Amayannoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is located at Amayannoor in Kottayam district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Shiva – Mahadevar. The shrine also has a murti of Veerabhadra. Another significance of the temple is that there are four Shivlings in a straight line at the temple complex. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Kumbha Masam (February – March).
As per local history, a sage on a pilgrimage happened to visit the place thousands of years ago. He realized the presence of Shiva in the place. He meditated here and Shiva is believed to have given darshan to him in several spots here. Shivlings were consecrated by the saint where he had darshan of Shiva.
The temple has a vatta sreekovil with a three-tier roof. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathi, Ayyappa, Dakshinamurti, Goddess Bhagavati, Nagas and Veerabhadra. There is huge pond in front of the temple. The shrine has chuttambalam, namaskara mandapam and dwajasthambam.
A total of five Shivlings are worshipped in the temple and therefore it is believed that darshan in the temple is equal to visiting Kashi.
The Sankalpam of Shiva worshipped in the temple is of Shiva who has just heard about the death of Sati at Daksha Yajna. Shiva is both angry and sad here.
Shivratri is an important festival in the temple. The shrine also observes its annual festival in Kumbha Masam (March – April). Shaiva temple pujas and rituals including dhara and pallivetta are part of the festival. Traditional performing art forms of temples of Kerala, music, melam, caparisoned elephants, ezhunellippu and arattu are part of the of the festival.
Pradosham and Mondays are of great significance in the temple. Thrikarthika and Thiruvathira are observed in the temple.