Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple

2021-07-03T11:06:21Z

206.42.72.219:

{{Short description|Hindu temple in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple
| image = Kandiyur Siva Temple Tower.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = India Kerala
| map_caption = Location in Kerala
| coordinates = {{coord|9|15|11|N|76|31|46|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name = കണ്ടിയൂർ മഹാദേവക്ഷേത്രം
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Kerala]]
| district = [[Alappuzha]]
| location = [[Mavelikara]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Shiva]]
| festivals=
| architecture = Traditional Kerala style
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
|established = Before the advent of ''[[Kali Yuga]]''
| year_completed = 823<ref>{{cite book|last=Shashi|first=editor-in-chief Padmashri S.S.|title=Encyclopaedia Indica : India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|year=2007|publisher=Anmol Publications|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170418597|edition=1st}}</ref>
| creator = Cheraman Perumal Nayanar Rajasekara Varman
| governing_body =[[Travancore Devaswom Board]]
| website = [http://www.kandiyoortemple.org kandiyoortemple.org]
}}

'''Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple''' is an ancient [[Shiva]] temple situated in Kandiyoor near [[Mavelikkara]] on the banks of [[Achankovil]] river. Kandiyoor was once the capital of the [[Odanad]]u kingdom.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gouri Lakshmi Bayi|title=Thulasi garland Bhavan's book university|year=1998|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}</ref> The temple and region are related to the history of ancient [[Buddhism in Kerala]]. Mattom Sree Mahadeva Temple also known as (''shiva nada'')is {{convert|1|km}} west of Mavelikara town north of State Highway 6. It is spread across an area of {{convert|7.5|acre}}.

[[File:KANDIYUR TEMPLE SREEKOVIL.jpg|thumb|Sreekovil of Kandiyoor Temple]]
[[File:Kandiyur Maha Siva Temple.JPG|thumb|The temple compound (Mathilakam) of Kandiyur Maha Siva Temple]]
[[File:KandiyoorMahadevaTemple.jpg|thumb|Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple]]

==Legends==
There are many legends associated with the temple. It is considered as one among the 108 great Shiva temples of ancient Kerala consecrated by Lord Parashurama himself.<ref>[http://www.vaikhari.org/108shivalaya.html 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala created by Lord Parasurama]</ref> according to another legend the Rishi Mrikandu, the father of Rishi Markandeya got an idol of Lord Shiva in Kirathamoorthy form while bathing in Ganga. He heard an oracle that the idol be placed in a holy and befitting place. The Rishi searching for the apt location came to Kerala and ended up in the bank of Achankovil and established the temple in Kandiyoor. The name Kandiyoor is a corruption of Kandathil.

According to another legend the temple is located at the site where Lord Shiva cut off Lord Brahma's head. The name Kandiyoor comes from name of Shiva Sri Kantan.
It is believed that Lord Parasurama renovated the temple and gave tanthrik rights to Tharananallur family.<ref name=web>[http://www.kandiyoortemple.org Temple Website]</ref>

==History==
Kandiyoor and the temple have great significance in Kerala's history. The Kandiyoor temple is the earliest temple about which there is an epigraph about its origin in A.D 823 during the reign of Rajasekhara Varman.<ref name=khaim>{{cite book|last=A. Sreedhara Menon|title=Kerala History and its Makers|year=1987|publisher=D C Books|isbn=9788126437825}}</ref> There was an era name 'Kandiyoorabdam' from the formation of the temple that was in widespread use until the introduction of Kollavarsham.

It is also believed that the temple was once [[Hinayana|Hinayana Buddhist]] temple The kandiyoor(''kannankara panicker family'')It is also believed that it is this displaced shiva that was retrieved from the nearby paddy fields and placed near the Mavelikkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple ([[Buddha Junction]]) in recent times.<ref name=ashoi>{{cite book|last=Sadasivan|first=S.N.|title=A social history of India|year=2000|publisher=APH Pub. Corp.|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788176481700}}</ref>

The Kandiyoor inscription (K. E. 393) dated 1218 says that Kandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad and the Kalasam ceremony was attended by devadicci Unni wife of Ravi Kerala Varma King of Venad after deliberations between the three.<ref>{{cite book|last=University of Kerala|title=Journal of Kerala Studies, Volume 14|year=1987|publisher=University of Kerala}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Nagendra Kr.|title=Divine prostitution|year=1997|publisher=A.P.H. Pub. Corp.|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170248217}}</ref>

Kandiyoor was annexed to Kayamkulam by Kayamkulam Rajah and later to Travancore by Marthanda Varma. It is believed that during the war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam the defeated Kayamkulam Raja surrendered his sword in the temple and left through the rear door which still remains closed after centuries.<ref name=web/>

The temple is mentioned in Unnuneeli Sandesam written around the 14th century.

Sri Kandiyur Mahadeva Shastrikal - a Sanskrit Scholar who wrote many Bhashyams for - Lalitha Sahasranamam, Lalitha Thrishati etc. lived in Kandiyooor.

==Temple Description==

The primary deity of the temple is Lord Shiva known as Kandiyoorappan (the ruling deity of Kandiyoor). The deity is east facing. The sanctum santorum is two-tiered and there is a platform in the front for devotees, a feature that is of the [[Hoysala]] style. The bottom tier is oval in shape while the top tier is rectangular. The {{convert|10|ft}} Gajaprishta style wall is believed to be constructed by Shiva's Bhothaganas.<ref name=web/> There are puranic legend stone scriptures in the temple.<ref>{{cite book|last=A. Sreedhara Menon|title=The Legacy of Kerala|year=1982|publisher=D C Books|isbn=9788126437986}}</ref>

==Deity==
The primary deity, Kandiyoorappan, is believed to be in kirathamoorthy form. The deity worshipped as Dakshinamoorthy in the morning, Umamaheshwaran in the noon, Kirathamoorthy in the evening. Deity is worshipped as Panchmukha from South-West corner of Pradakshina Vazhy by viewing five Thazikakudams of Shiva temples and as Vaikatappan(ruling deity of Vaikom) during sunset. The sub-deities in the temple include Vishnu, Parvatheesan, Nagaraja and Nagayakshi, Gosala Krishnan, Sastha, Sankaran, Sreekandan, Vadakkumnathan, Annapoomeswary, Ganapathy, Subramanyan, Moola Ganapathy and Brahma Rakshas of which Sankara, Sreekanda, Vadakkumnadha, Parvatheesa and Mrityunjayaare Shiva himself. There are six Shivalinga Prathishtas in this temple.<ref>[http://www.vaikhari.org/kandiyoor.html Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple Mavelikkara]</ref>
==See also==
{{portal|Temples|Kerala}}

* [[Temples of Kerala]]
* [[Temple festivals of Kerala]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple}}

{{Hindu temples in Kerala}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Kerala]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Alappuzha district]]
[[Category:Hindu pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:108 Shiva Temples]]

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Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple