from the deep core of your heart. Moreover, as you travel to Kurisumala, the scenic beauty enthrals you.
• Muruganmala Temple, Kottayam: Near the Kurisumala church, there is an ancient shrine. God Murugan is the presiding deity at this temple. Murugan is the son of Lord Shiva.
• Vavarambalam, Erumeli: This mosque has a strong connection with Hindu worship. Here devotees worship Vavar. As per myths, He is the companion of Sree Ayyappa. Hence before worshipping Sree Ayyappa at the Sabarimala Temple, devotees need to worship here. The Erumeli Pettathullal is the major festival here. It is generally during January. In case you are planning on visiting Sabarimala Temple, here is the Sabarimala Festival Calendar for 2019-2020.
• Mortal Remains of Saint Alphonsa, Bharananganam: The church has mortal remains of Saint Alphonsa. Thousands of pilgrims visit this church every year. The Feast of the St. Alphonsa is a major festival. This festival takes place in July.
• St. Mary’s Church, Manarcad: This church is just at 8 km from the Kottayam main city. Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christians worship at this church. The Ettunompu is a major festival. During the festival, devotees fast 8 days. The festival takes place from 1st to 8th September.
• Alapra Thacharikkal Bhagavathi Temple, Alapra: This shrine is amidst dense forests. The deity is Goddess Bhagavathy. Furthermore, it is the only place in Kottayam to perform Padayani ritual. The place is also a tourist hotspot. It has several caves, waterfalls and muniyaras.

Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kottayam is just not a pilgrimage for devotees for Lord Shiva, but a holy abode for people seeking some respite from the hassle and bustle of daily life.

Tali Shiva Temple is the oldest temple in Kozhikode, Kerala. The temple is in the middle of Kozhikode town and was built during the 14th century. The temple worships Lord Shiva. The deity here is a blended form of Goddess Uma and Lord Shiva. It is known as Uma Maheshwara.

History and Legend of Tali Shiva Temple

• This 400 years old temple paints the picture of religious India.
• The shrine was constructed at the end of Dwaparayuga. Saint Parasurama built this temple. Saint Parasurama is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• As per another myth, the Tali Temple was a small temple in a village. 50 Namboothiri families looked after the temple.
• The temple gained importance 1500 years ago. It was under the Zamorins. The Zamorins executed the Namboothiri families and took over the temple. They were also called Sailabdheswara. Sailabdheswara means the lord of the mountain and the sea. Swamy Thirumulpad made the temple within his palace complex. After some time, another Zamorin, Manavikraman gave the temple its present shape. The temple is still looked after by them.
• The temple was almost damaged when Tipu Sultan invaded Kozhikode in the 18th century. Again the shrine was renovated in 1964.
• Revathi Pattathanam function started at this temple. Eminent people and philosophers came to this function. Bharatha Meemamsa, Prabhakara Meemamsa, Vedanta Meemamsa and Vyakarana were discussed at the functions. During the 15th and 16th centuries, eighteen poets came to this function. This function also takes place at present.
• Moreover, the temple is a God gift to locals. They believe that the temple has brought richness to Kozhikode.
• Some historians believe the temple was made even before the city was built.

Significance of Tali Shiva Temple

• The Tali Shiva Temple is historically important. It is a treasure house with numerous deities and beautiful built.
• This is a two storied sanctum. It is in the chariot form and is decorated with mural paintings.
• The temple is protected by large walls on all sides, which are in the form of an elephant belly.
• Also, there are fine granite sculptures within the temple complex. These sculptures show Lord Shiva. Also, birds and animal sculptures are present. These portray different stories from the Puranas.
• Moreover, there is a Jyotirlingam in the sanctum. 5 of the 12 Jyotirlingas are located in and around Pune in Maharashtra. Umamaheshwara, Tali Ganapathy, Thevarathil Ganapathy and Thrumandhakunnu Bhagavathy are also there within the inner walls. The outer walls have deities of Lord Ayyappa, Thevarathil Bhagavathy and Lord Naga.
• There is a separate Lord Vishnu temple within the complex. The temple also has its own Dwajastambam.
• The idol of Sreevalayanad Bhagavati is also present in the Lord Vishnu temple.
• There is another small temple. The presiding deity is Narasimha Moorthy. This temple is at the southern part of the Vishnu Temple.
• The northern part has the Eranjipuram. It is also beautiful with lights from all sides.
• The main temple has four main parts. The Dwajastambam refers to the flag poles. People also believe these are connections of heaven to earth. The Anakottil is the flag staff platform. It was built for the elephants. The gopurams are large. These gateways are another treat to eyes with intricate carvings, while the Deepasthambhum is the beautiful lighting pillars.
• The various temples within the complex are Sivakshetram, Nalambalam and Krishnakshetram.

Tali Shiva Temple Timings and Poojas

Like any traditional Hindu temple, the Tali Temple opens during the early morning. It opens at 4.30 am and is open till 11.00 am. The temple again opens at 5.00 pm and closes at 8.30 pm. Furthermore, there are five different religious programs that take place every day at this temple.

• Nadathurakkal Abishekam is the first puja. It starts at 4.30 am. This puja takes place at Sivakshetram.
• Dhara Usha pooja takes place at Sivakshetram. This worship is at 5.30 am.
• Ganapathihomam puja is at 6.00 am. It takes place at the Nalambalam temple.
• Ravilathe worship is at 6.30 am. The puja takes place at Sivakshetram.
• At 7.00 am and 7.15 am, Seeveli Pooja takes place both at Sivakshetram and Krishnakshetram.
• Navagraha Pooja along with Mrithyunjaya Homam takes place at 7.30 am. It is at Sivakshetram temple.
• Pantheeradi Puja is at 8.00 am and 9.00 am. This is first at Krishnakshetram shrine and then at Sivakshetram. Lakshminarayana Pooja also takes place at Krishnakshetram but at 8.30 am.
• Ucha Pooja takes place at 9.45 am and then at 10.00 am; first at Krishnakshetram and then at Sivakshetram.
• Seeveli worship takes place at 10.30 am and then at 10.45 am; first at Krishnakshetram and then at Sivakshetram.
• Nadayadaykkal worship is at 11.00 am. It takes place at Nalambalam.
• Nadathurakkal occurs at 5.00 pm. This takes place at Krishnakshetram and Sivakshetram.
• Dheep Aaradhana is at 6.30 pm. This takes place at Krishnakshetram and Sivakshetram. This is a sacred moment as the priests worship with traditional towered oiled lamps and to the beats of drums.
• Umamaheshwara Puja and Bhaghavathi Seva take place at 7.00 pm. It is both at Sivakshetram and Nalambalam.
• Athaazha puja is at 7.30 pm. It is first at Krishnakshetram and then at Sivakshetram.
• 8.00 pm is the time for Seeveli at Sivakshetram.
• The day ends with Trippuka, Nadayadaykkal at 8.30 pm. It takes place at Krishnakshetram and Sivakshetram.
• Vazhipadu is a special puja. It takes place on special requests of the devotees. People interested in performing this puja need to book 3 days before the date. Also, worshipers can book for Vazhipadu online.
• Appam, Vilakku, Maala, Nei Vilakku, Pin Vilakku, Ganapathi Homam, Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam, Mrithyunjaya Homam, Dhara, Karuka Homam, Koovala mala, Uma Maheswara pooja and Ada are some of the special worships.

Food Timings

Appam is a tasty snack available at the temple after worship. This is popular as Prasadam.

Tali Shiva Temple Dress Code

Devotees need to come in traditional wear. People with jeans and western dress cannot enter the temple. You can hire a traditional dress (Mundu) from the temple counter. Also, men cannot come within the temple with shirts. They can drape a Veshti instead of a shirt.

