Chengannur Mahadeva Temple

Unlike various other temples, this temple has two main shrines. The two main deities of this temple are God Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. The idol of God Shiva faces the East direction while Goddess Paravathi faces the West and the main shrine of the temple is copper plated and is in the shape of a cone. Goddess Parvathi’s idol is made up of an amalgamation of the five metals which are called as ‘Panchaloham’. The shivalingam is gold-plated and it has an image of Ardhanareeswara (Shiva Shakti form of God Shiva). The sub deities of the temple include God Ganapathi, God Krishna, God Ayyappan, Chandikeswaran, Neelagrivan, Naagar and Ganga. All the mandapams including the mukhamandapam look delicate and they are made up of very fine woodwork. It is of a belief that in the Southern side of this temple, there are various great mantra books that were used to eradicate poison which are buried. It is of local knowledge that this temple is useful to get rid of any poison. People who stand on the cover and see the top of Sree Kovil for the whole day would not be affected by poison. The western entrance of this temple is attached with a very interesting story. Once, there was a popular Muringoor Brahmin family who were staunch devotees of Chengannur Dev. There was an Alwat who came to the town to challenge this family. During that time, there was only one male in the entire Muringoor family: a twelve years old boy. This boy was not well-resourced to meet the challenge of Alwar so he went to pray to the Devi. The Goddess was moved at this. She appeared in the boy’s dream and ordered him to make use of the brass pipe which was in the Araa. The pipe had a snake inside it and it would soon be under the control of the boy. On the next day, the boy challenged Alwar to release the snake with his magical powers but Alwar failed and he bit him. Alwar then pleaded the boy and then the boy tamed the snake and sealed it into the brass pipe. On the Wall of the Wester Gopuram, the boy made a hole and put the snale in it. He announced to the people that if anyone would put their hand inside that hole and would speak a lie, they would then be bitten by that snake.