Sri Mahadeva Temple

Overview

Parassala Mahadeva Temple is situated at Parassala, in the Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. The temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva. Parassala lies 30 km south of Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47, adjoining the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. This is one of the historically important temples of South Kerala. The Parassala Mahadeva Temple pays special homage to a Dalit (Parayi) woman who discovered the Shivalingam. Thus in honor of the woman, the deity was called ‘Parayi kanda shila’ (lingam discovered by Parayi) which later became Parassala. The temple was built by Mallen Chembakaraman Delava of the Venad royal family.

About The Temple

This temple at Parrasala is a west-facing shrine surrounded big compound walls. It houses two gopurams (towers), one in the east and the other one in the west. The western gopuram is connected to the Anappanthal (elephant enclosure) and Nadappanthal (covered walkway). This also has a namaskara-mandapa (a raised platform for offering prayers to the lord), balikkal- pura (sacrificial stone), thidappally (a store house). The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Shiva who graces within the shree-kovil (sanctum) in the Linga form facing the west. The Lord’s sanctum is made of sandstone and is built in a peculiar shape. Goddess Parvathi graces here from a separate shrine facing the main sanctum of the Lord. The icon of Sri Unni-Ganapathi found on the western side of the ottakkal-mandapam is believed to be growing in size. The northern part of the temple houses Lord Maha-Vishnu who graces from below a gooseberry tree. The Naga Devas are found below a banyan tree in the eastern side o the temple complex. Parassala Mahadeva Temple is well known for its sandstone architecture, only next tobthe padmanabhaswamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The architecture of this shrine is similar to that of the Tamils, and has huge stone pillars. The copper dwajasthamba (flagpole) in front of the temple is quite tall and was reinstalled in April 1997. The ottakkal-mandapam found in this temple is one of its kind, whose platform is made out of a single piece of sandstone measuring 24 sq ft in area. This temple had four temple ponds but the one on the western side has been filled up. The front yard of this ancient shrine is full of carved pillars with images of Vyali (mythological beast) and Vyakhra-pada-muni (Sage associated with Lord Shiva). Sculptures depicting Arjuna performing penance, Hanuman, Shree-Raman (7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Kaliya-mardhanam (lord Krishna dancing on the serpent Kaliya), Devi (Goddess), Lord Krishna (8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu) are found here.

About The Deity

Lord Mahadeva (Lord Siva) is the principal deity of this temple while Goddess Parvathy, Sri Ganapathy and Lord Vishnu are the other deities.

Legend and Stories

The present structure of Parassala Mahadeva Temple had been rebuilt by Mallan Chempakaraman Pillay (1773 CE), who was a Dalava (minister) of the king at that time.

Several statues are placed in the courtyard, while there is also an empty place found here. This empty place is believed to have once housed the statue of this noble minister. A king who had passed through the temple’s courtyard found the minister’s statue in the sitting position. He was angered that the statue wasn’t in the standing position, since it is considered disrespectful to sit when the king passes by. Thus the king ordered to remove the statue from the place.

There is a popular myth about this temple reveals that the temple used to face east like most other temples in India. However, once a low caste girl named Neeli had come from the western side of the temple, as she could not enter the temple through the main gate (people from lower castes were not allowed to enter the temple through the main entrance in olden days). On hearing her sincere prayers, the Shiva Linga here is believed to have turned towards her, with the deity’s back turned towards the temple door. Later the shree kovil (sanctum) was re-constructed in accordance to the changed position of the deity.

Rituals

The rituals are performed as per the Kerala tradition with five poojas and three sheevelis (processions) daily. The temple is comes under the management of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Prasad and Offerings

Kadum payasam and Dhara are the main offerings in the Parassala Shiva Temple.

Festivals

Annual Festival

The annual temple fest or the Utsavam is celebrated here in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May). The Tamil Brahmin community offers the kodikkoora (flag) and the Paraya community offers the kodikkayar (rope) for conducting the kodiyettu (flag hoisting) ritual. The final day of the festival witnesses the Arattu ritual, which usually falls on the day of Thiruvathira nakshathra (star).

Shivarathri Festival

The festival of Maha Shivarathri is celebrated here with much pomp. Lord Shiva is taken on a ceremonial procession on the Nandhi (the holy bullock) on thee occasion.

Other Festivals

All the Saturdays, Mondays and Pradosha days (13th day after the New and Full Moon) are considered auspicious here. There are five poojas (holy rituals) conducted every day along with the ritual of naagar- oottu or feeding the holy snakes.

Athirudra Maha Yajnam is conducted here every year. ‘Pallivetta’ (a ritual symbolizing the hunting procession of the deity) is held at the western pond of the temple. The ritual of Arattu is held in the eastern temple pond of the shrine.

How To Reach Parassala

Airport

The nearest airport to Parasala is the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Railways

Parassala is well connected to other major cities of the country through regular trains.

Road

Frequent buses to Parassala are operated from many major cities of the country.

Temple Address

Sri Mahadeva Temple,
Parassala,
Thiruvananthapuram District,
Kerala, Pincode - 695502.