Chengannur Mahadeva Temple,
Alappuzha – The Temple
The temple is located in the
heart of Chengannur town. It is situated on the
southern banks of Pamba River. The temple is built in Kerala style architecture,
which is common in all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala. It is one
of the oldest and famous temples and has a sprawling temple complex with a
circular Sanctum. The temple has a two storeyed gopuram or
a gateway tower, with the upper storey having wooden trails covering
the Kottupura (a hall of drum beating during festivals).
A rectangular wall around the
temple, called Kshetra-Mahilika pierced by the gateways, encloses all the
shrines of the temple. The golden plated flag post or Dwajastambam is
located axial to the temple tower leading to the central sanctum and there is
a Deepastambam, which is the light post. Chuttambalam is the
outer pavilion within the temple walls. The central shrine and the associated
hall is located in a rectangular structure called Naalambalam.
Between the entrance
of Naalambalam to the sanctum, there is a raised square platform
called Namaskara Mandapa which has a pyramidal roof. Thevapura, the
kitchen used to cook offering to the deity is located on the left
of Namaskara Mandapa from the entrance. Balithara is an
altar is used for making ritualistic offering to demi-gods and the festive
deities.
The central shrine
called Sree Kovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It is on
an elevated platform with a single door reached through a flight of five steps.
Either sides of the doors have images of guardian deities called Dwarapalakas.
As per Kerala rituals, only the main priest called Thantri and
the second priest called Mel Shanthi alone can enter the Sree
Kovil.
The central shrine has a
circular plan with the base built of granite, superstructure built of laterite
and conical roof made of terracotta tile supported from inside by a wooden
structure. The lower half of Sree Kovil consists of the basement, the
pillar or the wall, called stambha or bhithi and the entablature
called prastara in the ratio 1:2:1, in height. Similarly, the upper
half is divided into the neck called griva, the roof tower
called shikhara and the finial kalasam (made of copper) in
the same ratio.
The roof projects in two levels
to protect the inner structure from heavy rains during monsoon. The roof of the
temple and some of the pillars have lavish wood and stucco carvings depicting
various stories of ancient epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The presiding deity is Mahadeva, in the form of Lingam faces
east, while the image of his consort, Bhagavathy is located exactly behind
facing West. The image of Bhagavathy is made of Panchaloka,
an alloy of five metals. It is believed that Perumthachan brought the image to
the temple.
The Shivalingam, is covered with
a gold plate bearing an image of Ardhanareeswarar (Shiva-Shakti manifestation
of Shiva). There are shrines for Ganapathy, Sastha, Chandikeswarar, Ganga,
Nagas and Neela Greevan in the Temple premises. There is also a shrine
of Krishna nearby. The Mukhamandapam in front of the temple and other
mandapams in this temple are full of exquisite woodwork. The performance hall
or the Koothambalam in the temple complex is an unfinished structure conceived
in a manner such that if lamps were lit on each of the posts, the performer's
shadow would not fall on the stage.
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