KANDIYOORSREE MAHADEVA TEMPLE ,NEAR MAVELIKKARA, ALLEPPY DISTRICT-KERALA-COMPILED
Dear friends, Today my posting is about the famous and one of the ancient temples of Kerala- Kandiyoor Sree MahadevaTemple . Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is situated in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara on the banks ofAchankovil river. Kandiyoorwas once the capital of the Odanadu kingdom. The temple and regionare related to the history of ancient Buddhism in Kerala. Kandiyur is about 30 KM from my native. My late eldestbrother’s son is settled at Kandiyur. I have visited the temple many times. Hope a divine reading Gopalakrishnan 27-6-2025 Introduction and keyfeatures Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu templededicated to Lord Shiva, located in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara, Alappuzhadistrict, Kerala. It's situated on the banks of the Achankovil River. The temple ishistorically significant as Kandiyoor was once the capital of the Odanadukingdom. Key features anddetails: Deity: Lord Shiva,worshipped in three forms:Dakshina Murthy (morning), Umamaheswaran (noon), and Kirathamoorthy (evening). Location: Kandiyoor, near Mavelikkara, on the banks of theAchankovil river. History: The temple is considered ancient and has connectionsto the history of Buddhism in Kerala. It is also believed to be one of the 108Shiva temples consecrated by sage Parashurama. Architectural style: The temple features a Gajaprishta(elephant-backed) style compound wall, believed to have been built byBhoothaganas (followers of Shiva) in a single night. Annual festival: The 10-day festival falls in the Malayalammonth of Dhanu (mid-December to mid-January), with the arattu (holy bath) onThiruvathira day. Other details: The temple is also known for its stonesculptures and is sometimes referred to as "Dakshina Kashi" (Kashi of the South). Sree Mahadeva Temple also known as shiva nada is 1 kilometre westof Mavelikkara town and East of StateHighway 6. It is spread across an area of 7.5 acres Address: Mahadeva Temple, Kandiyoor, Mavelikkara, Kerala 690103 .Phone:1800 425 4747 Temple timings 5 AM to 11 am Reopens 5 pm .Temple closes at 8PM Legends There are many legends associated with the temple. It isconsidered as one among the 108 great Shiva temples of ancient Keralaconsecrated by Lord Parashurama himself. According to another legend the Rishi Mrikandu, the father of Rishi Markandeyagot an idol of Lord Shiva in Kirathamoorthy form while bathing in Ganga. Heheard an oracle that the idol be placed in a holy and befitting place. TheRishi searching for the apt location came to Kerala and ended up on the banksof Achankovil and established the temple in Kandiyoor. The name Kandiyoor is acorruption of Kandathil. According to another legend the temple is located at the sitewhere Lord Shiva cut offLord Brahma's head. The name Kandiyoor comes from name of Shiva SriKantan. It is believed that Lord Parasurama renovated the temple and gavetantrik rights to Tharananallur family. History Kandiyoor and the temple have great significance in Kerala'shistory. The Kandiyoor temple is the earliest temple about which there is anepigraph about its origin in A.D 823 during the reign of Rajasekhara Varman.[5]There was an era name 'Kandiyoorabdam' from the formation of the temple thatwas in widespread use until the introduction of Kollavarsham. It is also believed that there was a Hinayana Buddhist templenear to the Kandiyoor temple installed and managed by kannankara panickerfamily, it is also believed that it is this displaced Buddha that was retrievedfrom the nearby paddy fields and placed near the Mavelikkara Sree Krishna SwamyTemple (Buddha Junction) in recent times. The Kandiyoor inscription (K. E. 393) dated 1218 says thatKandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad and theKalasam ceremony was attended by Unniyachi, wife of Ravi Kerala Varma, King ofVenad after deliberations between the three. Kandiyoor was annexed to Kayamkulam by Kayamkulam Rajah andlater to Travancore by Marthanda Varma. It isbelieved that during the war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam the defeatedKayamkulam Raja surrendered his sword in the temple and left through the reardoor which still remains closed after centuries. The temple is mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written around the 14th century. It is believed that Lord Parasurama renovated the temple andgave tantrik rights to Tharananallurfamily. Sri Kandiyur MahadevaShastrikal - a SanskritScholar who wrote many Bhashyams for Lalitha Sahasranamam, Lalitha Thrishatietc. lived in Kandiyoor. HistoricalSignificance The Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple boasts a rich history thatdates back over a millennium. According to local legends, the temple wasconstructed during the 9th century CE by the Chera dynasty. However, somehistorians believe that the temple’s origins may be even older, possibly datingback to the 5th or 6th century CE. The temple has played a significant role in the religious andcultural life of the region for centuries. It has withstood the test of time, survivednumerous invasions and natural calamities, and continued to be an important centreof worship and pilgrimage. Key architecturalfeatures include: Sanctum Sanctorum (Sreekovil): The main shrine housing thedeity, built in the typical Kerala style with a circular structure and conicalroof. Namaskara Mandapam: A spacious hall in front of the sanctumwhere devotees offer prayers. Balikkalpura: A small structure outside the main shrine whereritual offerings are made. Chuttambalam: The outer enclosure that surrounds the mainshrine, featuring intricate wooden carvings and paintings. Gopuram: The temple’s main entrance tower, adorned withsculptures and carvings depicting various deities and mythological scenes. The temple’s architecture showcases the exceptionalcraftsmanship of Kerala’s artisans, with every pillar, beam, and panelintricately carved with figures from Hindu mythology. Main Sub deities andidols Goddess Parvati (Lord Shiva’s consort) Lord Ganesha Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan) Nandi (Lord Shiva’s vahana or vehicle) Rituals and poojas Daily rituals and pujas are performed in the temple,following traditional Vedic practices. The most important rituals include: Usha Puja (earlymorning worship) Ethirta Puja(mid-morning worship) Uccha Puja (noonworship) Deeparadhana(evening worship) Devotees can participate in these rituals and offer theirprayers to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and other deities. sanctum sanctorum The sanctum sanctorum, facing eastward, is adorned with atwo-tiered rectangular structure, featuring a unique platform in the front fordevotees, reminiscent of the Hoysala architectural style Deity The primary deity, Kandiyoorappan, is believed to be inKirathamoorthy form. The deity is worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy in the morning,Umamaheshwaran in the noon, Kirathamoorthy in the evening. Deity is worshippedas Panchamukha from North-West corner of Pradakshina way by viewing five Thazikakudams of Shiva templesand as Vaikathappan (ruling deity of Vaikom) during sunset. Sub deities The sub-deities in the temple include Vishnu, Parvatheesan,Nagaraja and Nagayakshi, Gosala Krishnan, Sastha, Sankaran, Sreekandan,Vadakkumnathan, Annapoorneswary, Ganapathy, Subrahmanyan, Moola Ganapathy andBrahmarakshas of which Sankara, Sreekanda, Vadakkumnadha, Parvatheesa andMrityunjaya are Shiva himself. Thereare six Shivalinga Prathishtas in this temple. Compound wall The temple has puranic stone inscriptions. It is said thatthe compound wall was made in the style of Gajaprishta (Back of the elephant)architecture. Its height is about 10 feet and the devout believe it was builtby the Bhoothaganas (Shiva’s followers) in a single night. The temple is alsonoted for its stone sculptures. Festivals Thiru Ulsavam at our temple spans 10 days, filledwith devotional fervour and spiritual celebrations. Devotees gather to honourthe divine deity, partaking in rituals and festivities that symbolize theirunwavering devotion. Anthipooja vazhipadu is a sacred ritual observed as aspecial offering to Thrikkantiyoorappan at the Thrikkantiyoor Mahadeva Temple.During this ritual, devotees participate in prayers, offerings, and rituals conductedto honour and seek the blessings of the deity. This significant ceremonysymbolizes devotion, gratitude, and spiritual reverence towardsThrikkantiyoorappan, fostering a deep connection between the worshippers andthe divine. Festivals andCelebrations The Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple comes alive during its numerousfestivals and celebrations throughout the year. Some of the major festivalsinclude: Shivaratri: Usually celebrated in February or March, this isone of the most important festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva. The templeobserves a night-long vigil with special pujas and cultural programs. Vishu: The Kerala New Year, typically falling in April, iscelebrated with great fervour at the temple. Onam: Kerala’s harvest festival, celebrated in August orSeptember, sees the temple decorated with beautiful floral arrangements(pookkalam). Thiruvathira: This festival, dedicated to Lord Shiva, iscelebrated in the month of Dhanu (December-January) and features specialrituals and cultural performances. Ashtami Rohini: Lord Krishna’s birthday is celebrated withenthusiasm, usually falling in August or September. During these festivals, the temple is adorned withdecorations, and special pujas and cultural programs are organized, attractingdevotees from far and wide. Address of the temple Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple, Kandiyoor, Mavelikkara Alappuzha District, Kerala 690558 How to reach thetemple To reach the temple, visitors can take a bus or hire a taxifrom Mavelikkara, which is approximately 5 kilometers away. The nearest majorrailway station is Chengannur, about 20 kilometers from the temple. All trainsstop at Chengannur including Vandebharath.For those traveling by air, theCochin International Airport is the closest, situated about 120 kilometersnorth of Kandiyoor. Visiting Hours The Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple is open to visitors throughoutthe year. The temple timings are as follows: Morning: 5:00 AM to11:00 AM Evening: 5:00 PM to8:00 PM Arti (ritual of waving lamps) timings: Morning Aarti: 6:00AM Evening Aarti: 7:00PM The best time to visit the temple is during the early morninghours when the atmosphere is serene and conducive to spiritual contemplation.However, the temple is equally enchanting during the evening hours when it isilluminated with lamps and resonates with the sound of bells and chants. Unique Features andRituals The Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple is known for several uniquefeatures and rituals that set it apart from other temples in the region: Ancient Manuscripts: The temple houses a collection ofpalm leaf manuscripts containing Vedic hymns and texts on traditional medicine(Ayurveda). Mural Paintings: The walls of the temple feature exquisitemural paintings depicting scenes from Hindu epics and mythology. Sarpakkavu: A sacredgrove dedicated to snake worship is located within the temple premises,reflecting the region’s ancient traditions. Annadanam: The temple regularly organizes free mealdistribution to devotees and visitors, a practice known as Annadanam. Ayurvedic Treatments: The temple is associated withtraditional Ayurvedic treatments, and many devotees seek healing through thetemple’s rituals and blessings. Music and Arts: The temple often hosts performances oftraditional Kerala arts like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Carnatic musicconcerts. These unique aspects contribute to the temple’s cultural andspiritual significance, making it a must-visit destination for those interestedin Kerala’s rich heritage. Kandiyur Mahadeva Iyer Kandiyur Mahadeva Iyer refers to Sri Kandiyur MahadevaShastrikal, a Sanskrit scholar known for authoring many commentaries(Bhashyams) on texts like the Lalitha Sahasranamam and Lalitha Thrishati. Hewas associated with the Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple in Kerala, which isdedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is historically significant, with itsearliest epigraph dating back to 823 AD. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1770688992.201978.1751030606113%40mail.yahoo.com.
