Kollam Uma Maheswara Swamy temple is located at Umamaheshwara junction, Chinnakada in heart of Kollam town, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Uma (Goddess Parvati) and Maheshwara (Shiva).
Kollam Uma Maheswara Swami Temple – Story
Legend has it that Shiva and Goddess Parvati stayed on the spot where the current temple is located for a night during their journey from Agastya Giri to Kailash.
That night the palace sculptor of the Kollam king had a dream. In the dream Shiva-Parvati asked him to construct a temple on the spot where they rested for the night.
But the palace sculptor, Venkateswara, had no money to build the temple. He installed clay murtis of Shiva and Goddess Parvati under the banyan tree where Shiva – Parvati rested. Not knowing how to make the money, he walked on the nearby beach. Here he stumbled upon a large piece of gold. He built the temple with the huge amount of money he received after selling gold. His family got into gold business and it is even continued today.
Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped on the same pedestal in the temple. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapati, Muruga, Nandi, Anantakrishnan, Madan Thampuran and ancestors of the family that owns the temple.
The important pujas and rituals include Swayamvara Archana, Uma Maheshwara Pooja and Ganapathi Homam. Hundreds of people visit the temple to offer pujas for early marriage.
The annual festival in the temple is held on Punartham and Pooyam nakshatra in Malayalam Edava Masam.