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Home > Temples of Kerala > Ernakulam district Ernakulam district(a)Kunnathunad taluk The idol of Sree Krishna temple at Chelamattam (near Perumbavoor) is believed to have been consecrated in. the sankalpa of Sree krishna after slaying his uncle Kamsa to save his parents. Chelamattam is an important place for pithru-tharpparna (oblations to manes) on the banks of the Periyar. The river flows towards east at this place instead of west and hence considered as an ideal place for pithru-tharpparna. Another offering of the temple is thila-havanam. In the temple complex two other Vaishnavite shrines viz. Narasmmamoortthi and Vamanamoortthi are located besides Saastha and Naagayakshi. The Sree Dhanwanthari temple, Thotttva is famous for curing diseases. Another famous temple is the Bhagavathi temple at lringol (east of Perumbavoor) which is surrounded by a jungle. It is believed that the entire jungle represents the hair of the Goddess and hence kept in tact without any sort of pollution. The main offering of the temple is paccha-sarkkara-unda (fresh ball-shaped molasses) for fulfilment of any desire. The Kallil rock-cut Bhagavathi temple (originally a Jain shrine) has raktha-pushpaanjali as the main vazhipaat. The Saastha temple in the heart ofPerumbavoor town attracts large number of devotees, the important vazhipaat being appam for kaarya-siddhi. (b) Aluva taluk The famous Siva temple on the sand banks ofPeriyar is unique and the Sivaraathri festival attracts large number of devotees from all parts of the State. The Siva-linga rises out of the sand bank of the river and is believed to have been installed during the period of avathaar of Sree Rama who himself is said to have worshipped it.1There will be only a temporary shed during December to May. In the rainy season (June-November) the whole place is flooded and the idol will be submerged in water. For centuries it lay unnoticed till the saint Vilwamangalath Swaamiyar who happened to pass that way, perceived a halo or prabha in the centre of the sand banks. He tried to approach the place. but could not do so on foot, since he found through his inner vision the matted hair or jata of Lord Siva spread out over the place instead of the sand. Thereupon he lay prostrate and rolled to the place. After performing some abstruse rituals and rites punctiliously, he summoned the leaders of the locality and advised them on the necessity of offering daily worship to the Siva-lingam. During rainy season worship is conducted in a small shrine (baala-ambalam) on the upper bank of the river. At this place Periyar branches into two and it is believed that a holy dip in the river on the next-day moming at the Brahma-muhoorttha (3 a.m) after observing the rituals of Sivaraathri is very sacred. This is in comparison with the kuritbha-me!a at Prayaag (where the Ganges, the Jumna and the invisible Saraswathi join together). This is an important place for pithru-tharppana also. Another notable place of worship is Kaladi, the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya (788-820 AD). There are two shrines here, one dedicated to Aachaarya as Dakshinamoortthi and the other to Goddess Sarada (the Ishta Devatha of the Aachaarya). Abshisheka in the former and pushpaanjali in the latter are the important vazhipaats. Close by is another famous temple known as Manickamangalarn Siva temple which according to tradition is associated with the birth of Adi Sankara. Tradition has it that the pious father of the Aachaarya, Siva Guru by name, was the officiating priest of this temple. It is said that the aged father once went on pilgrimage to Chidambaram and that it was here that the Lord appeared to him in a vision and foretold the birth of the great monist philosopher. It is also said that it was when his father was performing the Rudrabhishekam utteringpanchakshara that Sankara was born and so the child was christened Sankara as the visible embodiment of the prophetic vision. The rudrabhishekam still continues to be an important vazhipaat. The famous Thirumoozhikkutam temple (in Parakkatavu village) is a graama-kshethra and is dedicated to Sree Lakshmana. The Thiruvairaanikkulam Sree Siva-parvathi temple(in Thekkumbhagam village) is famous. In this temple Lord Siva faces east and Sree Parvathi faces west but the shrine of Parvathi is opened only for twelve days in a year commencing from the Thiruvaathira asterisk in the month of Dhar!u. During this period women folk observe Thiruvaathira vratha and worship the Goddess for getting good husbands and also for long and happy married life. (Thiruvaathira as explained in Chapter 5 is a women's festival and the vratha stipulates not taking rice meal but only wheat or chaama (panicum mileaceum), tender coconut, plantains etc. besides a delicious boiled preparation of koova (arrow-root powder) with molasses). The important offering of the temple is the thaala-poli taken by women. Only women folk are permitted to have darsan on these days. The Sree Krishna temples of Puthiyetam and Thirunarayanapuram (both in Kizhakkumbhagom village) are important as the former has a unique vazhipaat known as thookkam while the latter has the