Kottarakara Sree Mahaganapthi Temple, Kollam

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 preparing Unniyappam and asked whether they can do Prathishta Ganapathy. They agreed. Thus was Ganapathy Prathishta done here. Perumthachan then asked what Neivedyam was prepared, for Ganapati. The Pujari replied that he made Unniappam. On a leaf, he placed six to seven Unniyappams stringed together. Perumthachan, devoted his first offerings-Koottappam. Koottappam is still known to be the most wanted nivedhyam for Kottarakara Ganapathy. Ganapathy was so particular that his favourite nivedhyam Unniappam should be made in front of him. Thus, Unniappam is made in front of him after opening Srikovil.

Om Gam Ganapathaye Namaha