Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

Overview

The Mahadeva temple in Ettumanoor is a very old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Kottayam, in the Southern Indian state of Kerala. The temple is said to be the pride of Kottayam. According to the Hindu Mythology the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa have made a pligramage to this temple and worshipped Lord Mahadeva. The name of Ettumanoor has its source from the word 'manoor', meaning the land of deer. This temple along with the Shiva temples of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple,Vaikom Temple, Ernakulam Shiva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple are said to be the major Shiva temples in Kerala.

About The Temple

The temple that stands today along with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was rebuilt in 717 ME (1542 AD). The paintings on the wall, both on the inside and outside resemble Dravidian style of painting. The Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) painting is one of the best piece of work amongst all wall paintings in India. The flag staffs that are there in the temple are made of gold. On the top of the flag staffs there is an idol of a bull encircled by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree. The architecture of this temple is the ultimate testimony of the vishwakarma Sthapathis, for their engineering skills. The temple roof is covered with sheets made of copper. There are around 14 ornamental copper sheets covering the roof of the temple. The parivara devats of this temple are Bhagavati, Sastha, Ganapathy and Yakshi. It is believed that the great Hindu Acharya, Adi Sankara bagavathpada wrote 'Soundarya Lahari' while staying in the temple.

About The Deity

Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this temple. He graces the temple in the form of Shivalinga Lord Sastha, Lord Ganapathy and Dakshinamurthy are other deities who grace this temple.

Legends and stories

According to the Sthala purana of this temple, Sree Parameshwara created a deer (‘Harina’) and made an island in the sea (‘Harinadweep’) for it to dwell. When Parasurama created Kerala from the sea, the island of Harinadweep also became part of the newly created land. It is later known as Harinapura.

Much later, Maharshi Kharaprakasha (Kharasura) received Shiva deeksha from Malyavan. He had a pupil named Pingala. Then the time of giving Guru dkshina arrived at the end of completion of education in the ashrama of Sage Kharaprakasha. Knowing that Pingala was penniless, Kharasura politely said that he did not seek anything from his disciple. Pingala was embarrassed to hear this. He felt bad that nothing was expected of him. He insisted again and again that his Guru should let him know what the guru dakshina should be. Pingala’s continued persistence became intolerable to the point that, in a fit of annoyance, Kharasura asked for a guru dakshina of 180 billion pieces of gold sovereigns. Pingala was left speechless and heart-broken. Seeing Pingala’s predicament, Maharshi Kharaprakasha heart was filled with pity and compassion. He undertook to help his distraught pupil. They traveled to Harinadweep and did intense austerities to Narayana (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva). Narayana appeared first. He was pleased with the austerities performed by them and was ready to grant a boon they were seeking. Pingala prayed for and got 180 billion gold pieces. He immediately offered them to his Guru, Maharshi Kharaprakasha. Lord Mahadeva appeared next and Kharasura did swarna abhishekam on Lord Mahadeva with the gold he received from Pingala his pupil. Shiva, pleased with the maharshi’s devotion offered the same amount of gold to him. Then, Kharasura used the gold to perform abhishekam on Vishnu. Shiva also gave him three divine Lingas. At this time, Pingala left, having fulfilled his duty. Kharasura consecrated the Shiva Linga in his left hand at Harinapura (The other two are at Vaikom and Kaduthuruthy temples). Another story on how the place got its name is that the land where the temple was constructed belonged to Brahmins of Ettu (eight) Mana (families) and hence the place and temple is known as Ettumanoor.

The original Shiva Linga lay submerged in dirt for thousands of years. A Harijan lady (Mannathi), one day, while in the process of digging for edible roots with her sickle hit the buried Linga. Seeing blood oozing from the stone, she go scared and threw away her sickle and basket. The sickle fell at a place currently known as Kovilppaadam. Her basket fell at present-day Pattithanam near Ettumanoor. Shiva ascended from the linga in anger and cursed her into a rock (Mannathikkallu), which can still be seen near Kattampak Kottaram Devi temple. Next, a conch came out from the earth next to where Lord Mahadeva had appeared. These two locations can be recognised by the depressions (Devan piranna kuzhi, Shankhu piranna kuzhi). Later, the Shiva Linga was moved to its present location. The ancient groove mark made by the sickle is still visible on the linga. Each day, after the abhishekam, this crack is closed with sandalwood paste.

