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Home > Temples of Kerala > Kollam district Kollam district(a)Karunagappally taluk The Oachira Parabrahma temple is unique as the presiding deity is considered parabrahmam ie, Siva dominant. There is no temple structure. On a raised platform a conch shell, the homs of a deer and a sword are placed in a wooden framework, apart from the small idols of Siva, Ganapathi and Naagaraja on platform around the banyan tree. The nivedyam offered does not consist of cooked foods. The main offerings are pori (fried paddy), plantains, besides buming of camphor. The kaartthika vilakk for 12 days known as panthrantu vilakku is held between 1 st Vrischikam to 12th Vrischikam. Another notable festival is Oachira-kali on 1st and 2nd days of Mithhunam, commemorating the battles fought between Kayamkulam and Chempakasseri Rajas. The Indeilappa Siva temple in Thevalakkara has no roof over the sreekovil and the deity is believed to have special powers to cure eye diseases. There are number of Siva temples in the taluk in and around Karunagappally. The Padanaayarkulangara Sree Mahadeva temple in the centre of Karunagappally town is an ancient one, the important vazhipaat being dhaara. The Kamankulangara Sree Siva temple, another important one, has the same type of vazhipaat. The Durga Bhagavathi temple at Valiankutangara has a swayambhoo-prathishta and the principal offerings are raktha-pushpaanjali and paayasam. The Thrippavumba temple at Thazhava has deities ofMaha Vishnu and Mahadeva of equal importance with separate sreekovils and dwajas and also having two separate thanthris, which is rare rare thing. For Mahavishnu the principal vazhipaat is paal-paayasam and for Mahadeva it is dhaara. The Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara has the unique vazhipaat of thaalapoli (carrying of lighted lamps) by males dressed themselves as females irrespective of age. This is performed after taking vratha. It is strange that wives dress up their husbands as ladies making them wear all traditional ornaments and dress, all done to propitiate the Goddess. There are many other Bhagavathi temples in the taluk of which the Devi temple (Puthiyakaavu), Kannankulangara, Panmana etc. are important. (b)Kunnathur taluk The most important temple is the Sree Saastha temple at Saasthamcottah, believed to have been founded by Sree Rama. The deity is all powerful and those who cannot go to Sabarimala make worship in this temple. An important vazhipaat in this temple is the offering of velia-nivedya and distributing it to the monkeys living in the temple, who are considered divine. Offering of rice to fishes (Eatta) in the nearby fresh water lake of Sasthamcottah is also considered auspicious. These offerings are made for fulfilling any wish, particularly for progeny. The Kiraathamoortthi (Siva) temple at Pallikkal is famous, the main offering being dhaara.The swayamvara-archana in the Sree Bhagavathi temple at Kumaramchira is done for the mangalya-bhagya of girls ie, to ward off obstructions in marriage and to get good husbands. The Bharnikkaavu Devi temple is equally famous and raktha¬pushpaanjaliis the main vazhipaat. The Anayadi Pazhayidam Sree Narasunha temple(in Sooranad North village) is an ancient one. Of the offerings of the temple one is meeting the expenses of one elephant in connection with the festival. The Malanada temple at Poruvazhi is unique as it is dedicated to Duryodhana, the important vazhipaat being veti (firework). (e)Pathanipuram taluk This taluk has three famous Saastha temples, viz. Kulathupuzha, Arienkaavu and Achhancoil, the sankalpas being different for each. At Kulathupuzha on the banks of Kallada river, the Saastha is conceived as a small boy and the image is beautiful. The offering of rice to fishes (catla) found in the river is considered auspicious, as they are supposed to be divine. At Arienkaavu the sankalpa of Lord Saastha is that of a grown up youth. The important festival is the thirukalyanam which commemorates the Lord's marriage with his consort Poorna. The important offering at this time is kaanikka. Achhancoil Saastha temple situated in the dense forest and on the top of the Western Ghats is easily approachable through Shencottah (Tamil Nadu) by good motorable road. It has an ancient omposing idol of Saastha in the form of a warrior-God in sitting pose on horse. It is believed that the idol was consecrated by Lord Parasurama. The two consorts of Lord Saastha, Poorna and Pushkala are also installed on the sides of main idol. On festival days of therottam (car festival) the idol is decorated with colourful costumes and ornaments. The important offering is pushpaabhishekam. The PatHizhi Devi temple has historic significance. The Pattazhi copper scroll, datable to 1776AD is an important epigraphical record giving details of expiation payable by the kaaryakkars to the Ooraa?ars and the Bhagavathi is worshipped with great faith. The main offering