The Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple, an ancient Shiva temple nestled in Kandiyoor near Mavelikara in Kerala, boasts a rich tapestry of legends. Here is a look at the Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva temple Story
It is esteemed as one of the 108 great Shiva temples from
ancient Kerala, sanctified by Bhagavan Parashurama himself.
Another narrative recounts that Rishi Mrikandu, father of
Rishi Markandeya, discovered a murti of Mahadeva Shiva in the form of
Kirathamoorthy while bathing in the Ganga. A celestial voice directed him to
place the idol in a sacred and fitting location. Thus, the Rishi journeyed to
Kerala, eventually choosing the banks of the Achankovil River to establish the
temple in Kandiyoor. The name "Kandiyoor" is believed to be a
derivation of "Kandathil."
Yet another legend associates the temple with the spot where
Bhagavan Shiva severed Bhagavan Brahma's head, leading to the name
"Kandiyoor," derived from Shiva's epithet "Sri Kantan."
Tradition holds that Lord Parasurama undertook the temple's
renovation, conferring tantric rights upon the Tharananallur family.