Thiruvalloor Mahadeva temple is located at Alangad in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped in a ferocious form in the temple. The specialty of the temple is that Shiva is worshipped with his third eye open – Agni Pratistha.
There is no abhishekam or dhara in the temple as the pratishta in the temple is Agnithwa Shiva Lingam. The dhara vazhipadu of Thiruvalloor temple is performed at Iravipuram Shiva temple.
The temple was one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum - vatta sreekovil. Ganapathi prathishta in the temple is adjacent to the sreekovil on the southside. The darshanam of Ganapathi is towards north.
The 8-day annual festival in the temple concludes on Vishu day after Vishukani. The Koodeyirikkam takes place after Vishukani.
A temple pond is located on the east side of the sreekovil or sanctum sanctorum. The pond water is believed to cool down the effect of Agni emanating from the third eye of Shiva. The pond is in line with the sreekovil.
Story Of Sooryakalady Bhattathirpad And Temple
Legend has it that Sooryakalady Bhattathiripad, a famous tantric, was cursed by a Yakshi and Gandharva that he would die on the 14th day if did not have the evening puja and darshanam (deeparadhana) on the day in Thiruvallur Mahadeva temple.
Sooryakalady Bhattathiripad made all arrangements to have darshanam during deeparadhana on the 14th day evening at Thiruvallur Mahadeva temple.
But on the 13th day there a voice was heard from the Thiruvallur Mahadeva temple sreekovil. The voice asked the pujari to close the temple the next day after uccha puja at 10 AM and then not to open the shrine for the day.
When Sooryakalady Bhattathiripad arrived at the temple for puja, the sanctum was closed. He tried all means to open the temple but could not. In pain, he is said to have jumped and bitten the wooden roof of the temple. The teeth marks and his footsteps are still seen in the temple.
Another legend of the temple is associated with Ramayana. It is said that tail of Jatayu fell here when he attempted to stop Ravana from carrying Sita away to Lanka.
As per history, the temple belonged to 28 Illams in Uliyannoor Gramam. The temple was destroyed by a lightning. The temple was renovated by Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja.
Keezhanikavu is located next to Thiruvalloor Mahadeva Temple. The shrine is dedicated to Vishnu Bhagavan. Goddess Bhagavati and Naga (serpents) are worshipped here. The temple is noted for a Rudraksha tree on its premises.
Thiruvalloor Mahadeva Temple Ernakulam – Architecture
The temple owns seven acres of land of which four acres
constitute the temple complex. The structures thereon are sreekovil with
sub-shrine, namaskara mandapam, chuttambalam with agra mandapam,
valiya-balikkall, dhwajam, anakottil, compound wall, gopuram, oottupura, well
and pond.
The circular ekatala sreekovil of sandhara type and facing east has granite
upa-peetham and adhishtanam. The mouldings of the upa-peetham are padukam, padma-padukam
and jagati, while those of adhishtanam are padukam, jagati triple faceted
kumudam, kumuda-padi, galam, gala-padi, utharam, valaru, padi,utharam, kampam,
kapotam, galam, gala padi, galam and padi.
The adhishtanam has exquisite carvings of chitra-mala, mruga mala, muthu-mala, pakshi-mala etc. The sopanam has four direct steps with vyali faces on top of banisters and figurines of Sree Brahma, Sree Vishnu and Sree Maheswara on sides.
The pranalam has makara-simha face at the base, multi
faceted sundu with rings and go-mukha end. It is supported by a standing
bhoota-gana with his head. The granite walls have two ghana-dwaras and two
functional doors. The roof is covered with copper sheets. At the southern
antarala there is a sub-shrine dedicated to Ganapati and Dakshinamoorthy, both
facing south. The namaskara-mandapam has sixteen pillars, four inner and 12
outer. There are two covered pathways from the Sreekovil to southeast and
northeast nalambalam. The well is at northeast of the akathe balivattom.
The chuttambalam has entrances from all sides. There are thidappally existing at
southeast and northeast, the former is now used. The valiya-balikal is within
the agra-mandapam. The concrete dwajam is covered with 28 copper paras. The
vahana of Shiva, Sri Nandikeshwara is installed on the eastern side of the
dhwajam. The pradakshina-vazhi is made of concrete. Anakottil also exists at
the front. The office building is at the southwest.
Gopurams exist at east and west. The compound wall has the shape of elephant’s belly at the top. There is one pond at the front, while there is a smaller pond at the northwestern side of the oottupura (located at north).
Exquisite wood carvings are seen on the ceilings of namaskara mandapam and agra-mandapam. Ashta Dikpalakas, Markandeya-puranam (on the western and northern side), kaalan-illa kalam (on eastern and southern sides) are depicted on the ceiling of namaskara mandapam, while on the ceiling of agra mandapam there are carvings of dikpalakas, Kirata-episode and kathakali. On the walls of the sreekovil, there are carvings based on the themes taken from Bhagavatam and Siva-puranam. On the western gopuram there is a daru-shilpa of Bhagavan Shiva having ten hands.
Alangad Thiruvalloor Mahadeva Temple Timing
Morning darshan and pooja and timings are from 5:30 PM to 8 PM.
Five poojas are held daily
Usha-pooja (6 AM)
Ethirthu-pooja (6:30 AM)
Pantheeradi-pooja (8 AM)
Uccha-pooja (10 AM)
Athazha-pooja (7 PM).
Thrippuka is held at 8 PM daily
Sreebali is performed at 7AM, 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM