Majestic Temples of India

Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple Mavelikkara, Kerala Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple is located on the banks of Achankovil River in Mavelikkara. Kshetram is one of the 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala, also called Dakshina Kashi. Mrikandu Muni who was taking a bath in the Ganga river, got a Vigraham of Parama Shiva in the form of Kiratha Murthy. As he took hold of the Vigraham, he heard a voice saying to takethe Vigraham to a place of his wish, and to do Prathishta there. Mrikandu Muni started his journey in search of a suitable place. Finally, he reached the banks of Achankovil River and felt, it was a suitable place.  He did Prathishta here, and thus is ever seen). Bhagwan is called Kandiyoorappan and is worshiped in three forms or bhavas. In the morning the rituals will be conducted to as Dakshina Murthy, in the noon Umamaheswara Bhavam and in the evening it is as Kiratha Murthy.  Om Namah Shivaya

Thirupuliyur Maha Vishnu Temple Alappuzha, Kerala Puliyur Maha Vishnu Kshetram is one among the 108 Divya Deshams in Kerala. Here, Maha Vishnu is worshipped as Mayapiran. Sthala Puranam says that, after making Parikshit as the king of Hasthinapur, Pandavas Went on a Pilgrimage. Pancha Pandavas did Prathishta for Maha Vishnu and prayed for relieving from their sins during Mahabharata war. Bheema did Prathista of this temple. Yudhisthira did Prathista of Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple,Arjuna did Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple  Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu temple by Sahadeva. It is said that the Gatha used by Bheema in Mahabharatha War is still in this Temple because Bheema left his gatha here during his Tapasya. It is also said that the Saptha Rishis got Mukthi in this Temple.  Om Namo Narayanaya

Perunna Shri Subrahmanya Swamy Kshetram Changanasserry, Kerala Perunna Shri Subramanya Kshetram is located in Kottayam District. It is believed that Sri Subrahmanya came here after Tharakasura Vadham. Vel is pointing downwards. Story behind this temple is about a great Muruga devotee Kumaran Namboodiri. He had a wish to worship Palani Murugan Temple. But, due to some reasons Namboodiri was unable to go. It is said that Muruga appeared in his dream and told the Namboodiri that he will find a Vigraham in the river, and he should do Prathista in Perunna Temple.  Thus Prathishta done here. During Prathishta Vigraham was completely covered in Sun Light. In the Malaylam month of Meenam, Prathista Dinam is celebrated.   Om Muruga

Panachikkadu Saraswathi Kshetram Kottayam, Kerala Panachikkadu Sarasathi Kshetram is also called Dakshina Mookambika. Eventhough this is a Mahavishnu temple importance is given to Saraswathi devi. Temple is one among 108 Durga temples in Kerala. Story says that once there lived a Namboodiri at Kuzhippuram Illam. He went to Mookambika with an intention to worship Devi and seeking her blessings to have a son. He spend years in the temple and returned home.  On return, at Panachikkadu he placed his Olakuda ( Umbrella) down and went to bath. Namboodiri was not able to lift the Umbrella later, but heard a voice telling that Devi Mookambika was with him accompanying in the Umbrella. Thus Prathishta of Devi was done here. Saaraswatha Grutham is given to the children from the temple which is a medicine for boosting memory power by the blessings of Devi.  Panachikadu Amme Sharanam

Iranikulam Mahadeva Kshetram Thrissur, Kerala Iranikulam Mahadeva Kshetram is one among 108 Shiva temples in Kerala of which Prathishta was done by Parasurama.Two temples are situated in the temple compound called Thekedathappan and Vadakedathappan.  Thekedathappan temple, Sadasivalingam is believed to be the original Linga prathishta done by Parasurama.The Two layered Round Shri Kovil is very famous. There are two Nandi Bhagwan here in Thekedathappan temple. One inside and other Outside. Abhishekam or pooja is done only to Nandi Vigraham inside. Vadakedathappan temple is considered to be built later by the local rulers. The Vadakkedathu temple is made of Panchaloha Vigraham of Mahadeva, Parvathi Devi and Subramanian on a single Peedam.  Om Namah Shivaya

Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan                                     Guruvayur Kesavan is one of the majestic elephants who served Guruvayurappan for 54 years. Valiya Raja of Nilambur once prayed to the Shri Krishna to save his family and property from the enemies attack and promised to offer an elephant. His wish was fulfilled and he offered an elephant which later became the famous Guruvayur Kesavan. Kesavan was 10 years old when he came. Anayottam which will be held to decide who will take Thidambu of Krishna is won by Kesavan for many years. In 1973, Kesavan was honored with title "GAJARAJAN" (king of elephants ). On December 2, 1976 it was Guruvayur Ekadashi. When Thidambu was placed on his back, Kesavan began shivering while walking, so Thidambu was placed on another elephant. Kesavan did a pradakshina around the Temple and was taken to the compound where he lay with his trunk stretched towards Krishna and breathed his last, 54 years after serving faithfully. His t

Kanjirangad Vaidyanatha Temple Kannur, Kerala Temple is one among 108 Shiva temples. It is auspicious to Visit Taliparambha Raja Rajeshwara Temple, kanjirangad Vaidyanatha Temple and Thrichambaram krishna Temple in a single day. Venna podinja Dhara is an important offering here to heal any diseases.  Temple story tells that, this was the hiding place of Karaskarasura, son of demon Bhasmasura. One day when Parsurama was passing by the forest, he came across the demon and Karaskarasura got killed. Parashurama found Shivlingam here . On inquiring about this, Narada told that this is powerful healing ability of Vaidyanatha form. Thus Parashurama did Prathishta of Shiva Lingam in the same place where Vaidyanatha temple is today. The temple has magical healing powers. It is also believed that Kunti Devi got Surya Darshanam here. Many devotees visit this temple to get a cure from Skin and Eye Diseases.  Om Nama Shivaya

Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathi Kshetram Malappuram, Kerala The Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Kshetram is one of the oldest Bhaghavathy temple in Kerala. Temple is famous for Mangalya Pooja, which will solve issues relating to Marriage. Story is about King Mandhata Mandhata was doing Tapasya to Shiva. Happy with Tapasya Shiva came before him, and asked what he wanted. Mandhata replied that, he wanted that Shiva Lingam of Kailasam, which is worshipped by Parvati Devi. Shiva gave him the Lingam. Mandhata, with the Lingam reached Thirumandhamkunnu and kept the Lingam here and stated doing Pooja. When Shiva gave the Lingam to Mandhata, Parvati Devi was not there. Parvati Devi wanted her Lingam from Mandhata, which Mahadeva did not object. Devi sent Bhadrakali and Bhootas to Thirumandhamkunnu. The Power from Lingam did not make them go near and take the Lingam. So, Kali threw her weapons at the Lingam. The Lingam split into 2 and from there arose TRIMOORTHIS and Parvathy Devi. Parvati

Brahma Temple Pushkar, Rajasthan Pushkar is called Temple city of Rajasthan. There are more than 500 temples in this city. The only temple in the world for Brahma Deva is situated here. Brahma once tried to kill a demon named Vajranabh with his lotus. After killing demon, Brahma wished to perform yajna to clean himself from this killing. During the Yajna, Saraswati Devi wasn’t present there so to complete ritual Brahma married Gayatri, and completed the yajna. On arrival when Saraswati Devi came to know about Gayatri,  She got furious and cursed Brahma to not to be worshipped anywhere, but later feeling sad told that Brahma’s temple will be here in Pushkar only. According to the people the temple is more than 2000 years old. Om Brahma        

Kottarakara Sree Mahaganapthi Temple Kollam, Kerala Kottarakara Temple is a very famous Ganapati temple in Kerala. Main prathishta is Shiva, but Ganesha is famous here. Kottarakkara Uniappam is what which comes to our mind when we hear of this temple. The original name of the Temple is Kizhakkekara Siva Kshethram. Shtala puranam says that, Kizhakkekara temple was the property of two Nampoothiri houses – Akavoor and Oomanpally. Near the Kizhakkekara Temple is situated another Shiva Temple, Pandinjattinkara temple. One day, Prathishta works were taking place in Pandinjattinkara temple, which was managed by the Perumthachan.  Outside the temple, while listening to the manthras , he started chiselling a piece of jackfruit tree. To his surprise, he found that it was the form of Ganapathy Thus, he asked the pujari to do Prathishta of Ganapathy also. The pujari denied, saying it was a Shiva Temple. Perumthachan walked towards the Kizhakkekara Temple where the temple pujari was prepa

Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple is a cave temple and this is situated on the Mangalagiri. Mangalagiri is one of the Ashta swayamvyaktha Kshetram of Maha Vishnu. Mangala Giri hills have three temples. They are Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Panakala Narasimha Swamy, Gandala Narasimha swamy. In the Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple, we cannot see the Vigraham of Narasimha but mouth which opened wide. Here we can offer Panakam( jaggery water ) to Swamy. We can observe a gurgling sound while pouring this jaggery water into the mouth of Swamy.This will happen every time the we pour the jaggery water.There are no traces of ant forming near Swamy or near Panakam.It is said that Vishnu has told Devas that offering Panakam will cool down his anger after killing demon Namuchi, which was in Krithayugam. Bhagwan said that he would be satisfied with ghee in Threthayugam, with milk in Dwaparayugam and with panakam(Ja

Amirthakateshwarar Temple Melakadambur, Tamil Nadu Located near Chidambaram is this beautiful Shiva temple. Shiva is Swayambhu here. This is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam. Sthala puranam says that Devas after Palazhi Mathanam began to consume it without worshipping Vinayaka who angrily took away the pot to teach them a lesson. When he passed through this place, a drop of nectar fell on the earth and it became a Swayambu Linga. Realizing mistake, Indira and Devas came here and prayed to Vinayaka.  Ganesha adviced them to worship Shiva. Responding to their prayers, Shiva gave them the nectar and stayed here as Amirthakateshwarar (Amirtha-nectar), Kada- pot and Easwara - Shiva.Temple structure is like of Chariot. One of the wheels is stuck to Earth as Vigneswara pressed it to Earth Shambo Mahadeva

Taliparamba Sree Rajarajeshwara Kshetram Kannur, Kerala One amoung the 108 Shiva temples, Taliparambha Rajarajeshwara Kshetram Prathishta is done by Parasurama. This is also a Shakthipeetham, where Sati Devi's head fell. Sthala Puranam says that once Parashurama going this way felt Shiva'a presence in ruins. He wanted to know how this negligence happened. So Narada Muni who explained story to Parashurama. Parvati Devi gave 3 Lingams to Mandhata, Muchakunta and Shathasoman. Devi adviced each of them to place the Lingam in a place where no creature has died naturally or none has been cremated. Later after a long search Mandhata found this place matching and he did Linga Prathishta.  But after long years Linga buried into earth. Later Muchakunda and then Shathasoman also performed same action here. When Shathasoman saw Lingam burying here he seeked help of Agasthya Muni. Muni lighting Ghee lamp prayed to Shiva here and thus Lingam was fixed in ground. Thus Parashurama wit