Festivals celebrated at Tali Shiva Temple

Locals call festivals as Utsavam at the Tali Temple.

• Revathi Pattathanam: This festival still takes place at the temple. This cultural program is a seven days function. It is during October or November. As per myth, the Zamorins started the festival as a penance of killing the Namboothiris. Performing scholars also get rewards.
• The largest festival is during the Malayalam New Year. The festival is for seven days. People worship Lord Shiva during this time.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

As the temple is at the centre of the town, it is easily accessible from all parts of Kerala. Kozhikode is 184 kms from Kochi, 191 kms from Coimbatore, 232 kms from Mangalore, 359 kms from Bangalore and 378 kms from Trivandrum.

By Air: Kozhikode is just 23 km from the Calicut International Airport. This airport is connected to the various Indian metropolitan cities and gulf countries. There are private cabs available from the airport area which can take you directly to the temple.

By Rail: Kozhikode has own railway station. Therefore, there are regular trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore to the place. Mngla Lksdp Exp, Kerala S Kranti, Ypr Cannanore Exp, Mangalore Exp Ypr Cannanore Exp are some of the express trains travelling on a daily basis to Kozhikode.

By Road: There are several tourist buses that travel from Karnataka and Kerala to the Tali Temple. Besides these private air conditioned buses, you can also avail buses from KSRTC. The buses connect important cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Mangalore and Trivandrum to Kozhikode. Both luxury and semi-deluxe buses are available. If you are travelling via road on your own private car or bike, you can opt for the routes like Lakkidito, Nilamburto, Thalasseryto, Pattambito, Tholpettyto, Bandipur National Park to Kozhikode.

Where to stay

The Tali Temple has great importance in the religious life of the people in and around Kerala. Hence there are several hotels near the shrine for people from all classes. The Gateway Hotel Beach Road, Khaleej Residency, Chamundeshwari Tourist Home and Malabar Palace are some of the hotels just at 0.4 kms from the Tali Temple.

Where to eat

There are multiple food courts near the shrine. The Arya Bhawan and Aryabhavan Restaurant are just 0.3 km from the temple. Both these eat outs serve vegetarian food. Hotel Rahamth, KTDC and Hotel Komala Bhavan are just 0.2 km from the temple and serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. You can also buy banana chips and Shastha chips near the temple.

Nearby Temples

Kozhikode is a pilgrimage and has many temples around.

• The Balasubramania Temple: Just beside the Tali temple, there is an old temple. The presiding deities here are Balasubramania and Lord Ganesha.
• Varakkal Devi Temple, Kozhikode: Lord Parasurama built this as the last Devi temple. This is the 108th temple built by the saint. As per myths, Parasurama ploughed the area and Goddess Varakkal appeared. The temple is at the shores of the Arabian Sea. Vavu Bali is the largest festival here. Devotees perform funeral rites during the festival. The temple is open from 5.00 am to 12.00 pm and again from 5.30 pm t0 8.00 pm.
• Valayanad Devi temple: This temple is at Govindapuram. The place is at 6 km from Kozhikode. As per myths, the Zamorins built this temple. They were not able to get control over Govindapuram and were able to do so only after worshipping the Goddess. Lord Shiva, Ayyappa and Vigneswara are the other deities here. Priests follow the Saktheya tradition here. There is also a ‘Sreechakra’. Sivayogi Thayyavur Sivasankar made the ‘Sreechakra.’ Makaram is the annual festival here. This takes place for 8 days. Guruthy Tharpanam is also practised here.
• Pattalapalli: It means the Soldier’s Mosque. This is a four storied building. It has a domed roof and a round hall. There is a library and a well.
• Mother of God Cathedral: This church is at the Beach Road of Kozhikode. It has a Gothic built. Italian architects built the temple. There are spiral colonnades and the curved arches on the doors and the windows at the church. There is also a 200 years old picture of St. Mary here.

The best part of travelling to the Tali Shiva Temple in Kozhikode is that you can visit the place any time of the year. The natural beauty of the place changes with every season. Visit the Tali temple to increase the joy of life.

Vadakkunnathan Temple is located in Thrissur and is one of the oldest shrines of Kerala. It is also a national building. The temple is spread over a large area of 9 acres. It has a paved walkway. The shrine also has a lot of greenery. The vast area outside the temple is Tekkinkadu. This word means teak woods.

The temple is over a hill lock. Tourists can get a beautiful view of the complete Thrissur town. Locals also call the temple as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam. The temple won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award. It got the award in the Cultural Heritage conservation category in 2015.

History and Legend of Vadakkunnathan Temple

The temple is associated with the golden days of Kerala.

• As per myth, Saint Parasurama built this shrine. After creating Kerala, the saint went to Lord Shiva. He requested Lord Shiva to make Kerala his home. Therefore, Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Subramanya and other Ganas came to Kerala. But Lord Shiva suddenly vanished after reaching Thrissur. Saint Parasurama saw the self-manifested Shiva Lingum under a banyan tree. Therefore, people call this place Sri Mula Sthana. Years after this incident, the Thrissur king built a temple to place this lingam. This beautiful temple is the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
• The locals also believe that the Adi Sankaracharya birth history started here. His mother used to walk From Kalady to Thrissur distance to the temple to beget a son from Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva blessed her with a baby boy. The boy name is Adi Sankaracharya.

Significance of the Vadakkunnathan Temple

The Vadakkunnathan Temple has Kerala architectural style. The different features of the temple are:

• Besides Lord Shiva, there are other deities here; Goddess Parvati, Lord Sankaranarayana, Lord Ganapati, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.
• The temple is protected by a large stone wall. Also, there are four gopurams within the temple complex. Gopurams are gateways and have amazing carvings. The gateway base is granite. These gateways are at all four sides of the temple. They are at north, south, east and west.
• The main temple and the gateways have wooden carvings and sculptures. The gopurams are like pyramids. They also have many roofs.
• The Shiva temple is circular while the tower has one-tier. There are many pillars which are arranged in a unique way.
• The Shankaranarayana Temple is also called the Harihara temple. This is just beside the Shiva temple. This shrine has two tiers.
• There are three temples within the temple premises. One is for Lord Shiva, the other two for Sankaranarayana and Rama. There is also a separate temple for the Goddess. The temples have a square base.
• The temple is beautiful with mural paintings. These paintings tell the stories from Indian religious books. It also shows stories from Puranas. The temple wall paintings show scenes from Mahabharata. It also has paintings of Lord Shiva in Tandava dance pose.
• The temple also has a large theatre. People call it as Koothambalam. Enter the temple from the western gate to view this theatre. This building has a tilted roof, which is made from copper plates. The hall shows magnificent wooden carvings. It also has bracket figures. Chakyar Kuttu drama performance takes place here. This is a special drama that shows the rich culture of Kerala. This art started in the 9^th century at Kerala.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Timings

• The temple opens at 4.00 am and is open till 10.00 am.
• It again opens at 5.00 pm and closes at 8.30 pm.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Food Timings

Devotees can have prasadam after worship. Moreover, the prasadam is free at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Dress Code at Vadakkunnathan Temple

There is a specific dress code at the temple.

• Men have to be in white pancha and dhoti.
• Short dresses are not allowed within the temple complex.
• Furthermore, men need to remove shirts before entering the shrine.
• Women have to be in a sari. Punjabi dress and churidar with a dupatta or half sari will also do.

Guidelines

• You cannot bring children below 1 year within the temple complex.
• You have to deposit footwear before entering the temple. There is also a free cloakroom here. People can also park cars.
• Devotees can bring in mobiles but cannot do photography within the temple premises.

Festivals celebrated at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Thrissur is popular for its religious festivals and the largest festival takes place in the vast area outside the Vadakkunathan Temple.

