Information of Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam, Kerala

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built for Lord Shiva. This temple is well known for its architecture and legends pertaining to this place and associated with temple. The Ettumanoor Village become popular since the presence of this temple from the ancient times and this temple was named after its location. This temple is also well known for having a beautiful fresco of Shiva Thandavam, which is a very rear art drawn in any of the Lord Shiva temple in India. Presently this temple is administered by the Trivandrum Devasom Board and is known to maintain this temple very well. This holy temple, which is highly regarded by the locals as well as the visitors, is supremely located at Ettumanoor Taluk, Kottayam District of Kerala State in India.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple Religious Significance

Lord Shiva is worshiped here as the Ettumanoor Appan by the Hindu Keralite's. The word Mahadevar is kept here for the Supreme Being, which is Lord Shiva himself. Here the Lord Shiva is worshiped in the Linga form, which is the symbol of fertility as per the Hindu beliefs. Many devotees believe that the Linga of this temple was given by the Lord himself to the Sage Khara Prakasha. Because of this specialty this temple is considered to be more powerful and divine for worshiping. This is one of the famous lord Shiva temples for the Shiviates sect, followers of Hinduism. The daily rituals and prayers starts in this temple from 4:00 AM as Nirmalyam and end with Athazha Sreebali around 8:30 PM. The daily rituals is attended by huge number of people and is done religiously keeping in mind the deity of the temple and the almighty, the creator of this world. This temple is open throughout the year and found with hundred of devotees daily.

Festival at Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

The Thiruulsavam is the main festival of Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. This is usually conducted in the November month with great flocks and cultural events around this temple premises. During the festival time, there are special rituals conducted in this temple which is witnessed by lakhs of devotees. Apart from this temple festival, the Shivarathri do pull many devotees to participate in the temple special ceremonies conducted for its primary deity.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple Mythology & History

There are many legends for this historic temple. It is said that the Pancha Pandava's along with the Vyasa Rishi of the Mahabharata times visited here and worshiped Lord Shiva. There is also famous flock lore that, this temple was built here by Sage Khara Prakasha. He got the view of the Supreme Being after a prolonged meditation and lord Shiva offered him his Linga to place here and worships him here later on. In the phase of time this temple was vanished by dense forest cover and later identified by lower cast women when she went to the forest to cut woods. The Hindu saint Adhi Shankara do resided in this temple and completed his famous Soundhariya lahari which is a great literary work on Hindu verses related to the Veda's.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple Architectural Significance

The ancient Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple was rebuilt by the Pandiya King named Chanda Bhakaran in 1540 AD. He was a Tamil king who came to know the importance of this temple and came here to worship. He later acquired lands from the Brahmin landlords and built this temple by following the principals of temple dynamic that were followed in Kerala in those days. This is a vast temple in a rectangular shaped structure. The entire temple is built with latirate Stones and teak woods. Many of its wooden works are breath taking for its craftsmanship. This temple has one of the finest frescos depicting the Maha Thandava of lord Shiva. There are two idols of Bull found here which are known as the Shiva's Vahana. The Valiyavilakku is the divine lamp of this temple which is lit since the ancient times and are found glowing throughout the year. This temple has seven elephant statues made out of pure gold weighing 13 kilograms and are only displayed on the festival days. This golden elephants were offered by the Travancore king.