Ernakulathappan Temple is a popular Shiva temple located in the heart of Ernakulam town. The 8-day annual festival is observed in such a manner that it ends on Thiruvathira Nakshatra in Makaram month. The annual Shivratri is an important festival in the temple.
The highlight of the temple festival is kodiyettam, melam, ezhunellippu and arattu.
Ernakulathappan Temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala. It is believed that the deity in the temple used to face east but it was later change to west which is the present status. The position of the deity was changed to face Pazhayannur Bhagavathy temple belonging to Mattancherry Kottaram.
Vilwamangalam Swamiyar had decided the rules, rituals, pujas and regulations associated with shrine.
It is believed that the Shivling in the Ernakulathappan Temple was installed by a Naga Sadhu – Naga Rishi who had come from north. There is also a belief that the Shivling in the temple is Keerthamurti which was worshipped by Arjuna.
The Sreekovil in the temple is round and the shrine has a gold-plated kodimaram or flag post. Presence of Goddess Parvati is worshipped inside the Sreekovil and she faces east.
The Upa Devatas in the temple are Ganapathy, Keerathamurti, Sastha and Nagaraja.
The temple was constructed in Thulam month in Kollavarsham 790 (1615 CE).