Many years passed. One day Lomaharshana, the disciple of Veda Vyasa, came to the temple to offer his prayers to Mahadeva. While going to the temple tank to take a dip, he tripped and fell. Some of the locals who saw him fall, mocked at him. The infuriated sage cursed that Harinapura would turn into an uninhabitable jungle for a thousand years. Hence it lay without any human activity, unnoticed and abandoned for a long time, until the famous Vilwamangam Swamigal happened to pass by. Thanks to his divine vision, he sensed that the whole area being covered with Shiva’s matted hair (Jadaabharam). Not wanting to step on Shiva’s body, he crawled on his knees trying to locate the presence until he discovered the old Shiva Linga. Thereafter, he oversaw the renovation of the temple and established the poojas and other rituals in their current form.

History of The Temple

This temple is one amongst the 108 Shiva temples of the state. The Unnuneeli Sandesam, written in 14th century and Mayoora Sandesam written in 15th century mention about this temple. It is understood that the King Poonjar had restored the temple in 1542 A.D. According to the obtainable records, the existing edifice of the temple was built in 1550 A.D. The shrine was owned by Ettumana Moosads. In the year 1754, Marthanda Varma captured and annexed the region to Travancore and thereafter the temple came under the governance of Travancore Government.

The temple has some astounding possessions such as Gold Yam, Gold bunch of Areca-nut, Diamond affixed Conch and Ezhara Ponnanna (7 ½ golden elephants – Sculptures of seven elephants having height of 2 feet and one with height of 1 foot. Though there are eight golden elephants, it is considered as seven and a half). All these valued contributions were made by Karthika Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore (1758-1798) in lieu of damages caused to the region during the conquest of his predecessor, Marthanda Varma Maharaja. In 1962 Government of India borrowed 8000 sovereigns from the temple to meet the expenses of war with China and later repaid the value of sovereigns in cash Rs.150/- per sovereign.

Pooja Timings

Morning Poojas

Opening the Sanctorum - 04:00 am
Nirmalyam - 04:00 am to 04:30 am
Abhishekam - 04:30 am to 05:00 am
Madhavipalli Pooja - 05:30 am to 06:00 am
Ethruthu Pooja - 06:00 am to 06:30 am
Panthiradi Pooja - 08:00 am to 08:30 am
Dhara Abhisegam, Navakam Abhisegam - 10:00 am to 10:30 am

Noon Poojas

Ucha Pooja - 11:00 am to 11:30 am
Ucha Sreebali - 11:30 am to 12:00 am

Evening Poojas

Opening the Sanctorum - 05:00 pm
Deeparadhana - 06:30 pm to 07:00 pm
Athazha Pooja - 07:30 pm to 08:00 pm
Athazha Sreebali - 08:00 pm to 08:30 pm

Festivals

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple conducts the arattu festival celebrated on a majestic scale on the Thiruvathira day in February–March every year. Lot of people come to this temple on the 8th and 10th day of the festival when seven and half elephants (in Malayalam: ezharaponnaana) made of gold (nearly 13 Kgms) will be displayed to the public. This statue was offered to the temple by a travancore maharaja. Sivarathri is the another major festival celebrated in the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple.

Special Rituals

The key worship in this temple is lighting of lamps. As one enters the temple he is greeted by a very big glowing lamp which is ever lighted. The devotees visiting the temple pour oil on to this lamp. Off late, since the oil is that is received is more than needed for the lamp, a vessel has been kept nearby where if the lamp is full, devotees can pour the oil they have brought with them.

The story behind this lamp goes like this Once a brass metal worker made a huge bronze lamp, and had intended to give it to this temple. But the management of the temple mocked at him and told him that the shrine had no need to buy a lamp since they already had sufficient lamps. Dejected, the metal worker begged the Lord Mahadeva consecrated. Suddenly a big storm hit the temple. The temple management realized that God was angry at their behaviour and bought the lamp and installed it near the entrance. From that time the lamp has been continuously burning in front of the deity. The uthsava idol of Shiva is an eight handed deity and is in a 'roudra bhava' (angry posture). the devotees only see Him as a merciful form.

Offerings

The Thulabharam is one of the important Offering of this temple. People make offerings to God for favours received. On balance, the child or man for whom offerings were promised to God, is weighed against offerings ranging from gold to fruits.

How to Reach Ettumanoor

Airport

The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, about 77 km.

Railways

Ettumanoor railway station is on the Kottayam - Ernakulam line of the Southern Railways. The next nearest major railway station is Kottayam Railway Station.

Road

Ettumanoor is well connected by the road network.

Temple Address

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple,
Ettumanoor, Kottayam (Dist),
Kerala, India, Pincode – 686631.