• Thrissur Pooram: This festival takes place during April or May. The festival started in 1750 AD to 1805 AD. Prince Rama Varma introduced this festival. Many devotees, almost in lakhs, visit the temple during this time. The unique part of this festival is that Vadakkunnathan Temple does not take part in the rituals or procession of the festival. There are other two temples that do the festival. One is the Paramekkavi Devi and the other is the Goddess residing in Tiruvambadi. At present many other temples also take part in the celebration. The fireworks during the festival are spectacular. Elephants are painted and decorated for the grand procession. Nettupattam is clothing sewn with almost six thousand gold plated metal pieces. Devotees place this at the forehead of the elephant. The elephant carries three people on it. While one person holds the silken parasol, the other two stand on the back. Music plays for two hours before the procession. The festival starts early morning. It goes on throughout the night and ends the next morning.
• Shivaratri: Vadakkunnathan Temple celebrates Shivaratri with great pomp and show. This festival takes place during February or March. Devotees need to come in white dhoti to worship Lord Shiva. Tailored clothes are not allowed at this time.
• Anayoottu: This festival takes place every year on the 1^st day of the Malayalam month, Karkkidakam. It is in July. In this festival, people worship elephants and feed them.

Poojas and Rituals at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Vadakkunnathan Temple has some special customs.

• There is also a defined process of worship at this temple. It is known as Pradakshina.
• As you enter the temple you can hear the continuous chanting of ‘Samb Sadashiva.’
• Every day priests offer 18.5 kilos of rice to Lord Shiva. This offering is Nivedyam.
• Abhishekam takes place every day. Ghee is used to performing Abhishekam, lighting hundreds of oil lamps around the Shiva Lingum. This ritual is taking place for hundreds of years and this has led to a solid ghee mound encircling the Shiva Lingum. Devotees get a scrap of this mound as Prasada. Locals believe this ghee has medicinal and herbal properties.
• Trippuka is the last ritual of the day. It takes place at 8 pm.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

The temple is just at the heart of Thrissur and hence easily accessible from all parts of the country.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Kochi International Airport. It is at Nedumbassery and approximately 53 km from the shrine.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Thrissur. It is at 3 km from the temple. All trains to Kerala pass through the place.

By Road: Thrissur is easily reachable through roads as well. You can drive from all parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Hotels in Thrissur: Where to stay

KTDC Tamarind Thrissur is a hotel sponsored by the Kerala tourism department. It is just within 2 km from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The Joys Palace, KTDC Nandanam Guruvayoor, Mayura Residency, Hare Krishna Inn and Hotel Kanoos Residency are the other options for the tourists at Thrissur. These hotels offer clean rooms and basic amenities. The rent at these hotels is also less.

Where to eat

Due to thousands of visitors every year at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, various eat outs are found near the shrine. Reach Us Hotel, Hotel Bharat, Ming Palace Chinese Restaurant, Pathans and Hotel Elite International are within 0.5 km. Ela adai, pazha payasam, appam, puttuand kadalai curry are some special Kerala dishes that you can enjoy here. Thrissivaperror Kaapi Club serves awesome coffee while Fruitage is popular for fresh fruit juice.

Nearby Temples

Thrissur is a pilgrimage with various temples in and around it. It is also the cultural capital of Kerala.

• Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple: It is at 27 kms from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Every night numerous oil lamps are lit. It is also famous for Krishnattom dance form, which takes place every evening. The temple also features a unique ritual, Thulabharam offering.
• Irinjalakuda Koodal Manickam Temple: This is just 21 km away. The presiding deity is Bharat. He was Lord Rama’s brother as per the Indian epic, Ramayana. This is a 9th-century temple. The temple celebrates Medam. It takes place for 10 days in April or May. Visitors also witness various Kerala art forms in this festival.
• Paramekkavu Kshetram: This temple is at the foothill of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. This temple also participates in the Thrissur Pooram festival.
• Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple: This temple is behind the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The deity also has other names, like Kannagi and Bhadrakali. Bharani is the main festival here. The celebration takes place in March or April.
• Thiruvembadi Temple: This temple is in the middle of the Thrissur city. The shrine is for Lord Krishna. This temple also celebrates Navaratri and Sree Krishna Jayanti.
• Peringottukara Somashekhara Temple: This temple worships Lord Shiva. It is at 22 km from the main Thrissur town. Also at this temple, Maha Shivaratri is the main festival.
• Arattupuzha Temple: This temple is 16 km away. Lord Dharma Sastha is the main deity. Moreover, 41 temples participate in the temple festival. A gorgeous procession takes place in the festival. Decked up elephants carry the deities round the temple during the procession.
• Shree Rama Festival: Lord Rama is in the form of Chaturbhuja in this shrine. Locals call the deity as Trimurthy. Furthermore, it is a combination of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
• Urakam Amma Thiuvadi Temple: This temple is 12 km from Thrissur. It is the oldest temple of the place. There is a custom of cleaning the idol with peacock feathers at this temple. Moreover, locals believe that the Goddess can protect the place from disasters.

Besides worshipping at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, tourists can also check out the cultural life of Kerala at the Cheruthuruthy dance school. This is just at 30 km from the temple.

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is located in the Kottayam district of Kerala. This famous temple worships Lord Shiva. This guide explains the significance of Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, timings, poojas, history, dress code and the best time to visit Vaikom.

History and Legend of Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple has various stories revolving around its construction.

• Vaikom has other names. As per Bhargava Purana and Sanalkumara Samhita, the place is Vaiyaghra geham and Vaiyaghra puram.
• As per myth, saint Vyaghrapada saw Lord Shiva here. On Vritchika, which is the Krishna paksha, Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati came to saint Vyaghrapada. Hence people started calling this place as Vyaghrapadapuram. Later, when the Tamil language became popular here, people started calling it as Vaikom.
• Another myth states, Lord Shiva gave three Shiva Lingam to Kharasura. He gave him these lingams to attain myoksha. Kharasura was carrying one Shiva Lingam on his right hand, one in the left hand and one was hung from his neck. When the demon was returning from the Himalayas to south he felt tired. Hence, he kept the Lingams on the ground and sat to rest. When he got up he could not lift the Lingams. A voice from the sky said that the Lingams will stay there and help people to attain myoksha. Thus, after attaining myoksha, Kharasura gave the responsibility of the Lingams to saint Vyaghrapada and left the place. The Lingam which was in the demon’s right hand is at Vaikom. The Lingam which was in the left hand is at Ettumannoor and the one which was hung in the neck is at Kaduthuruthy. Locals believe if you can visit all the three temples on a single day it is equal to visiting Lord Shiva in Kailash.
• Also, saint Parasurama worshipped this Shiva Lingam. After worshipping this Shiva Lingam for several years, saint Vyaghrapada went on a pilgrimage. Saint Parasurama was passing by this place one day when he saw a Siva Lingam in water with holy rays. He understood this as the Shiva Lingam placed by Kharasura. Hence he worshipped this Shiva Lingam to attain myoksha.
• Also, saint Parasurama built the Vaikom Temple here. All the customs at this temple are plans of Parasurama.
• This is the oldest temple of Kerala where people worship Lord Shiva regularly. In all these years the Pooja took place daily with no break. Locals believe that the Shiva Lingam is from the Treta Yuga.
• People believe Lord Shiva is present in three forms at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. Once in the morning, once in the noon and once in the evening. In the morning He is in Sri Dhakshinamoorthy form. He grants knowledge, wisdom and understanding to the devotees in this form. At noon he is in the form of Kiratha Moorthy. In this image, he gave Pashupathastra to Arjuna. Arjuna was the warrior hero of Mahabharata. Also, in this form Lord Shiva removes all dangers and grants success in all work. At evening, He is in the form of Shakti Panchakshari. In this form, he is with his family, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya. Hence, in this form Lord Shiva blesses devotees all worldly pleasures.
• Pilgrims get holy ash as prasadam at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. People call this as Vaikkathappan. As per myth, this ash can cure people of hysteria, poison and wounds.
• There is a pond in the north of the temple. As per myth, once saint Parasurama came to worship here. He saw people suffering and asked Lord Shiva to help them. He requested him to create a Theertha so that people can bath in its water to wash away sins. As per belief, this is the pond which Lord Shiva created from the Ganges from his hair.
• There is a well at the northeastern part of the temple. This well also has a myth. Once saint Nidagha came to Vyaghrapada, requesting him to make him his disciple. Saint Vyaghrapada taught Nidagha hymns of Lord Shiva. Once they were worshipping Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha on Ashtami day. Lord Shiva was happy with the hymns and he came to perform Anand Thandava at the northeast part of the shrine. While dancing a few drops of water fell from his hair. Lord Shiva gave a name to this as Sivananda Theertha.
• There is also a pond at the eastern side of the temple. As per a myth, once two Brahmins from Kanyakumari, Shankara and Mukunda came to Vaikom while they were travelling to Kashi. While Shankara was busy having food at the shrine and listening to the Bhajans, Mukunda left him to travel to Kashi. After a few days, Shankara felt lonely and was sad as he could not take a bath in River Ganges. Hence he fell in severe fever. He prayed to Lord Shiva and as a result, Lord Shiva came to him in sleep. The Lord asked him to take a bath in the eastern pond to fulfil his wish. Shankara took bath in the pond the next morning and he felt as if he was bathing in the Ganges. Hence this pond is as good as the River Ganges. People call this pond as Arathihara Theertha.

