Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple situated in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara on the banks of Achankovil river. Kandiyoor was once the capital of the Odanadu kingdom.[2] The temple and region are related to the history of ancient Buddhism in Kerala. Mattom Sree Mahadeva Temple also known as (shiva nada)is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of Mavelikara town north of State Highway 6. It is spread across an area of 7.5 acres (3.0 ha).
There are many legends associated with the temple. It is considered as one among the 108 great Shiva temples of ancient Kerala consecrated by Lord Parashurama himself.[3] according to another legend the Rishi Mrikandu, the father of Rishi Markandeya got an idol of Lord Shiva in Kirathamoorthy form while bathing in Ganga. He heard an oracle that the idol be placed in a holy and befitting place. The Rishi searching for the apt location came to Kerala and ended up in the bank of Achankovil and established the temple in Kandiyoor. The name Kandiyoor is a corruption of Kandathil.[citation needed]
According to another legend the temple is located at the site where Lord Shiva cut off Lord Brahma's head. The name Kandiyoor comes from name of Shiva Sri Kantan. It is believed that Lord Parasurama renovated the temple and gave tanthrik rights to Tharananallur family.[4]
Historyedit
Kandiyoor and the temple have great significance in Kerala's history. The Kandiyoor temple is the earliest temple about which there is an epigraph about its origin in A.D 823 during the reign of Rajasekhara Varman.[5] There was an era name 'Kandiyoorabdam' from the formation of the temple that was in widespread use until the introduction of Kollavarsham.
It is also believed that there was a Hinayana Buddhist temple near to the kandiyoor temple installed and managed by kannankara panicker family, It is also believed that it is this displaced Budha that was retrieved from the nearby paddy fields and placed near the Mavelikkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple (Buddha Junction) in recent times.[6][7]
The Kandiyoor inscription (K. E. 393) dated 1218 says that Kandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad and the Kalasam ceremony was attended by Unniyachi, wife of Ravi Kerala Varma King of Venad after deliberations between the three.[8]
Kandiyoor was annexed to Kayamkulam by Kayamkulam Rajah and later to Travancore by Marthanda Varma. It is believed that during the war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam the defeated Kayamkulam Raja surrendered his sword in the temple and left through the rear door which still remains closed after centuries.[4]
The temple is mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written around the 14th century.
Sri Kandiyur Mahadeva Shastrikal - a Sanskrit Scholar who wrote many Bhashyams for - Lalitha Sahasranamam, Lalitha Thrishati etc. lived in Kandiyoor.[citation needed]
Temple Descriptionedit
The primary deity of the temple is Lord Shiva known as Kandiyoorappan (the ruling deity of Kandiyoor). The deity is east facing. The rectangular sanctum santorum is two-tiered and there is a platform in the front for devotees, a feature that is of the Hoysala style. The bottom tier is oval in shape while the top tier is rectangular. The 10 feet (3.0 m) Gajaprishta style wall is believed to be constructed by Shiva's Bhothaganas.[4] There are puranic legend stone scriptures in the temple.[9]
Deityedit
The primary deity, Kandiyoorappan, is believed to be in Kirathamoorthy form. The deity worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy in the morning, Umamaheshwaran in the noon, Kirathamoorthy in the evening. Deity is worshipped as Panchmukha from North-West corner of Pradakshina Vazhy by viewing five Thazikakudams of Shiva temples and as Vaikatappan(ruling deity of Vaikom) during sunset. The sub-deities in the temple include Vishnu, Parvatheesan, Nagaraja and Nagayakshi, Gosala Krishnan, Sastha, Sankaran, Sreekandan, Vadakkumnathan, Annapoomeswary, Ganapathy, Subramanyan, Moola Ganapathy and Brahma Rakshas of which Sankara, Sreekanda, Vadakkumnadha, Parvatheesa and Mrityunjayaare Shiva himself. There are six Shivalinga Prathishtas in this temple.[10]
^A. Sreedhara Menon (1987). Kerala History and its Makers. D C Books. ISBN9788126437825.
^Sadasivan, S.N. (2000). A social history of India. New Delhi: APH Pub. Corp. ISBN9788176481700.
^"Kandiyur Inscriptions". www.keralaculture.org. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
^University of Kerala (1987). Journal of Kerala Studies, Volume 14. University of Kerala.
^A. Sreedhara Menon (1982). The Legacy of Kerala. D C Books. ISBN9788126437986.
^"Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple Mavelikkara". www.vaikhari.org. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple.
