Alappuzha Chandanakkavu Pillayar koil and Mutharamman temple is located in Alappuzha town in Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Ganesha or Ganapathi and Mutharamman.
The temple was constructed by Saiva Vellalars who arrived here from Tamil Nadu during ancient times. The murti of the Ganesha worshipped in the temple was brought by one of the settlers from the Sankaranainar Kovil in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
A small shrine was initially built for Ganesha at Purakkad near the seashore. But this temple was destroyed by the sea. The settlers then requested the king of Champagaserry to allot them a piece land to build a temple of their own.
Three acres of land was allotted to the Saiva Vellalars to build a temple. Initially, there was only a Ganapathi temple. Later they consecrated Goddess Mutharamman, the kula devata or family deity of Saiva Vellalars. The guardian deities in the temple are Madasamy and Bhairava Swamy. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva, Brahmarakshas, Yogini devi, Nagaraja and Nagayakshi.
The most important festivals held in the temple are Shivratri, Vinayaka Chaturthi and Navratri. The shrine is famous for Ganapathi Homam and Maha Mrityunjaya Homam. A procession involving small children and kavadi takes place on the Shivratri day. Pongala is offered to Goddess Mariamman on the 10th day of Chithirai Masam (April 23).