Significance of Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The temple is important in the history of Kerala with its wonderful architecture and rich history.

• The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is one of the three powerful Shiva temples of Kerala. The other two temples which fall in this list are Ettumanoor Siva Temple and Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple.
• Locals believe that worshipping at these three shrines before Ucha Pooja, Lord Shiva grants all wishes.
• Also, both Shaivaites and Vaishnavaites worship at this temple.
• The temple is over 8 acres of land. The temple has four walls while the premises is levelled by river sand.
• There is a golden flagstaff at the temple. Near the Balikalulpura there is a stone image. This is Lord Ganesha’s statue. The Balikalulpura refers to the sacrificial stone. The inner roof of the Namaskara Mandapa shows stories from Ramayana. There is a single rock-cut statue of Nandi. Nandi is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
• The Sreekovil is the main room of the temple. This room is covered with copper sheets. Also, there is a front chamber in this room. This is the Mukha Mandapa. This chamber is built with stone and wood. There is also a second chamber. This chamber is built with stone and is square in shape. The Shiva Lingam is kept here.
• The Shiva Lingam is six feet in height. It is of black stone. The Lingam wears chandrakala. It is crescent. The Lingam also has three eyes, nose and four hands. Gold ornaments decorate Lord Shiva.

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple Timings

• Vaikom Mahadeva Temple opens early in the morning. It is the Saraswati Yama time. It is generally 4 am.
• After worshipping Lord Shiva at noon, the temple remains closed till 5 pm.

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple Food Timings

Everyday food is served after the afternoon worship. It is known as Nivedya.

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple Dress Code

As per the Vaikom Mahadeva temple dress code, men should wear dhoti and no shirt (only Angavastram). Women devotees should wear a sari, churidar, pavadai chattai or salwar kameez. Devotees will not be allowed to enter the Vaikom Mahadeva temple wearing informal attire like jeans, shorts or T-shirts.

Festivals celebrated at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

• Vaikkath Asthami: This is the most popular festival at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. This festival takes place in either November or December.
• Shivaratri: This is also a popular festival at the temple.

Poojas and Rituals at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

This temple has some unique customs which takes place in no other temple.

• The day starts at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple with bathing Lord Shiva.
• There are three worships that take place in the morning, namely, Usha Pooja, Ethirthu Pooja and Panthiradi Pooja.
• Ucha Pooja takes place in the afternoon. Abhishekas with names Panchagavyam and Navakam take place during the afternoon worship.
• Athazha Pooja takes place at evening.
• Offerings to Lord Shiva are made through poojas. People call these worships as Dravya Kalasa and Margazhi Kalasa poojas.
• Special worships take place on Monday and also on occasions of Thiruvathira, Pradosha, Krishna Paksha Ashtami and Pournami. On these special days and on Sankarama the deity goes on Rushabha Vahana for the evening worship.
• Also, hymns from the holy books, Vedas, are recited while worshipping Lord Shiva.
• You have to take six steps to reach the sanctum of Lord Shiva. These six steps depict the six emotions, namely, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Mathsarya.
• Prathal is a unique offering made to Lord Shiva. The cooking takes place in the big kitchen.
• The Ghattium recitation is another special custom of Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. In this custom, a Brahmin carries a silver rod fixed to a Rushabha. He then stands with this light in front of Lord Shiva and recites slokas.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is easily accessible from all parts of Kerala.

By Air: The closest airport is Cochin International Airport. It is about 76 km from the Kottayam district.

By Rail: The Vaikom Road Railway Station is the nearest rail line. The Kottayam is also not far. It is only 25 km from the temple.

By Road: The Vaikom Mahadeva temple is only 33 km from Ernakulam. Also, Kottayam is only 40 km from the temple. There are regular bus services from Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram to Vaikom. The Vaikom bus stand is on the Ettumanoor – Ernakulam Highway.

Where to stay

Shri Kailas Tourist Home, Kalakkal Tourist Home, Shree Vaikathappan Tourist Home, Motel Araam, Devaswom Guest House, Kottaram, Sree Narayana Tourist Home and Whitegate Residency are hotels very near to the temple. These hotels also offer all basic amenities and food.

Where to eat

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is very popular in Kerala. Hence there are many eat-outs near this shrine. Hotel Anandabhavan, Indian Coffee House, Hotel SNV Sadanam, Hotel Hari Hara Vilasam, Whitegate Residency and Valiyakavala are famous for food. These hotels are both economical and hygienic.

Nearby Temples

There are some important temples near the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple.

• Chottanikkara Bhagavathi Temple: This shrine worships Goddess Rajarajeswari. The temple is near Ernakulam City. Moreover, the temple observes a special custom for maidens. They offer silk and pendent to get married.
• Udayanapuram Subrahmanya Temple: This temple worships Lord Subramanya. People believe worship at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is incomplete without worshipping at this shrine. Moreover, a procession from Vaikom Mahadeva Temple to the Udayanapuram Subrahmanya Temple takes place on Vaikathu Ashtami festival. Also, the temple is famous for its intricate carvings and mural paintings.
• Ettumanur Shiva Temple: This shrine is at Ettumanur. It worships Lord Shiva. Many people visit this temple to fulfil their wishes. Also, the temple is popular for its fine sculptures. There are two statues of Nandi, one in copper and the other in stone.
• Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple: This temple also has one of the Shiva Lingams that Lord Shiva gave to Kharasura. The temple celebrates a 10 days’ festival.

Hence the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is a must-visit to know more about the Hindu religion. The temple is divine and as per belief, can fulfil wishes. Last but not least; enjoy some time boating over the clean waters of Vaikom Lake.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest temples in Kerala. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are two main Shrines in this temple. Lord Shiva facing East and Devi facing West. The main shrine is a conical copper plated one. Devi’s main Idol is made with an alloy of five metals.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is a ‘Maha Kshetram’ (temple having great importance) from olden days itself. The other sub-investitures of the temple are Ganapathi, Shasta (Lord Ayyappan), Chandikeswaran, Neelagrivan, Ganga, and Naagar. There is also a shrine of Sree Krishna nearby. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple is also referred to as Chengannur Bhagavati Temple, as the temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas dedicated to Goddess Parvathi.

