Iranikulam Temple is located in Thrissur District, Kerala. The temple is dedicated Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Here is look at the architecture of Iranikulam temple.
At present Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva temple has 4.49 acres which constitute the temple complex. The main structures sreekovil, namaskara mandapam, chuttu mathil, sub shrines, pura-mathil, wells and pond.
Iranikulam Sree Thekkedath Shiva Temple Architecture
Thekkedath Shiva temple has a circular dwidala Sreekovil of sandhaara type and facing east. It has granite adhishtanam with moldings of padukam, jagathi, triple-faceted kumudam, kumuda-padi, galam with flower motif, gala-padi, kampam, kapotham, kampam, galam with carvings of Mruga-mala, galapadi and kampam, galam, gala padi, valaru and padi.
The sopanam has eight direct steps with vyali face on top and Deva figurines on the sides of banisters. There are five steps from antharaalam to the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum. The pranaalam has Makara simha face, plain sundu with rings and go-mukham end. There is a figurine of Yakshi in squatting pose below the sundu. The laterite wall has three ghanadwaaras and a functional door.
The shrine has a mukha-mandapam. The roof is tiled. The sub-shrine of Ganapati is at southwest of the akathebalivattam, while the well is at northwest. The namaskara mandapam has no superstructure. There is a laterite chuttu mathil around the above structures. The sub-shrine of Sastha is at southwest facing east. It has a nadappura and deepasthambham at its front. The sub-shrine of Sree Nagaraja is at the southwest of the shrine for Sastha. There is a valiya-balikkall at its front.
The Shivling at the Thekkedath shrine is swayambhoo and made of mud and hence no abhishekam is performed. It has a height of 105 cm. A panchaloha murti of Shiva is used as archana bimba.
Iranikulam Vadakkedath Shiva Temple Architecture
The square dwidala Sreekovil of sandhara type and facing east has a mukha-mandapam. It is on the northern side of the Sree Thekkedath Shiva shrine and the shrine has a mukha-mandapam. The mouldings of the adhishtanam are padukam, jagathi, vrutha-kumudam, kumuda padi, galam with carvings of Mruga-mala, gala-padi, kampam, and galam with flower motif, gala-padi valaru and padi.
The sopanam has five direct steps with vyali face on top and motifs of Devas on the sides of banisters. The pranaalam has Makara-simha face, plain sundu with rings and go-mukham end. There is a figurine of Yakshi in squatting pose below the sundu. The walls are made of laterite stones and the roof is tiled with gables on all four sides of the roof. There is a separate well for this shrine within its akathe balivattam. It has separate chuttambalam with four entrances. The thidappaly is at southeast. The valiya-balikkall is outside the chuttambalam.
At the rear and outside the compound wall of Vadakkedath temple, there is sub-shrine dedicated to Goddess Karott (Bhadrakali) Bhagavathi facing east. A bell-metal deepastambham is installed at its front. There is also a pond for the temple.
The carvings of Mruga-mala on the adhishtanam and greeva of the southern shrine deserve special mention.
In the Vadakkedath shrine sanctum sanctorum, there are three panchaloha murtis in one peetham. Bhagavan Shiva is in sitting pose (122 cm above the peetham) with left leg folded, right leg in suspended position. The murti has two arms with left hand kept on left knee and right hand in chin mudra pose. The murti of Goddess Parvati is also in sitting pose (height: 113 cm) with left leg folded, right leg in suspended position and with two arms, left arm resting on left knee and right arm with lotus in hand. The two-armed Sree Bala Subramanya murti is in standing pose (60 cm) with kadali plantain in right hand and left hand with vel.
Other murtis are made of shila, Maha Ganapati in sitting pose (37 cm.), Sastha in sitting pose (45 cm.), Goddess Bhagavathi (Bhadrakali) in sitting pose (37 cm.) and Sree Nagaraja in sitting pose with raised hoods (30 cm).
Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple Timings
Evening darshan and pooja timings are from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Three poojas are done daily,
Usha-pooja at 6:30 AM
Uccha-pooja at 9:00 AM
Athazha-pooja at 7:30 PM
Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva Temple Festival
The eight day festival ends on the Thiruvathira nakshatra day in Dhanu Masam. The Kodiyettam is held eight days prior to Thiruvathira. Pallivetta is performed for Thekkedath shrine. On all Ulsavam days neerattu to Goddess Parvati is held. Nivedyam is also offered to Sree Nandi.
On 10th day of Medam month, Guruti is performed at the northern side of the shrine of Sree Bhagavathi (Karott Bhagavathi).
Shivratri is another important festival in the temple.
The fortnightly Pradosham vratam dedicated to Bhagavan Shiva is observed in the temple.