principal offering of koottu-paayasam. The Mukkannur Kuttala temple, locally known as Karavavathukaavu has no idol, but ha& a big pedestal of superior jackwood, a sword and a few foot trinkets. No pooja or offering is done except lighting of lamps and blowing of the conch. Pooja and other rites are instead done in Thazhathe kaavu, about a furlong north of the temple, the important offering being koottu-paayasam. The Sree Narasimhaswamy temple at Veliyathunad (in Aluva village and close to the Thanthra Vidya Peetham) is a famous one. The Sree Mahadeva temple, Chengamanad (a graama-kshelhra) has the idol with the sankalpa of Kiraathamoortthi. The main vazhipaat is sarkkara (molasses) as it was the first offering after prathishta of the idol.Kaprasseri Sree Krishana swami temple and Ananthapurath Maha Vishnu temple(both in Chengamnaad village) are important. (c)paravur taluk The idol of Maha.deva temple, Thiruvaaloor (Alangad village) one of the 108 Siva temples stated to have been installed by Lord Parasurama has the main offering rudrabhisheka. It has exquisite wood carvings. Another notable temple is the Sree Subramanya temple, Mannam (Kottuvally village), the main vazhipaat being paalabhishekam. The Peruvaaram Siva temple in Paravoor town is one of the ancient temples and is a graama-kshethra. In the Mookambika temple (Paravur town) the important vazhipaats are thri-madhuram and kashaayam. The Kunnathu-Thali (Siva) temple and the Sree Venu Gopalakrishna temple of Gouda Saaraswatha Brahmins are located in Chennamangalam. The main vazhipaats are dhaara and sudarsana-homam respectively. The Sree Narayanmangalam temple at Miitthakunnam, came to importance on 20th Makaram 1078 ME (1903 AD) consequent on the consecration of the idol in the newly rebuilt temple by Sree Narayana Guru. The Thirumuppam Sree Mahadeva temple, Varapuzha is very ancient and has dhaara,pushpaanjali, and koottu-payasam as important vazhipaats. The Uliyannur Sree Mahadeva temple, a graama-kshethra, in Kadungallur village is unique in architectural excellence with a beautiful circular sreekovil having peculiar construction, especially the sopaana. The idol is very big about 4 feet height, above the peetha. The Sree Parvathi idol in abhayavarada pose blesses ardent woman devotee to get good husband,and good children.The Sree Narasimha temple Kadungallur is also famous. The idol is in the form of Maha Vishnu. The Naararanam Sree Krishna temple at Eloor is also worth-mentioning.The Azhikkal Sree Varaaha-Venkitachalapathi temple Cherai of Gouda Saraswathha Brahmins is famous. (d)Kochi taluk Of the important temples the Subramanya temple at E!ankunnapuzha has historical association with Thiruchenthur of TamilNadu. The idol here is the one which was discarded and thrown into the sea due to some defect in the idol. Since this idol was orginally installed by Sanalkumara, the later Aacharyas who threw it could not transfer the entire power to the new vigraha at Thiruchenthur. The idol was washed by the sea centuries later. to the shores off Elankunnapuzha and was installed here after covering with the defective lower part of the vigraha with pancha-loha. Another notable temple is the Thirumala Sree Venkateswara temple at Mattancherry belonging to Gouqa Saaraswatha Brahmins. This well-run institution attracts large number of devotees. The other temples ~hich deserve mention are at Njarakkal, Azakiakaavu at Palluruthi and Devi temple at Naayarambalam. (e)Kanayannur taluk The temple at Thrikkakara having idols of Maha Vishnu (Vamanamoortthi) and Siva has great historical and cultural importance. The lithic records fo~nd in the temple belong to the period of Indu Kotha Varma (944-962 A.D.), while the onam, a festival of Keralites, takes its origin from this temple as Thiruvonam is the avathaara day of Lord Vaamana. (the presiding deity of this temple) The image of Thrikkakaraappan is installed during this period in many houses, particularly in central Kera!a. It commemorates the legend of the Asura King Mahabali who once ruled over Kerala, and was sent to the infemal regions by Vaamaga who allowed the Asura king to visit his subjects once in a year. This day is celebrated as Onam. The Onam celebrations extend over ten days starting from Attham asterisk in the month of Ching am and ending on Thiruonam asterisk. The Chottagikkara temple is an important centre of Hindu pilgrimage. The main deity of Sree Rajarajeswari is worshipped in different forms as Saraswathi in the morning, as Bhadrakaali at noon, and as Durga in the evening. Since she is worshipped in all the three aspects the Goddess is called Rajarajeswari. At each time even the dress adomed to the idol varies - impeccable white in the morning, crimson red at noon and bright blue in the evening. The main vigraha of the goddess, made of rudraksha sila, is three and half feet tall without any shape or form. Except during nirmaalyam the idol is covered with a go!aka (raiment) of nevi's figure about four to five feet high. At the right side of the principal deity there is another image of Maha Vishnu which is swayambhoo and in granite. Both these vigrahas together is called Lakshmi-Narayana. This is why devotees loudly call