Chengannur is also known as the Gateway to Sabarimala Temple. The temple was built according to the architectural design developed by Perumthachan. Chengannur Mahadeva Temple complex sprawls over an area of six acres, with a circular sanctum. The Shivalingam is said to have emerged on its own (Swayambu) and bears a gold planted image of Ardhanaareeswara. There are also shrines dedicated to other deities as well.

History and Legend of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

• Lord Vishnu, Brahma, Saints, Devas, Gandharvas, Yakshas and all other heavenly ones went to Himalaya in order to attend the auspicious marriage of Shiva & Parvati. The Trimurthis requested sage Agastya to go and sit on shronadri, to prevent the Earth from sinking to the northern side due to the weight of all the invitees who came for the ceremony. Though Sage Agasthya conceded the request he expressed his concern about losing the chance of viewing the marriage.
• After the marriage, Lord Shiva and Devi went to meet Agasthya muni at shronadri. There Devi became ‘rithu’ (menstruate) and she could not go back. Devi remained there till the period of menstruation was over. The place where sage Agastya meditated, is known as shronadri in Sanskrit and in Malayalam, it is Chenkunnu (Red hill). Later it is called as Chen Kunnu Urru (Ooru refers to a place) and hence the place is known as Chengannur.
• According to another legend Lord Vishnu severed the body of Sati (Goddess Parvati) into pieces which scattered over different places. These places are called Shakti Peethas. Accordingly, it is believed that the reproductive organ of Goddess Sati’s body fell at the place where the temple is located. The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is also related to the same legend.
• There is an interesting story related to a custom of oath at the western entrance of the temple. There was a Brahmin family who were great devotees of Chengannur Devi and who were very famous. Once an Alwar came to Chengannur to challenge the Muringoor family at a time when a boy of twelve years. He was the only male in the Muringoor family.
• He prayed to the Goddess and moved by the prayer the goddess appeared to the boy in a dream. Goddess instructed the boy to make use of the brass pipe in the ‘Araa’ which had a snake in it and which will be under the control of the boy. The next day the boy challenged his opponent to release the snake with his magical powers.
• The Alwar’s efforts failed and the snake, in turn, tried to bite the intruder. On the pleading of the Alwar, the boy controlled the snake with his prayers and sealed it into the pipe. He then made a hole in the wall of the Western Gopuram and put the snake into it. He informed the people around that if anybody utters a lie by putting his hand inside the hole will be bitten by the snake.
• This is the place where Yuddhishtra offered prayers to Vishnu, seeking pardon for his actions on the battlefield. He uttered the words `Ashwattaama hatahkunjaraha` in an attempt to deceive Drona and lead him into a defenceless state and his life was brought to an end by Arjuna.
• Kannaki was the incarnation of Devi Sati. After killing the king of Madurai Pandya raja she went to Chengannur at the top of a hill. While Devi was meditating her husband Kovalan appeared before her and they together went to Heaven. The people who were living in the valley and constructed a temple there with the financial assistance of their king Cheran Senkuttuvan.

Significance of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

• The most important and unique feature of the temple is the Thriputharattu which is marked as a symbol of fertility. It is believed that the temple is also associated with the great epic Mahabharata. Chengannur has been derived from the word ‘Tiruchenkunroor.’
• Balithara is an altar is used for making ritualistic offering to demi-gods and the festive deities. The central shrine called Sreekovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through a flight of five steps.
• Either side of the doors have images of guardian deities called Dwarapalakas. The roof of the temple and some of the pillars have lavish wood and stucco carvings depicting various stories of ancient epics, Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple Timings

Chengannur Mahadeva Temple opens daily at 3:50 AM. Worship timings are from 04:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the morning and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the evening. The temple timings are subjected to change during festivals and special events.

Festivals celebrated at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

Varshikotsavam: The annual temple festival is observed for 28 days starting from Thiruvathira Nakshatram in Dhanu Masam to Thiruvathira Nakshatra in Makaram month. Special pujas are held on all days. The shrine is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. Traditional performing arts, music and dance are staged during the period. The utsava murti of the deity is taken out of the shrine for ritual bathing on the final day. Hundreds of people arrive on the day to witness various rituals and festivities.

Thripputhu: Thripputhu is one of the main festivals celebrated in the temple. The festival is associated with the menstruation ceremony and is observed periodically in the temple. During this time the temple is kept closed for three days and worships will be offered to another image of the goddess in a different spot of the temple. On the fourth day, the idol of the Devi is taken to a nearby river on the fourth day and Arattu (holy bath) is conducted. This ceremony is called Thripputhu. Later the Devi rides an elephant and is taken back to the temple. During the festival, the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are taken in procession around the temple three times. Then the Lord enters the shrine through the eastern side and the goddess enters through the western side.

Thulasamkrama Neyyattu: This is the Ghee Abhishekam festival of the Chengannur Temple. This ceremony is conducted on every 1st day of Thulam (mid-October to mid-November). On this day 36 paras of ghee is showered on the ‘Shivalingam’. ‘Paras’ is a measurement in Malayalam.

Shivaratri: Maha Shivaratri is the night of the worship of Lord Shiva. It occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva. Devotees visit the temple in large numbers during Shivaratri.

Poojas and Rituals at Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

At 3:50 AM the first pooja that is conducted is the Ravile Palli Unarthal. It is nothing but the awakening of the presiding deity. It is followed by the Nadathurakkal which means the opening of the sanctum sanctorum to enable the devotees to venerate the holy portrait of the deity and to seek their blessings.

Shiva Abhishekam is usually performed to a Lingam representing his manifestation as a creator of good (by destroying evil). The first worship of the day is Usha pooja or pooja at dawn. Though generally, the time of Usha pooja is thirty minutes after the sunrise.

Panthiradi Pooja is done only in major temples. This is done 2 hours after sunrise. It denotes the time of pooja based on human shadow measuring 12 feet in the morning. Here abhisheka is done with the pure water taken in nine pots after detailed pooja.

Deeparadhana is the worship with lamp with lamps, performed at dawn and dusk. Pyramidal lamps with seven tiers, lamps with five wicks and plain lamps with a single wick are lightened and waved several times in front of the Lord, from head to foot. Similar waving is then done with lighted camphor.It is considered to be an auspicious act to pray during deeparadhana time. This is the last pooja conducted in a temple on a day.  This is done between one and two hours after sunset.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is the nearest airport to reach Chengannur. Trivandrum International Airport is about 119 km

By Road: Chengannur is situated between Thiruvalla and Pandalam in Main Central Road. Chengannur Bus Stand is a major KSTRC bus station in Alappuzha District. It is one kilometre from Chengannur Mahadeva Temple. Regular bus services are available from Aranmula, Thiruvalla (10 km), Pandalam, Pathanamthitta, and Trivandrum.

By Train: The nearby railway stations are Chengannur, which is about 2 km, Thiruvalla about 10 km and Changanassery about 18 km. Some of the major trains passing through the station include Kerala Express, Hyderabad Express, Kanyakumari Express, Chennai Mail, Amritha Express, and Malabar Express.

Where to stay

There are many hotels nearby which offer deluxe rooms. They are equipped with modern amenities to make the guests stay comfortable and enjoyable.

