KILLIPPALAM

Kanthallur Mahadevan Temple

This very old temple is situated in the campus of famous and decade old University Kanthalloor about in Valiyasala at Killippalam 2 Kms east from East Fort, Trivandrum. Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station and Bus station are about 1 km from the temple.

Story 1 – Once there happened a bloody, cataclysmic battle at the Kanthalloor Sala, fought with the Chola king on one side and the Chera and Pandya kings on the other, in which all three perished.
Following this, their disconsolate widows set themselves ablaze in sati, together. Out of the funeral embers emerged a Shiva linga, jwala mahadevar (Shiva, risen from flames). In order to mollify it's ferocity and raging heat, the idols of Brahma and Vishnu were installed in the vicinity, giving the temple the distinction of being one of the few temples in Kerala, dedicated to the `Trimurthis'. A different version says that the three widows prayed to the trimurthis, before dying in the fire, that their souls should be united with their hunbands. Pleased the trimurthis appeared before them upon which the widows further requested the gods that all the three of them should together stay at that place and continue giving their blessings to the devotees. Thereupon the trimuthis are said to have appeared in the dream of Rajendra Chola and instructed him to construct the present temple.

History - Though the above legend does not have any historical backing, 17th-century royal orders pertaining to the temple refer to the temple as `Jwala Mahadevar'. However, there are historical documents that put the origin of the temple deeper into antiquity. According to Mathilakam records (official records of the Padmanabhaswamy temple), Kanthalloor dates back to the 7th century AD. Chola inscriptions from the time of Rajaraja Chola (985-1016 AD) also refer to Kanthalloor. An inscription belonging to Rajendra Chola, discovered on the rear wall of the sanctum sanctorum, says that the temple came into existence before 1045 AD.

Temple - The temple is spread over four and a half acres of land and dotted with three large shrines and eight sub-shrines. The sculptured halls here with granite pillars and roof are similar to that of Sucheendram Temple.

Lord Shiva here is alternately known as Sala Mahadevar or Jwala Mahadevar.

As one enters the inner courtyard, the three main shrines of the trimurtis Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma crowned by sloping conical roofs in copper, emerge into full view. Dakshina moorthy, Ayyappa and Subrahamanya are the other main deities in this temple. Brahma's shrine, the smallest, is in the centre, flanked on either side by the more majestic shrines of Shiva and Vishnu, the latter with a two-storied roof. The Sreekovil to Mahavishnu is round with 2 flag staffs. Each sanctuary has the traditional `mukhamandapa' or frontal pavilion. All the Trimurthis face east. The Shivalinga is slightly slanted which is explained by an interesting story (2). The pavilion in front of Shiva's shrine lies forlorn and empty, devoid of the quintessential Nandi, that robust, reclining bull, gazing contemplatively at his master, integral to every Shiva temple. However, the pavilion facing the shrine of Brahma (in the form of a Shivalinga) has one. There is an interesting story (3) behind this.
Lord Mahavishnu is seated with Sreedevi and Bhoodevi on his two sides. Idols of Narada, Garuda and Vyasa rishi are also seen. The shrine of Mahaganapathy is located near Parameswara while the shrines of Dakshinamurthy, Nagarajar, Anjaneya are in the prakaram. There are 56 bali peethas inside the temple. Ouside, we can see the shrines of Lord Krishna, Bhodathan (the temple guardian), Nagaraja, Mahishasura mardini, Dharma Shastha and Muruga. In the Kalmandapam in front of the shrine of Lord Mahavishnu, we see a serpent bound with chain, the “Shankhu Viriyan”. Why it is chained has an interesting story (4) behind it.

Story 2 – Once mother earth shook violently for a longer period in an earthquake. The terrified people cried out to Lord Mahadev to save them. The kind hearted Lord took the full impact of the quake on himself. After the quake it was seen that while there was no damage anywhere, the Shiva linga had become slanted.

Story 3 – It is said that Nandi, taking umbrage at the shoddy manner in which the rituals were conducted in the temple, left the temple in protest. Shiva's search for the recalcitrant bull led him to the nearby village of Thaliyal, on the banks of the river Karamana. In a conciliatory gesture, Shiva appeared before Nandi, with his consort and gave him permission to take up permanent residence there and in recognition of his courageous and independent stand, offered him food. In memory of this incident, to this day, during the annual Kanthalloor festival, Shiva, accompanied by Vishnu and Brahma, stops by at the Thaliyal Shiva temple to offer food to Nandi and thereafter proceeds for `aarattu' (the ceremonial bath) in the Thaliyal temple pond. However, there is an alternate version also. Nandi played truant, leaving the temple premises surreptitiously in the dead of night, in search of greener pastures and making his way back stealthily, before it turned light. One night, he fell asleep in the gentle breeze and it turned out that daylight caught him unawares. Too embarrassed to return to Kanthalloor, he squeezed into the available space at the Thaliyal temple. Lending credence to the story is the fact that the Nandi in the Thaliyal temple, is found in front of the Ganesha shrine and not in front of the Shiva temple.

Story 4 – Once, the Shankhu Viriyan snakes used to roam around the temple freely. However, its appearance and manners were very threatening to everyone. Although a temple snake, his presence was making the devotees afraid. They feared that if this is allowed to continue, the whole place will become infested with snakes. Hence the priests using the Mantras/Tantras bound the Shankhu Viriyan sanke in the idol they had created.

Prayers – The important Attazha pooja is held thrice a day. However, no one is allowed to see this pooja and the temple priest performs this alone. Utsava murthy is taken out in the head in a procession every evening by the priest who goes around the temple thrice. Daily deepa aradhana is held for the trimurthis first and then for the other deities.

Shrimad Bhagavata Saptaha Gyana Yagyam is held once every year which is an important temple festival.

Aarattu on Thiruvaathira day of Kumbam of malayalam calendar is the main festival, celebrated for 10 days. Ashtamirohini, Sivaraathri, Thaipooyam are also special. Dhara, Thursday Pooja for Dakshinia Moorthi, Tuesday, Saturday, Monday, Sashty and Pradosha days are also important to devotees. Thousands of devotees visit here during the annual Kanthalloor festival.