Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

Kerala, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram

Situated in Peruvanam, Thrissur, Peruvanam Mahadev Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple has two shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, 'Iratttayappan Temple' on the north and 'Maadathilappan Temple' on the south of the main temple.The main feature of the Iratttayappan temple is the dual Shiv linga form and therefore the deity is called "Irattayappan" which denotes the duality. The sanctum sanctorum of Madathilappan is considered to be the tallest sanctum sanctorum in South India. The peruvanam pooram is one of the most famous festivals. The temple is a protected monument by the Archeological Survey of India since 1982.

Legend

According to the legends, the Saint Parashurama established 64 Gramams after reclaiming Kerala from sea and Peruvanam Gramam is the 1st and most important among them. It is believed that the temple was created by 'Pooru Maharshi', the son of the Hasthinapura King Yayathy, after propitiating the Lord Shiva with rigorous penance and the name of the place derived from the word "Pooru Vanam". Further it is believed that while transporting a big Shivlinga received from a lake near Badarinath to this place, it happened to stuck in the branch of a tree and the present Madathilappan Temple has been constructed at this place.

Architecture

The temple is built based on Kerala style of architecture. The temple stands on a 7 acre ground surrounded by a compound wall. The structure of sanctum sanctorum is square-type which is very rare in Indian temples. There are two approaches to the inner courtyard (Chuttampalam) of the Peruvanam temple, from the west and east sides and the main entrance is from the east. The Irattayappan shrine is raised on a circular base. It is an ekatala vimana built on a granite adhishtana. The Matatthilappan temple is on the south. It is a three storeyed structure. The maadathilappan shrine is one of the most outstanding temple structures of Kerala. This type of tri-tala-vimana is known as Meru Mandhara Prasaada which uses the whole bhumi of the ground floor for plinth and placing the shrine proper in the upper bhumi or second tala. The temple is also monumental by the presence of exquisite pieces of plastic arts. On the three sides of the sanctum of Maadathilappan, above the ghanadvara portion, the upper tala displays wooden images of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy on the south side, Lord Brahma on the east and Lord Vishnu on Anantha on the north side. The temple complex is surrounded by a nalambalam which houses the shrines of Raktesvari and Lord Manikantan in the north, Lord Ganapathy and Pooru Maharshi both facing east on the north-west and south-west portions of the main shrine. There is a separate shrine of Lord Vishnu on the northern side of the naalambalam.

Darsan Info

The temple opens at 05:00 AM to 10:30 AM and from 05:00 PM to 07:30 PM

Darsan Dresscode

Need to wear traditional dress code. Strictly avoid fashion wear

Famous Festival

The temple had lands yielding 4 lakh paras of paddy annually and a 29 day festival used to be celebrated with its culminating Arat in Arattupuzha - the mother of all poorams. Ardra asterism in Dhanu and Shivarathri in Kumbham are the other important days.

Culture

The culture of Kerala is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed and mixed for centuries, under influences from other parts of India and abroad. It is defined by its antiquity and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people.