• Spice Haven Annexe Contact: Vandanmedu Junction. Kumily Thekkady, Kerala
• Hotel Santhi Palace Contact: M.C.Road, Railway Junction, Chengannur, Kerala
• Hotel Raj International Contact: MC Road, Opp, KSRTC Bus Station, Main Central Rd, Chengannur, Kerala
• Hotel Navaratna Contact: Main Central Road, Near Railway Station, Chengannur
• Hotel Wyte Portico Contact: High School Jn, Karuvatta, Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Kerala 691523
• Hotel Breeze Land Contact: By-pass Junction, Vazhappally, MC Road, Changanacherry, Kottayam, Kerala 686103

Where to eat

There are many restaurants that offer some great food. One should really visit Oven Fresh Family Restaurant, Bafia Bakers, Food Palace Restaurant, Crupe Cafe, Joyces baker to taste some mouth-watering and tasty food.

Nearby Temples

Aranmula Sreekrishna Temple: Aranmula Parthasarathy temple is an ancient temple situated in district Pathanamthitta district. Near to the cultural village of Aranmula. Temple is situated near the river Pamba. This temple is believed to be one among the five temples built by the Pandava brothers. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, is one of the most ancient and famous temples in Aranmula. The Aranmula Parthasarathi temple is a simple structure in Kerala style of architecture and the idol of Parthasarathy is six feet high. It is believed that in the war of Mahabharata Lord Krishna was Arjuna’s charioteer. This form of Lord Krishna was worshipped in the temple Aranmula. So the temple is named as Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple.

Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple: Chakkulathukavu Sree Bhagavathy Temple is one of the most famous Devi Temples in Kerala situated at Neerattupuram. The presiding deity of this temple is Durga Devi, who answers the call of her devotees. Chakkulathukavu Devi Temple is believed to be more than 3000 years old. There is an idol of Vana Durga with eight hands, installed near the original idol. Thousands of devotees visit the temple of every Fridays and during the annual Chakkulathukavu Pongala Festival in November – December the temple is visited by lakhs of devotees from all over the state.

Thiruvalla Sreevallabhaswami Temple: Sree Vallabha Temple is located at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It is a 400-year-old temple on the banks of the River Manimala. This ancient majestic temple devoted to Lord Mahavishnu is one among the 108 abodes of Lord Vishnu. There is a big pillar made out of a single piece of stone at the western side of the temple and an idol of Lord Garuda Bird is placed on its top. The building structure there is called as ‘Garuda Madathara’ and it has a Nepal style. There is Garuda Bird as sub deity in this temple. The deity of Sree Vallabha Swamy is facing east and in the same ‘Sudarshana Chakra'(Sudarshana Discus) is consecrated facing west and is known as ‘Chakrathazhvar’.There is an offering in this temple known as ‘Paala Namaskaram’ which will help to get blessings from Lord to fulfil the devotee’s wishes. The offering of ‘Kathakali’ to be performed in the temple is another special ritual here.

Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple is situated about 15 km east of Pampa in Kerala. The holy river Pamba flows through the northern part of Nilakkal. During Sabarimala pilgrimage, lots of devotees visit this temple. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa on his way to the forest to eradicate the demon got the blessings from his father Haran from Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple.

Pilgrims on their way to Sannidhanam seek the blessings from Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple. The deity here is believed to be in two moods fierce Ugramoorthy and auspicious Mangala Pradayakan. It is also believed that Lord Siva showered blessings to his son lord Ayyappa to fight against all evil spirit and save the people. There is also a Devi temple (Palliyarakkavu Devi Kshetram) near to Shiva temple. Lord Parameshwaran, Lord Kannimoola Ganapathi and Nandi are the three Prathishtana here.

History and Legend of Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

• There were attempts to construct a church in front of the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple at Nilakkal (on the way to the temple). It was regarded as Poonkavanam (Garden) of Ayyappa. As is commonly followed by church planters, a Cross was found near the Nilakkal temple on March 24, 1983.
• Media carried news of the discovery of the church claiming it was planted by none other than Jesus Christs’ disciple St Thomas. Christian pilgrims started flowing to the spot. Soon, the road to the temple was named St Thomas Road and the Christians started calling the Nilakkal hill as St Thomas Mount.
• On May 19, within a month of the discovery, the Kerala government approved a grant of 1 hectare of land to build Church in Nilakkal. This was fiercely opposed by organizations and thousands of believers took to protests. And the planters had to shift the cross to a new location.

Significance of the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

• Famous Hindu pilgrim centre Sabarimala is located 23 kilometres North-East to Nilakkal and also it is a Sabarimala Idathavalam. Hence the pilgrims on their way to Sabarimala seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
• During Sabarimala season, large vehicles drop pilgrims at Pamba and parks at Nilakkal in order to avoid the rush at Pamba. The parking ground’s at Nilakkal could accommodate more than 4000 vehicles.
• St. Thomas ecumenical church here is believed to be the first ecumenical church in the world. Thus the Christian community in Kerala consider Nilakkal as a holy place. It is believed that an apostle of Jesus visited the place and established a cross here back in A.D 54.

Festivals celebrated at the Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

Sivaratri: Puranas contain many stories and legends describing the origin of this festival. During the samudra manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the Gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire world and they ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from its evil effects, Shiva drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This made his throat turn blue, and he was given the name Neelakantha. Shivaratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world. Shivaratri is one of the holiest nights of the year. It is the night dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.

Not eating too much, eating light and doing more meditation on this day helps in fulfilment of desires. Shivratri day is celebrated with Rudrabhishekam, singing of the ancient Vedic mantras. It is accompanied by a ceremony of washing the Shiva Linga with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc.

Navratri: During Navratri, people from villages and cities gather to perform puja on small shrines representing different aspects of Goddess. A different form of the goddess is worshipped each day. Following the nine days of rituals and worship, the 10th day is celebrated as Dussehra. It is also known as Vijaya Dashami. It is celebrated to mark the victory of mythical King Lord Rama over the King of Sri Lanka, Ravana. People undergo rigorous fasts during this season that lasts for the nine days of Navratri.

The festival culminates on Mahanavami. On this day, Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped. Apart from the Navratri in September – October, there are three other Navratri in a year. The most important among the three is the Chaitra Navratri or the Navratri in March-April. This is also known as Vasant Navratri or Ram Navratri. Many devotees visit the temple to seek the blessings of the Lord.

Vinayak Chaturthi: Ganesha Chaturthi is also known as ‘Vinayak Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’. It is the day when all Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Sweets especially laddoos and sugary modaks, which are a favourite of the Ganesha are distributed. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is observed on the fourth day of Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha, of the Hindu lunar month of Magh. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Magh. And establishing an association between Ganesh and Chaturthi (four). A ritual known as Pranapratishhtha, that involves chanting of mantras by the priest, is a common sight during the occasion.

Poojas and Rituals at Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple

There are 3 Poojas performed every day. Special poojas are performed on weekly days on Sunday, Monday and Friday. The following poojas are performed.

Usha pooja: The first worship of the day is Usha pooja or pooja at dawn. The time of Usha pooja is thirty minutes after the sunrise.

Ucha pooja: There is Ucha Pooja that is noon pooja. The Abhishekas named Panchagavya, Navakam and any special Abhishekas that is Holy Baths are ordinarily performed during the Ucha Pooja. Special Abhishekams and Poojas are performed on certain days

Athazha pooja: This is the last pooja conducted in a temple on a day.  This is done between one and two hours after sunset. Deeparadhana is done after the Athazha pooja. Deeparadhana is the worship with lamp with lamps, performed at dawn and dusk.

How to reach Nilakkal Mahadeva Temple?

By Air: Cochin international airport is 136 km and Thiruvananthapuram international airport 156 km from the temple. There is also a heliport at Perunad, near Nilakkal, which operates at times of Sabarimala pilgrimage.

