Thrikkalayoor Shiva temple, locally known as Thrikkalayoor Mahadeva temple, is located at Thrikkalayoor near Kizhuparamba in Malappuram district, Kerala. The temple is situated atop a hill. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shankaranarayana and darshanam is towards east. William Logan has stated that dynamite was first used in India in this temple.
The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum (Vatta Sreekovil).
The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Goddess Parvati, Ganapathy, Vettakkorumakan and Nagam.
As per history, the initial prathishta in the temple was that of Shiva (in Shivling form). Vilwamangalam Swamiyar placed a salagramam atop the Shivling. The salagrama merged in the Shivling and thus the deity came to be worshipped as Shankaranarayana.
In ancient times, the temple had enormous wealth. It was one of the richest temples in Kerala.
Malabar Manual, an 1887 publication commissioned by the Government of Madras, by William Logan states that Dynamite was first time used in India in this temple. The Gopurams of the temple were destroyed using Dynamite in last week of December 1884.
The temple was captured by 12 Muslim soldiers. When all methods to capture them proved futile, dynamite was used. As the people who used dynamite did not have proper knowledge it resulted in the complete destruction of the shrine. After the blast the wealth of the temple were looted and taken away.
Current temple is located in 20 acres of land. Thiruvilwamala Sivarama Menon worked earnestly towards the restoration and renovation of the temple.
In ancient times the temple had a famous festival which began on the next day of purnima (velutha vavu) and ended on Krishna Paksha Ashtami day. The most important festival here is the Mahashivratri.