Majestic Temples of India

Chirakkadavu Mahadeva Kshetram  Kottayam, Kerala Chirakkadavu Mahadeva Kshetram, located in Kottayam is a Swayambhu Lingam. Chirakkadavu Mahadevan is considered as father of Sabarimala Ayyappa swamy, therefore people who travel to Sabarimala, worship here too. Kulam ( chira in malayalam) is located in the eastern side of this Kshetram thus Temple is called Chirakkadavu.  Sthala Puranam says that, there once lived a King who was a great Shiva bhaktha. It is believed that before his death he built an Ashram near a bilwa tree which is near to this temple. He did tapasya here and hence came to be known as Bilwa Maharishi ( Kuwala Maharishi). Paramashiva appeared in his dream during his tapasya and thus attained Mukthi. Balikkalu of the temple is very big. People who face delay in marriage prays here.  Om Nama Shivaya

Veerateeswarar Temple Villupuram, Tamil Nadu Veerateeswarar Temple is located in Tirukoilur of Villupuram District. Paramashiva is worshipped as Veerateeswarar and Parvathi Devi as Periyanayagi. Paramashiva is swayambhu here and temple is one among the Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam.  Sthala Puranam says that,  Paramshiva appeared  as Andakasura samhara murthy to defeat Andakasura. Andakasura obtained a boon from Brahma that he could be killed only if he misbehave with a women who is like his own mother. Andaka conquered Indraloka, Naagaloka with his powers. One day, he came near Parvathi Devi and started to disturb her, who is treated as the mother for the whole world. Paramashiva appeared as samhara murthy and killed Andakasura.  It is believed that Periyanai Ganapathi sannidhi of this temple is worshipped by Avvaiyar. Annual festival is celebrated on Masi Magham ( February to March). Shivaratri is very famous here.  Om Nama Shivaya

Nithyakalyana Perumal Temple Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu Nithyakalyana Temple is located in a village called Thiruvidandai in Kanchipuram. Kshetram is one among 108 Divya Deshams.  Mahavishnu is Nithyakalayana Perumal and Lakshmi Devi, Komalavalli Thayar. Mahavishnu is Varaha murthy here. Chittirai Brahmotsavam and Vaikunta Ekadashi is very famous here. Kalyana Utsavam is conducted all days here. So those who face delay in marriage come and pray here.  It is also believed that Markandeya Muni worshipped Perumal here.  Sthala Puranam says that, Jaya and Vijaya are cursed that they would be born as asuras and they were born as  Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyaksha did tapasya and obtained a boon from Brahma and captured earth and Bhudevi and hid her under the ocean. Mahavishnu took Varaha Avatar and defeated Hiranyaksha and married Devi here. Kalava Muni , who requested MahaVishnu to marry his 360 daughters were also granted here, and perumal is Nithyakalyana perumal here.  Om Namo Na

Mayuranathar Kshetram  Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu Mayuranathaswami kovil is located in Mayiladuthurai (Mayavaram) in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Paramashiva is worshipped as Mayuranathaswamy and Paravathi Devi is Abhayambikai. Temple is one of the Paatal Petra Shiva Sthalam.  Sthala Puranam says that, once Daksha, intentionally didn't invite Paramshiva to the yajna. Paramshiva did not want Parvathi Devi to attend the yaagam, But Devi attended the function and was humiliated by Daksha. Mahadeva took Veerabadra form and destroyed the yajna, and also was angry with Devi and cursed her to be born as a Peacock. Parvathi Devi prays to forgive her. Devi came to this place as a peacock and performed tapasya for reunion with Paramashiva. Mayuranathar is  Swayambu here and Abhayambikai Ambal is seen in a peacock form, the one in which she did tapasya. Devotees pray to Paramshiva to get forgiveness for something done unknowingly. Mayuram means Peacock and since Devi prayed here as peac

Kasi Viswanathar Temple Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu Kasi Viswanathar Temple, located at Tenkasi is considered equal to Kasi. Tenkasi means southern Kasi. Paramashiva is Swayambu here. Mahadeva is Viswanathar and Parvati Devi Ulagamman. Sthala puranam says that Parakrama Pandiya Raja, decided to go to Kashi Vishwanathar darshan. Shiva Bhagwan came in his dream and told to build a temple here itself. Bhagwan advised the king to follow the ants movement and build the temple where ants stop moving. Raja followed Ants, which ended, on the banks of the river. King found a swayambulinga near an anthill and built a temple here as adviced by Mahadeva. Temple is famous for its Theertham ( kasi theertham), Sthalam and Moorthy. Om Namah Shivaya

Peruvanam Shiva Kshetram Thrissur, Kerala Peruvanam Mahadeva Kshetram is located in Peruvanam at Thrissur district. Temple is one among 108 Shiva temples of Kerala. It is said that the temple was created by Pooru Maharshi, the son of King Yayathy after his Tapasya to Paramashiva and thus the name Peruvanam was got from the word POORU VANAM. It is believed that Pooru Maharshi brought Shivalingam from Badarinath which got stuck in the branch of a tree here and the present Madathilappan Temple has been constructed at this place. Paramashiva is dual linga form here so Peruvanam Shiva Bhagwan is also called IRATTAYAPPAN. Irattayappan is Grama adipan of Peruvanam village. Peruvanam Pooram, Shivarathri is main festival here. Om Nama Shivaya