By Road: Mannarakulanji – Chalakayam route (SH 67) is the main highway passing through Nilakkal and also the Adoor. Vandiperiyar highway passes through Plappally which is 8 km west to Nilakkal. During Sabarimala pilgrimage, state-owned K.S.R.T.C buses provide chain services from Pamba to Nilakkal at fair charges for the devotees. Private busses only operate through nearby places like Angamoozhy and Thulappally. Transportation is comparatively less in this region.

By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Chengannur which is about 68 km and Thiruvalla which is 73 km.

Where to stay

There are many hotels and guest rooms available that offers contemporary rooms and suites. They offer brilliant overall design, facilities and dining options. They are the centre point for a number of tourist destinations.

• Hotel Mannil Regency Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Hotel Hills Park Contact: T K p.o, 689653, Kumbazha N Rd, Kumbazha, Mylapra, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Kizhakkedathu Tourist Home Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Hotel Hey-Day Contact: Thiruvalla-Kumbazha Hwy, Valamchuzhy, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Hotel Evergreen Continental Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Hotel Amala Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645

Where to eat

One of Kerala’s popular attractions is its delicious Kerala cuisine. Various locally available vegetables such as tapioca, cassava and yam form part of the cuisine of Kerala. Seasonal fruit such as papaya, jackfruit, mangoes and lime are eaten at different times of the year. Bananas and coconut are available year-round and are a staple of the Kerala diet. The refreshing juice of the tender coconut is a delightful drink, which you can enjoy on Kerala Tours with Kerala Backwater. There are many restaurants nearby that offer some amazing food for the tourists.

Pathanamthitta is an important pilgrim hub and thus is always flanked by devotees and nature lovers. For its tourists, the town offers several restaurants and eating joints all across the town. You will also find some nice Christian restaurant which serves alcohol and Syrian Christian food. Other than that, South Indian cuisine is the predominant cuisine of the town.

• Parayil Restaurant Contact: Door No: 788, Near R.T Office, College Road, Azhoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• J Mart Contact: Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Aananda Bavan Vegetarian Restaurant Contact: Thiruvalla-Kumbazha Hwy, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Khyber Pass Bake & Grill Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Green Chillies Hotel and Family Restaurant Contact: Omalloor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689647
• Hotel Evergreen Continental Contact: Kaipattoor Pathanamthitta Road, Pathanamthitta, Kerala 689645
• Kream Korner Restaurant Contact: Opp.Karikkineth, JJ complex, K P Road, Adoor, Pathanamthitta
• Teena Restaurant Contact: Mazhuvangad jn., M C Road, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta

Nearby Temples

Thazhoor Bhagavathi Temple: The temple is devoted to Sri Bhadra Devi (santham).This temple is the incarnation of Sri Parvathi who is the chief deity. Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram is a 300-year-old Hindu temple. It is located on the banks of the Achankovil river in Vazhamuttom. The temple is also famous for the folk arts and the Kettukaazhcha procession with Kaala. Three glorious hundika towers are lately built around the periphery of the temple. Bharani is considered as the birth star of the Thazhoor bhagavathi. The Bharani star came in Makaram, Kumbham, Meenam and Medam are celebrated in a grand manner. The temple is having very huge and glorious surroundings with scenic beauty. It is having a large and glorious Aanakottil. It has a boundary wall and towered entree with full of handicraft and sculptures both in stone and wood.

Kodumthara Subramaniyam Temple: Kodumthara Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple is located near Pathanamthitta. The annual pooyam ritual organized in at the Murugan Temple attracts hundreds of devotees. The shrine is dedicated to Subramanya or Muruga. Carrying Kavadi is the main ritual on the day. People carry various types of Kavadi to the temple in a procession. Traditional temple music is part of the procession. Unlike numerous Kerala temples, this one is well-known for its traditional architecture with well-defined conical-shaped roofing over the Srikovil. On the Pooyam day, people also pierce their body with a small lance or vel. This is done for getting desires fulfilled.

Bhagavathikunnu Devi Temple: One of the important and famous Goddess Abode in Thiruvitamkoor is the Bhagawati Kunnu Devi Temple. It is said that the Devi Vilippurathamma stood as the protector for the passersby and the bullock carts that cross the dangerous route. Some of the main attractions of the temple are a stone statue of Lord Krishna, the sanctum sanctorum, obeisance courtyard, sub gods and goddesses. The sub gods are Ganapati, Yakshi, Rakhshas  Valyacchan, Naga Rajavu and mala nada. The first flag hoisting ceremony was conducted on  24th February 1999 with much fanfare through the 10-day festivities. Padayani festival was also first celebrated then and continues to be celebrated every year on the day of Maheeram Star in the Malayalam month of Kumbham.

Anikkattilamma Temple: Mallappally Anikkattilamma Shiva Parvati temple is situated in Anicadu village. Agnimahakalan and Agniyekshi are symbolized in these idols. The temple is believed to date back to 1600 years during the early days of Edappally dynasty. It is situated by the bank of river Manimala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Shakti. The ever flowering Kanikonna located in the courtyard of the temple. It gives flower offerings to the Lords every day in all seasons throughout the year. Mallappally Anikkattilamma Shiva Parvati temple celebrates its yearly festival (Utsavam) for eight days during the month of Kumbham. It concludes on the day of Pooram star which is believed to be Devi’s birthday.  Other deities such as Lord Bhadra, Lord Nagaraja, Goddess Yekshiamma and Rekshas are also worshipped here.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple located is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala. This temple is in fact more than 2,000 years old. Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva temple is famous for the various manifestations of Lord Shiva, who is also the main deity of the temple. The Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple also has many minor shrines dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses.

There is a Namaskara Mandapam, with 16 pillars in front of the Sreekovil, which is one of the major attractions of this temple. The Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is well stored with ancient murals, wood carvings and Salabhanjikaas (sculptures) which are worth seeing.

Devotees attend Palliyara poojas held just before the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple closes on the full moon nights. Devotees pray for a happy married life and are blessed with children. The idol is considered to be of Uma Maheswara as revealed to Sage Parasurama. The Siva idol is just about 4 inches above the ground level and is in the form of a half-circle. Among the Siva temples, the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is called Arathali temple with its abridged form of Sivalingam in ‘Vadakkekottaram’ ( palace in the northern side).

History of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple

This place was the capital of Chera dynasty ruled here till the 13th century. The ancient seaport town Musiris and the Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy temple are the first things one notice in Kodungallur. The Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is believed to be built by Cheraman Perumal, a legendary Chera king.

It is also believed that Cheraman Perumal and his minister and friend Sundaramoorthy Nayanar left their life in the temple. There are two idols in Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple, considering as two ‘upadevas’ (sub gods), of them. This is the temple having the largest number of Upadevas in Kerala.

Lord Ganapathy, Cheraman Perumal, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, Brangiradi, Sandhyavelakkal Sivan, Palliyara Sivan, Sakthi Panchakshari, Bhagavathy, Goddess Parvathy, Lord Parameshwara, Prodhosha Nrithya, Sapthamathrukkal, Rishabham, Nandikeshan, Unni Thevar, Lord Ayyappan, Lord Hanuman, Nagaraja, Lord Pashupati, Nadakkal Sivan, Lord Subramanya, Goddess Durga Bhagavathy, Goddess Ganga, Konnakkal Siva, Kottarathil Thevar, Nagayakshi, Dakshinamoorthy, Althara Gopudan Swamy etc are worshipped here along with Lord Shiva.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple had undergone several invasions in the flow of time. The Dutch and The Tipu Sulthan of Mysore are the prominent ones, who demolished this temple during their invasions. The Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple was renovated in 1801 AD. It is believed that the main idol of worship, Siva linga is brought from Chidambaram Rameshwara temple. It was one of the most popular Shiva temples in South India.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple suffered war damages in 1670 and in the late 18th century. In the late mediaeval Thiruvanchikulam was under the ruler of Cochin but occasionally, the Zamorin of Calicut had usurped the control. 