her" Amme-Narayanna, Devi-Narayana, Lakshml-Narayana, Bhadre-Narayana". The general belief is that bhajanam (regular worship for specified periods) has the effect of curing diseases like hysteria. It is a daily and rare spectacle in the temple that those possessed by exorcised spirits, insane men arid women, offer prayers before the deity by chanting" Amme-Narayana" followed by shrieking and dancing. It is described: 'often a tussle ensues between the Devi and the evil spirits in which it is the latter which admit defeat and depart. One can hear the altercation in different tones though it is uttered by one and the same afflicted person. It runs something like this; The spirit utters "No, No, I will not go". But the goddess insists: 'Go you must'. Usually minor cases are disposed of at the nearby Saastha shrine (within the akatthe-balivattam). A nail is driven into one of the pillars in front and the exorc.ised spirit is thus bound preventing it from afflicting others. The more serious ones are dealt with by the Devi who directs the patient to the Bhadrakaa1i at Keezh-kaavu which is believed to have been consecrated by Vilwamangalath Swiimiydr. There the fierce Goddess sees to it that the person is freed from the affliction when he or she falls unconscious. If necessary, Guruthi (kuruthi) is also offered. One or more nails offered by the priest, depending on the severity of the case is thrust into the paala tree on the north side of the shrine (keezh-kaavu) by the devotee with the fist and also hitting the head against it. The other important vazhipaats in the temple are pantheeraayiram (twelve thousand) - pushpaanjali and offering of patt (red satin silk cloth). The main vazhipaat at Keezh-kaavu is valia-kuruthi. Sree Mahadeva temple at Ernakulam is historically important and closely associated with the Cochin royal family. The important vazhipaats are dhaara and pushpaanjali besides ayiram-kalasam (sahasra-kalasabhishekam). Another notable temple is the Poornathrayeesan temple at Thrippunithura dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu in the sankalpa of Santhana-Gopala and as such the main offering is paal-payasam for getting progeny. The Ravipuram Sree Krishna temple, an important Vaishnavite shrine at Ernakulam, has a beautiful image of Lord krishna. The main offerings in the temple are thrikkayyil-vernna, paal-paayasam and udayaasthamana pooja. Very frequently Bhaagavatha-sapthaaha or other religious discourses are conducted as vazhipaats in the temple. The Devi at the VaJanjambalam temple, considered as Mahamaaya, is a very powerful deity. The main vazhipaatis kuruthi. The offering of oil at the Sree Vishnu temple, Chittur in the city is famous and consuming it is considered. a cure for rheumatism. The Gouda Saaraswatha temple is also equally important. (f)Muvattupuzha taluk The Paazhur temple, famous for the mural paintings of wood carvings is dedicated to Lord Siva. A peculiar feature of this temple is that all the three sides (east, south and west) are surrounded by Muvattupuzha river and this powerful deity showers His blessings on His devotees. The main offering is dhaara and kalasaabhishekam, done for the purpose of longevity. Another famous temple of great importance is the Siva temple in Marady (near Piravam), noted for the workmanship in wood. Equally known temples are the Ambasseril kaavu, Thirumarady Durga temple and Thuruthamattath Bhagavathi temple. The onakkur temple dedicated to Lord Siva and associated with the famous Kakkasseri Bhattathiri has exquisite wood carvings. The main vazhipaats are malar-para, nel-para, lighting of deepa-sthamba and chathussatham. The offering called chathussatham of this temple is a porridge prepared using 101 palams of molasses and 101 kadali plantains. Aaraat is done twice a day during uthsava period in this temple, which is a unique feature. There is an ancient Sree Rama temple at Ramamangalam. Another temple of importance here is the famous Narasimha temple. The sankalpa of the deity is that of sobre type tn a pose after blessing Prahlada often called as Baala-Narasimha. At the bottom of pranaala of the shrine an Unni-Bhootha is installed which is considered very powerful. It is significant that a separate flag-staff is built for Unni-Bhootha. It is to be noted that this temple has the tallest and shortest dwaja-sthambas ie, the tallest for Sree Narasimha and the shortest for Unni-Bhootha. The main vazhipaats are paal-paayasam for Sree Narasimhamoortthi and breaking of coconuts for Unni-Bhootha. (g)Kothamangalam taluk The most important temple is the Siva temple at Thrikkariyoor, the place which has been identified by some scholars as Vanchi, the original capital of the Chera Empire. A significant feature here is that the sila of Saptha-mathrkkals, Veerabhadra and Ganapathi are installed at the naalambalam also in addition to the balipeetha of maathrkkals. Chathusdatham, dhaara, kalabhabhishekam, lighting of lamps etc are the important vazhipaats. Depending on one's own resources rudra-yajnam is also held in the temple as vazhipaat by devotees. The Bhagavathi temple at Neriamangalam is dedicated to Madura Meenakshi and is worshipped by all.
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