January 01, 1970
kandiyoor, sree, mahadeva, temple, ancient, shiva, temple, situated, kandiyoor, near, mavelikkara, banks, achankovil, river, kandiyoor, once, capital, odanadu, kingdom, temple, region, related, history, ancient, buddhism, kerala, mattom, sree, mahadeva, temple. Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple situated in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara on the banks of Achankovil river Kandiyoor was once the capital of the Odanadu kingdom 2 The temple and region are related to the history of ancient Buddhism in Kerala Mattom Sree Mahadeva Temple also known as shiva nada is 1 kilometre 0 62 mi west of Mavelikara town north of State Highway 6 It is spread across an area of 7 5 acres 3 0 ha Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Templeകണ ട യ ർ മഹ ദ വക ഷ ത ര ReligionAffiliationHinduismDistrictAlappuzhaDeityShivaGoverning bodyTravancore Devaswom BoardLocationLocationMavelikaraStateKeralaCountryIndiaLocation in KeralaGeographic coordinates9 15 11 N 76 31 46 E 9 25306 N 76 52944 E 9 25306 76 52944ArchitectureTypeTraditional Kerala styleCreatorCheraman Perumal Nayanar Rajasekara VarmanDate establishedBefore the advent of Kali YugaCompleted823 1 Sreekovil of Kandiyoor Temple The temple compound Mathilakam of Kandiyur Maha Siva Temple Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple Contents 1 Legends 2 History 3 Temple Description 4 Deity 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksLegends editThere are many legends associated with the temple It is considered as one among the 108 great Shiva temples of ancient Kerala consecrated by Lord Parashurama himself 3 according to another legend the Rishi Mrikandu the father of Rishi Markandeya got an idol of Lord Shiva in Kirathamoorthy form while bathing in Ganga He heard an oracle that the idol be placed in a holy and befitting place The Rishi searching for the apt location came to Kerala and ended up in the bank of Achankovil and established the temple in Kandiyoor The name Kandiyoor is a corruption of Kandathil citation needed According to another legend the temple is located at the site where Lord Shiva cut off Lord Brahma s head The name Kandiyoor comes from name of Shiva Sri Kantan It is believed that Lord Parasurama renovated the temple and gave tanthrik rights to Tharananallur family 4 History editKandiyoor and the temple have great significance in Kerala s history The Kandiyoor temple is the earliest temple about which there is an epigraph about its origin in A D 823 during the reign of Rajasekhara Varman 5 There was an era name Kandiyoorabdam from the formation of the temple that was in widespread use until the introduction of Kollavarsham It is also believed that there was a Hinayana Buddhist temple near to the kandiyoor temple installed and managed by kannankara panicker family It is also believed that it is this displaced Budha that was retrieved from the nearby paddy fields and placed near the Mavelikkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple Buddha Junction in recent times 6 7 The Kandiyoor inscription K E 393 dated 1218 says that Kandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad and the Kalasam ceremony was attended by Unniyachi wife of Ravi Kerala Varma King of Venad after deliberations between the three 8 Kandiyoor was annexed to Kayamkulam by Kayamkulam Rajah and later to Travancore by Marthanda Varma It is believed that during the war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam the defeated Kayamkulam Raja surrendered his sword in the temple and left through the rear door which still remains closed after centuries 4 The temple is mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written around the 14th century Sri Kandiyur Mahadeva Shastrikal a Sanskrit Scholar who wrote many Bhashyams for Lalitha Sahasranamam Lalitha Thrishati etc lived in Kandiyoor citation needed Temple Description editThe primary deity of the temple is Lord Shiva known as Kandiyoorappan the ruling deity of Kandiyoor The deity is east facing The rectangular sanctum santorum is two tiered and there is a platform in the front for devotees a feature that is of the Hoysala style The bottom tier is oval in shape while the top tier is rectangular The 10 feet 3 0 m Gajaprishta style wall is believed to be constructed by Shiva s Bhothaganas 4 There are puranic legend stone scriptures in the temple 9 Deity editThe primary deity Kandiyoorappan is believed to be in Kirathamoorthy form The deity worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy in the morning Umamaheshwaran in the noon Kirathamoorthy in the evening Deity is worshipped as Panchmukha from North West corner of Pradakshina Vazhy by viewing five Thazikakudams of Shiva temples and as Vaikatappan ruling deity of Vaikom during sunset The sub deities in the temple include Vishnu Parvatheesan Nagaraja and Nagayakshi Gosala Krishnan Sastha Sankaran Sreekandan Vadakkumnathan Annapoomeswary Ganapathy Subramanyan Moola Ganapathy and Brahma Rakshas of which Sankara Sreekanda Vadakkumnadha Parvatheesa and Mrityunjayaare Shiva himself There are six Shivalinga Prathishtas in this temple 10 See also editTemples of Kerala Temple festivals of KeralaReferences edit Shashi S S ed 2007 Encyclopaedia Indica India Pakistan Bangladesh 1st ed New Delhi Anmol Publications ISBN 9788170418597 Gouri Lakshmi Bayi 1998 Thulasi garland Bhavan s book university Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala created by Lord Parasurama a b c Temple Website A Sreedhara Menon 1987 Kerala History and its Makers D C Books ISBN 9788126437825 Sadasivan S N 2000 A social history of India New Delhi APH Pub Corp ISBN 9788176481700 Kandiyur Inscriptions www keralaculture org Retrieved 10 January 2024 University of Kerala 1987 Journal of Kerala Studies Volume 14 University of Kerala A Sreedhara Menon 1982 The Legacy of Kerala D C Books ISBN 9788126437986 Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple Mavelikkara www vaikhari org Retrieved 17 January 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple amp oldid 1218556754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