The saint Sundaramoorthy Nayanar and Cheraman Perumal (both were close-friends) worshipped Lord Shiva leading to eternal bliss. They reached Kailas by riding on a 1000-tusked white elephant by Nayanar and on a blue horse by Perumal. Both of them have shrines in the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple. This event was taken place on Swati day in the month of Karkidakam (July/August) and special Poojas are performed in these shrines.

Umamaheshwara once appeared in this place where Vasuki (serpents) stood guard. The Lingam here is said to have been self-incarnated. It is of 4-inch length, 12-inch diameter and in semi-circle form. There is water around as synonymous to Ganga.

Significance of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple has the oldest reference in history in old Tamil Sangam literature. Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India where Lord Shiva is said to live along with his whole family. This temple has got a healthy relation with Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu.

A Brahmin had taken away Vasuki who stood guard to Umamaheshwara in a palm-leaf umbrella to his home for worship with the blessings of Umamaheshwara. This Brahmin family later became rich and their Mana famed as Pampummekkatt (serving of snake) Mana. This Mana is about 6-km east of Mahadeva temple. It is very famous for serpent Gods. People from all over Kerala and beyond visit here for the solution of problems connected with serpents.

The majestic gateway is decorated with carvings of elephants, gods and goddesses. Only the left side of the entrance there is a stone carving of Shiva and Parvathi as right and left respectively. Inside the enclosure, there is a porch with carvings dedicated to the characters of the great Hindu epic of Ramayana.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple Timings

• Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple opens at 5 AM and closes at 8 PM. The afternoon break timings are from 11 AM to 5 PM.
• The day starts with Palliyunarthal (waking up of the lord) at 3.00 AM.  Then there is escorting the lord and his consort from Palliyara to Mukhamandapa. Other rituals involve Changing of Nirmalyam, Abhishekam (ablutions), and leading them to the Moolasthana, Usha pooja, Dhaara. It is the accompaniment of Rudram. There is Pantheeradi pooja, Navakam, Panchagavyam, Uchapooja and closing of the temple for noon at 11.30 AM.
• The sanctum opens again at 5.00 PM. Changing of Nirmalyam followed by Abhisheka, Deeparaadhana, Athazha pooja, escorting the lord and consort to Palliyara. Finally conducting Palliyara pooja (Dampathi pooja).

Festivals celebrated at Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple

The annual festival is celebrated for 8 days in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February–March). It ends with the Arattuin the sea on the new moon day. Aanayottam is also conducted as part of the festival. The hoisting of the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple flag atop the flagstaff (Dwajastambham) about 70 feet high marks the beginning of the festival.

Maha Shivaratri: It is the most famous festival celebrated at Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple that attracts a huge number of devotees. Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple houses images of other gods and goddesses in small shrines in the temple premises. The fourteenth day of every lunar month or the day before the new moon is known as Shivratri. Among all the twelve Shivratris that occur in a hindu calendar year, Mahashivratri, the one that occurs in February-March is of the most spiritual significance.

On this night, the northern hemisphere of the planet is positioned in such a way that there is a natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is a day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak. It is to make use of this, that in this tradition, we establish a certain festival which is night-long.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple Sevas and Poojas

• The main offering in the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is ‘Shankabhishekam’ (pouring ‘Shanku’ flowers on the idol. The main event in the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is ‘Dhambathi Pooja’ (couple offering), in which worships the Siva-Parvathy dual and lead them to the ‘Palliyara’ (their personal bedroom).
• It is believed that the ‘Palliyara Darshanam’ give the bliss to overcome hurdles in a good marriage and child fertility.
• The shrikovil walls bear murals portraying Lord Ram and other mythological characters in five panels. The exterior of Palliyara walls also has mural paintings. Out of 274 Shaivite Thiruppathies in India, this is the only one in Kerala.

How to reach Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple

By Air: The nearest airport to Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is at Nedumbassery International Airport at Kochi. It is at a distance 35 km away. Taxi services are available from Kochi to Kodungallur costing about Rs 500. Kochi airport is well connected to all major airports in India and also connected to many foreign cities. Direct flights are available to Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

By Rail: The nearest railhead to Kodungallur is located at Iringalakuda, at a distance of 16 km away. Iringalakuda is well connected with other major railway stations. It is in the main route connecting Kochi and Palghat. Taxi services are available from railway station to Kodungallur at a fare of about Rs 300.

By Road: Kodungallur is well connected by KSRTC buses and private transport buses. The city is connected to Kochi (35 km), Thrissur (38 km) and Guruvayur (45 km). Tourist deluxe luxury buses are available from many cities including Chennai, Bangalore, Trivandrum and Kozhikode to Kodungallur.

Where to stay

Vedic Village Resort: This resort provides with necessary amenities such as the internet, 24-hour front desk, air conditioning, parking, travel desk, 24-hour security, and doctor on call. Ayurvedic spa of the resort help transforms and rejuvenate your body, mind and soul. Food Court serves authentic Kerala cuisines by re-creating the unique recipes.  All the rooms are unique and exude a charismatic appeal.

Aswathy Hotel: All the rooms in this hotel provides with first-class amenities in a warm, relaxing atmosphere. The elegantly furnished multi-cuisine restaurant serves both buffets and menu of Indian dishes. The lobby provides guests sitting facilities for the visitors.

Where to eat

In Kerala food is served on a banana leaf. Almost every dish prepared in Kerala has coconut and spices to flavour the local cuisine. That gives it a sharp pungency that is heightened with the use of tamarind, while coconut gives it its richness.

There are different restaurants such as City Majlis Restaurant, Relax Muziriz Kitchen, Thaninaadan Samudra Family Restaurant, Classic Durbar Greens and many more.

Nearby Temples

Ayyappan temple: The Ayyappan Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is a sacred shrine of the town. Lord Ayyappa is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is considered very sacred in South India. Devotees believe that Lord Ayyappa was the foster son of King Pandalam.

Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple: The temple is more known for its fame and mythological importance. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali (an incarnation of Goddess Durga). The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of an Asura, another a sword, next an anklet, another a bell, and so on. The temple also houses the images of Lord Ganapathi and Lord Veerabhadra. Bhagawati Temple is also referred to as the abode of Kannaki. The later was believed to be an incarnation of Kali and as a result, a temple was erected in her memory in Kodungallur.

Mata Amritanandamayi: The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) is an international charitable organization that aims at the spiritual and material development of mankind. It is also home to an international community of more than 3,000 people. Permanent residents include monastic disciples and families from all over India and abroad. Inspired by Amma, they have dedicated their lives to attaining the goal of Self-realisation and serving the world. It is here that they live with Amma, imbibing her teachings, practising meditation and participating in selfless service.

Sivakrishnapuram Temple: Sivakrishnapuram Temple is one of the oldest temples near Kodungallur in Edavilangu. In front of the Sanctum Sanctorum is the Namaskara Mandapam with six pillars. The sanctum Sanctorum has Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati posing together. Lord Shiva is locally called “Uma Maheshwara”. It comes under the Cochin Devaswom Board and is managed by the devotees of Edavilangu. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and Lord Krishna.

Kottappuram Cathedral: The Kottappuram Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church. The church is beautifully built in the typical Roman style of architecture and is extremely well-maintained. There is a missionary school in the church premises for the underprivileged. This particular church has a deep relationship with the ancient port city Cranganore(Muziris). Cathedral was in the name of Arch Angel Saint Michael.