Located on the banks of Periyar river, Manappuram Shiva Temple or Aluva Shiva Temple is one of the famous Shiva temples in Kerala. The temple is managed by Travancore Devaswom Board. One of the unique feature of the temple is that the Shivalinga is not enshrined in a Sreekovil. It is believed that the Swayambhoo Shivalinga was installed by Lord Parasurama. The famous Aluva Sivarathri is celebrated at the temple in Aluva Manappuram.

Location Kerala, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram

Legend

It is believed that a swayambhoo idol emerged out of Periyar in Treta Yuga. The river branches into two at the point where the idol surfaced. According to the legends, Lord Rama and Lakshmana did the last rites to lord Jatayu, the master bird that died defending Sita from the hands of Ravana, here. While they were performing the rites, Lord Siva appeared as the swayambhoo idol and said that his presence will always be here on the banks of Periyar. Sage Parasurama is believed to have consecrated the temple.

Architecture

There is no permanent structure on the sand banks of Aluva. A temporary structure around the granite enclosure of Siva-linga is put up using wooden poles with wooden door in front and rear and thatched roof during non-rainy seasons. The idol gets submerged during monsoon and so during monsoon, a representative idol or thidambu with transferred powers of the idol is kept temporarily at the shores.

Culture

Periyar plays a significant role in the cultural landscape of the State. Many social and religious movements happened on its banks, Aluva in particular. It is also considered the seat of Indian spirituality with the distinction of being the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya.

Darsan Info

The swayambhoo linga of Lord Mahadeva is made of sand pebbles is is just 8 cm high. The temporary idol is made of bronze and is 15 cm high.

We are a start-up, Please visit our products page by clicking https://www.pilgrimaide.com/ecommerce/  and give us your valuable feedback to improve-

Darsan Dresscode

Traditonal Kerala dress, which includes dhoti for men and saree for women.

Temple Rituals

The Shiva Linga faces east. There is a Nandi prathishta infront of the temple. There is only one pooja daily. From Makaram 1 to Medam 1 only athazha pooja is performed and on other days only nivedyam is offered. Shivarathry in Kumbham, Utsavam in Meenam, Vavu Bali in Tulam and Karkkidakam are the festivals. Dhara and Rudrabhishekham are the main offerings.

Special Rituals

The most important festival of Aluva temple is the Maha Shivarathri in Kumbham (February-March). There is no other place in Kerala where Shivarathri is celebrated on such a grand scale as in Aluva. Daily Ezhunnallippu of the deity atop a caparisoned elephant, a procession known as Dikvijayam is conducted on the third and fourth days, and pallivetta ceremony on the fifth day. The festival concludes with the Aarattu on the next day of Shivarathri.

Additional Info

 

Flora Food Circle - 24x7 Flora Airport Hotel - Near Cochin International Airport (Kochi Airport), Nedumbassery, Kochi, Kerala 683572 Phone:0484 240 4444 Hotel Gee Bee Palace Near Cochin International Airport, NH-47, Opp. Pvt. Bus Stand, Ernakulam, Kerala 683572 Phone:0484 245 8705

  

Supermarket : Available