is raktha-pushpaanjali.The Puthiyedam Sreekrishna temple at Punalur has the offering of paal-paayasam and appam. The Siva temples at Thirukoteswaram at Punalur and Agasthiyakotu, Anchal are equally important, the main offering in these temples being dhaara. (d)Kottarakkara taluk At Kottarakkara two Siva temples are situated close-by one facing east and the other facing west. The temple facing east has stone image of Siva-linga,jackwood images of Sree Parvathi and Sree Ganapathi. It is believed that the idol of Lord Ganapathi has carved out by Perum-Thachan and this small shrine faces south-east. Though a Siva temple, the sub-shrine of Lord Ganapathi is more famolls and known in other parts of the State as Kottarakkara Maha Ganapathi. The neyyappam is made in a hearth kept in front of Lord Ganapathi, as He is very particular to witness its preparation, and it is the famous offering. The main offering for Siva is dhaara and for Sree Parvathi it is pushpaanjali. The Sree Siva temple facing west has exquisite wood carvings made by Perum- Thachan. The main offering here also is dhaara. The Vendar temple (Kulakkata) has two shrines, dedicated to Sree Subramanya and Sree Siva. The Sree Rama temple, Velinellur, near Oyoor is equally important and the principal offering is paal-paayasam. At Kottukkal near Aayur there are two rock-cut caves belonging to Saiva faith. The main idol in one of them is Lord Ganapathi. The smaller cave has in one of its niches the idol of Sree Hanuman in standing pose with gada in hand. The Sree Siva temple at Chatayamangalam is another important one. There is a Sree Rama temple on the top of the hill, which attracts all devotees. It is believed that the rock is associated with Jataayu, the famous king-bird and it is believed that the place got its name from the bird. The temple of Poredam dedicated to Lord Mahad~a has peculiar offering of thousand pazha-nivedyam for the fulfilment of desires and for cure of diseases. Chronic asthma patients offer spathe of arecanut palm and a rope as vazhipaatto this temple. The Sree Mahadevar temple, Vettikkavala has peculiar offerings like karivala (black bangle) and a doll for getting progeny and a spathe of arecanut palm and coir rope for the cure of asthma. The important nivedyas are milk and plantain. At Kulasekaranellur there are two temples, one dedicated to Sree Krishna and the other to Sree Bhadrakaali. The major vazhipaats in these temples are paal-paayasam and ponkaala respectively. The Thiruvaakkanad Thrikkoikal temple, near Ezhukone, is believed to have been founded by Paakkanar. Three deities viz. Mahadeva, Subramanya and Sree krishna are installed in this temple. The two temples at Katakkal dedicated to Sree Siva and Sree Bhadrakaali (peetika) are also important. (e)Kollam taluk The most ancient temple of this taluk is the Rameswarath temple,dedicated to Lord Siva in Kollam town. It has inscriptions datable to 12th to 16th century, all in the language of Tamil, apart from architectural importance. Dhaara is the main vazhipaat in this temple. Another important temple is Anandavalleeswaram (in Kollam town) where the prathishtas are of both Sree Anandavalli and Sree Siva. The Sree krishna temple at Asraamam is associated with a sage and the grove at the western side of the temple, known as Munikkaavu, is a testimony to that. The Vatayattukottah Sree krishna temple is famous for uriyati conducted during the Ashtami Rohini festival. The Thirumullavaram Sree Maha Vishnu temple has an added significnce that it is famous for pithru-bali. Thousands of people assemble here to offer bali to their manes particularly, on karkkataka-vaavu day. The Thrikkatavlir Sree Siva temple is also a major temple in this taluk. The Sree Krishna temples at Kanhirakkode (in Mulavana village), Marthhandapuram and Mukhathala are also important temples in this taluk which attract a large number of devotees. Of these the latter dedicated to Lord Murari (synonymous to Sree Krishna) deserves special mention as the sankalpa is slightly different from other Sree krishna temples.The Kottakulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple and the Panakkalthodi Devi temple are also well known. The Sree Muruka temple at Umayanellur is the only important Subramanya temple in the taluk. At Killikollur there is a temple dedicated to Kandan Saastha. The Chennamattu Mahadeva temple at Chathannoor, datable to 13th century, has exquisite carvings of Devathas of Ganesa, Pandavas, Uma Maheswara, Saastha, Narasirilha, Vishnu, Durga and Kaarthikeya on the gavaakshas (pierced window openings for ventilation and light). The important offering of the temple is dhaara. The Devi temple at Chittumala (near Kundara) is an ancient one, the present structure datable to 12th - 13th century. It has great architectural importance also. Sree MahaGanapathi temples at Kacheri and Thamarakkulam (in Kollam town) have gained great importance.
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