Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – The Temple

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple, Kottayam – The Temple

The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style. The main gopura is at the western side. The west facing temple here has a circular sanctum covered with a conical copper plated roof crowned with a kalasam. The idol of Lord Shiva is 3 feet tall. Lord Shiva is worshipped in three forms. In the morning, he is worshipped as Ardhanareeshwara. In the afternoon, he is worshipped as Kirathamurthy and in the evening, he is worshipped as Samhararudra.

The sanctum bears wood carvings of superior workmanship portraying legends from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata Puranam. Some of the carvings found were Ashtaaavakra Maharshi, Lord Ganesha with his wife, Raasaleela, Aditya, Vamana, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva in Tandava pose and Sree Rama’s coronation ceremony. Though the Utsava idol of Shiva is an eight handed figure and is in a Rudra Bhava (appearing in a very angry posture) the devotees only see him as a merciful form.

The temple roofs are covered with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops. The Muhamandapam in front of the temple bears two images of Nandi, one of stone and another of metal. Although there is no shrine to Parvati, the rear of the sanctum is revered as Parvati's shrine. A rectangular circumambulatory passage surrounds the sanctum. There is a golden flag staff inside the temple. On the top of it is the idol of a bull surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree.

Valiyavilakku:

A unique feature of this temple is the eternal flame lamp called Valiyavilakku (big lamp) that can be seen at the entrance to sanctum. It has a little story behind it. When the Ettumanoor Siva Temple was rebuilt in 1540 CE, one evening an unknown devotee brought a big oil lamp to the temple. Somebody had doubts about how such a large Iamp could be lit as it would need lots of oil. The devotee replied that even if there was no oil in the lamp, it would remain alight.

He disappeared after placing the lamp in its present position in the area called Balickalpura (a sacrificial platform where food offerings are placed). It is believed that when this lamp was fixed, there was a streak of lightning that lit the lamp for the first time. This lamp has always been burning since then. A main offering by devotees here is sesame oil. The soot that accumulates on the under surface of the shade over the lamp is believed to cure many eye diseases. 

Akhoramoorthi:

The temple has a golden idol of Akhoramoorthi. This idol is placed before Lord Shiva every morning and is removed from the place the next day, after Nirmalya Pooja. The idol of Akhoramoorthi is two and a half feet tall.

Mural Paintings:

There are Dravidian mural paintings on the walls inside and outside of the main entrance. Also, of great workmanship are the murals on the western entrance to the temple; mention must be made of the painting of the dance of Shiva. The Ezharaponnana painting is also famous. This painting shows seven and half elephants finished in gold. The other mural paintings of the temple exhibit Anantasayana on the northern wall. The Agoramurthi and Pradosha Thandava paintings decorate the southern part of the sanctum. The fresco of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the finest Wall painting in India.

The Thandava painting represents Lord Shiva in a dancing pose. This mural represents Lord Shiva with River Ganges and crescent moon on his coppery, matted hair. He also holds a bow and drum in the right hand. While the bow is known as Pinaka, the attached drum is named as Udukkai. There is a sword and arrow in another hand. The sword is Khatwanga in local language and the arrow is Varunapaasa. There are bells, fire and a blazing mace in the other hands. This idol depicts the courageous and angry Lord Shiva. This painting is present in the main sanctum.

Other Shrines:

There are shrines for Bhagavati, Sastha, Dakshinamurthy (very rare in Kerala), Ganapathy and Yakshi in the Temple premises. There is a separate temple for Lord Krishna in the Temple premises.

Holy Tank:

There is also a holy tank on the northern side of the shrine which is oval in shape.