Located on the banks of the Bavali river, Kannur, Kerala,  Kottiyoor Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The proper name of Kottiyoor Temple is Thruchherumana Kshetram. There are two temples in Kottiyoor, one on the western bank of the Bavali river named Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kottiyoor(The Thruchherumana Temple) and the other on the eastern bank of the river named Kizhakkeshwaram or Akkare Kottiyoor. Kizhakkeshwaram or Akkare Kottiyoor is a temporary hermitage and it is opened only during the Vysakha festival. Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kottiyoor is the permanent temple. The temple administration is under Malabar Devaswom board.

Location Kerala, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram

Legend

According to the legends, it is believed that the Daksha, son of Brahma, conducted the Daksha Yaga at Akkare Kottiyoor situated on the eastern bank of the river. Daksha invited all the gods and goddesses except his son in law, Lord Shiva. Sati attended the Yagna against Shiva's wishes and was insulted by her father, Daksha. Unable to bear the insult, Sati immolated herself in the yagna fire. Enraged at the loss of Satidevi, Shiva opened his third eye, he cut off Daksha's head. After listening to the prayer's of Gods and Goddesses, shiva was pacified and her restored the yaga. The dead were brought back to life. Daksha's head was replaced by a goats head. Lord Shiva took the form of the swayambhu linga next to where Sati immolated herself in the yagna fire. Since all the Trimoorthies or the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva met together at this place, it was known as Koodiyoor (Koodi in malayalam means meet or join). Koodiyoor became Kottiyoor

Architecture

Kottiyoor Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of Shakti. There are very few shrines in India for Sati Devi amongst which Kottiyoor is one. As it is forbidden to built any permanent structures abiding by religious principles, there are only temporary and simple-looking structures, which resemblance what would look like hermits of sages. As there is no sanctum-sanatorium, Sati is worshiped as Shakti in 'Ammarakkalu Thara', a raised platform adjacent to the Swayambhoo linga where Sati Devi is believed to have committed suicide. This is believed to be the temple of the origin of the Shakti Peethas. As it is the confluence of the presence of all the known Hindu Divinities, the place is called Kottiyoor from Koodi and Uuru meaning Meeting Precinct.

Culture

Kannur has got a vibrant and rich political history. It also has got an illustrious history in social revolutions.

Darsan Info

The Kottiyoor Temple opens at 3:30 AM and will be open till 9:30 PM

Kottiyoor Temple is also known by the names Kudiyoor, Dakshina Kashi. Thricherumana, Vdakkumkaavu, Kizhakkumkaavu and Vadakeeswaram.

At Kottiyoor, there are two temples - Akkare Kottiyur and Ikkare Kottiyur, located on the opposite banks of Bavali river. Akkare Kottiyur is open during the Kottiyoor Vaisakha Maholsavam festival only.

Darsan Dresscode

At Kottiyoor Temple, Kerala traditional attire is preferred. Men are not allowed to wear shirt or t-shirt. Shawls are preferred on upper torso of men.

Famous Festival

May-June : Vaisakha Maholsavam,

The Vaisakha Maholsavam festival is a twenty eight day festival, which commences with the Neyyattam ritual on the Swati Day in Edavam and concludes with the Thrikkalashaattu.

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held. Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor.

An important ritual during the festival is the 'Elaneer Vayppu' or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga. On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple, pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as 'Elaneeraattam'.

Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual. The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati.

As a part of the festival, a procession (Ezhunnallippu) is held with two elephants carrying the idols of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. After the procession, the elephants are fed well (Aanayootu) and given a formal farewell.

Temple Rituals

Present day rituals of  Kottiyoor Temple were set out by Sri Shankaracharya. With his spiritual vision, he felt the presence of Shiva at 'Akkare Kottiyoor' and not willing to pollute the holy ground with the touch of his feet, prayed from 'Ekkare Kottiyoor' and left.

Special Rituals

The Thammangadan Nambiar Family (The Vediyara Chandroth Tharavadu), a sub-branch of the Mushika/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, have by tradition, the right to being the first to have their Ghee offered to the Deity for 'Abhishekam', during the "Naallam Thurakkal" ritual, at the Kottiyur Shiva Temple, believed to be the site for the famous Yajna of Daksha.

Additional Info

 

Eateries near Kottiyoor Temple

 Hotel Vadakara,Mananthavady Road, Kottiyoor, Kerala 670674, India

 

 

    

 

Supermarket : Available