Mangottu Bhagavathi Temple Palakkad, Kerala Mangottu Bhagavathi Temple is situated in Athipotta near Alathur of palakkad district. Devi is kshipraprasadi here and grants relief to those who worship with full faith. Mookken Chathen, situated on the Northern side of the temple, is guarding Devi here. Story says that, once there lived a weaver named Kuttan who was a Devi Bhaktan.  During one festival time Kuttan was so pleased by the Devi Vigraham that he requested her to come along with him.   At that time wind blew heavily and Cloths in Vigraham flew. Kuttan immediately decorated Devi with his cloth which stuck to Vigraham and returned to his village and with his Umbrella. Devi came with him in that Umbrella and stayed in his place. This place is Mangottu Bhagavathi temple now.  Amme Narayana

Attukal Bhagavathy Kshetram Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Attukal Bhagavathy Kshetram, located on the banks of Killi river is also called "Sabarimala of Women". Attukal Bhagavathy is the form of Kannaki of Chilapathikaram. Sthala Puranam says that, there was a Namboodiri illam called Mulluveetill Family. It is said that one day a young girl came to the Namboodiri near Killi river. She asked him to help her to cross the river, namboodiri did as told. After crossing the river the girl suddenly vanished. That night, same girl appeared in dreams of Namboodiri and asked him to construct a temple near a place marked.  Next morning Namboodiri saw a spot marked with trishool and thus constructed a temple which is the present Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. Pongala Maholsthavam is very famous here. Pongala ( rice cooked with jaggery, ghee coconut etc) is made in open pots and offered to Devi. Story says that Kannaki, after destroying Madurai visited here before leaving to Kondungalloor. Devi

Chelamattom Sri Krishna Kshetram Ernakulam, Kerala Chelamattom Sri Krishna Kshetram is situated near Kalady. Temple is also called Dakshina Kashi. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya worshipped Sri Krishna and Narasimhamurthy here. Mahavishnu is worshipped in 3 forms, Narasimhamoorthy, Shri Krishna and Vamana here.  Temple is situated on the banks of Periyar river and is very famous for Pitrtarpanam as it is believed that offering bali here will attain Moksham to departed souls. Story says that In this place place only Narasimha Vigraham was Prathishta. Once, a box came floating across the river and people found Shri Krishna Vigraham inside. Thus Vigraham was taken to the Narasimha Kshetram and Prathista of Shri Krishna was done. Vamana Vigraham was found by Thottamattom Namboodiri and he too took Vigraham to this temple for Prathista. Thus three forms of Of Mahavishnu is worshipped here which is very rare.  Om Namo Narayanaya

Navapashanam Temple Devipattinam, Tamil Nadu Navapashanam Navagraha Kovil is located near Rameswaram Temple. Situated in Bay of Bengal, temple is also a Parihara Sthalam. It is believed that Shri Rama did Navagraha Prathishta here to please Navagraha before leaving to Lanka. Navagraha is made of Nava Paashanam, which have medicinal properties and can cure any diseases.  A dip in sea water here is said to relieve from all Navagraha dosha. Here Navagraha is in located inside the sea. One should walk in sea to reach near the Vigraham which is partially immersed in sea. Tarpanam is performed here and also praying to Thilakeshwar Temple near where Paramashiva is worshipped as Thilakeshwar and Parvati Devi as Soundaryanayaki Jai Shri Ram

Cherthala Karthyayani Kshetram Alappuzha, Kerala Cherthala Karthyayani Temple Prathishta was done by Vilwamangalam Swamy. Chertala Pooram is very famous. Devi is Mangalya Dayini here removes obstacles relating to marriages. Sthala Puranam says that, once Vilwamangalam Swamiyar was passing this area after Prathista of Padmananbhaswamy Temple, he felt Devi chaitanyam and recognized as Karthyayani Devi. But Devi seeing Vilwamangalam went inside the pond. Swamy searched for Devi continously for 6 days and on 7th day Vilwamangalam got hold of Devi's hair. Thus only Devi's head is Prathishta here. Devotees do Kozhi parathal ( offering cock) here as an offering to Karthyayani Devi.  Karthyayaniamme Sharanam

Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple Kottayam, Kerala Thrikodithanam Maha Vishnu Temple is one among 108 Divya Deshams. Mahavishnu is Atbudha Narayanan here. Chaturbahu Vigraham is made of Anjana Sila. King Rukmangatha of Surya Vamsa got Moksham here. Pandavas, after Mahabharata war did Prathishta of 5 Mahavishnu temples. Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple by Sahadeva, Thrichittatt Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula. At the entrance of temple we can see Kuzhuvetti Kallu.  It is a man flat on his back, held up on a stone pillar about six feet high. Story about this is, Once the ruler of area went to temple after nada was closed. He asked the servant to force open the temple which lead to the death of both servant and ruler. A stone sila is kept there to remind that everyone should follow temple rules otherwise they will be punished.  Om Namo Narayanaya

Pokkunny Shiva Kshetram Palakkad, Kerala Pokkunny Shiva Temple, situated in Kollengode, is in the middle of a pond. Paramashiva is Swayambhu here. Kshetram is one among 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala.  Sthala Puranam says that, after defeating Asuras Parama Shiva was in a Rudra Bhavam when he came here. Mahadeva recognized presence of Ganga in temple pond. Thus, when touched the Ganga water, Bhagwans's anger was reduced and he sat here as Kshipra prasadi.  Maha Mrityunjaya Homam is very famous here.  Om Nama Shivaya