Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple in Kodungallur, Thrissur district of Kerala, is a historic and spiritually significant site built during the reign of the Chera rulers in the 8th century. It stands out as the only Paadal Petra Sthalam in Kerala, glorified by the 7th-century Tamil Saivite saints Nayanmars in their devotional hymns, the Tevaram. Among the 276 temples mentioned in the Tevaram, this temple is revered for its association with Saint Sundara Murthi Nayanar, who attained salvation here. According to the Periyapuranam, Sundarar reached Lord Shiva’s abode, Kailash, from this temple, sitting on a white elephant sent by the deity himself.
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| Srivanchikulam Shiva temple, Kodungallore, en.wikipedia.org |
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| Srivanchikulam Shiva temple, Kodungallore, en.wikipedia.org |
Above image: Managed by the Thiruvanchikulam Devaswom under the Cochin Devaswom Board. At his temple Tamil saint and poet Sudarar is said to have attained salvation along with the ruler Cheraman Perumal. The famous festivals are the ten-day Vaikasipournami Brahmotsavam in May-June and the Adi Swathi festival in July-August commemorating Sundarar’s journey to Kailash.... image credit: Challian at Malayalam Wikipedia.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Mahadeva, and his consort Parvathi, revered as Umadevi. Images of Sundara Murthi Nayanar and Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, who followed Sundarar to Kailash on horseback, are also present in the temple. The site is believed to be one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India, where Shiva is said to reside with his family. The temple has links to the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu and is associated with the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, dedicated to the element of the sky.
It was at Thiruvanchikulam that Parasurama, an avatar of Vishnu, worshipped Lord Shiva to atone for the sin of killing his mother, Renuka. The temple also holds immense literary and cultural significance as Sundarar composed ten verses in praise of Shiva here, compiled in the Seventh Tirumurai of the Tevaram. Additionally, Shiva is the family deity of the Cochin Royal Family, known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam, who patronized the temple after the decline of the Chera Empire.
The temple architecture, in the traditional Kerala style, features four entrance towers, a sanctum (Srikovil) at the center, and a flagstaff (Dwajasthambam) aligned on the same axial line. The sanctum is adorned with murals depicting Hindu mythology, and the temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The complex also includes two temple tanks within the second circumambulatory path.
Historically, the temple faced devastation during Tipu Sultan’s military campaigns in the late 18th century. His forces looted the temple’s gold, jewelry, and copper roofing. However, the structure was later restored by Paliath Achan of the Kochi royal family. The surrounding area, Mahodayapuram, served as the capital of the Kulasekharas and was fortified with pathways and palaces.
The temple celebrates three major annual festivals, with the ten-day Vaikasi Pournami Brahmotsavam in May–June being the most prominent. During the Svati festival in July–August, the images of Sundarar and Cheraman Perumal are brought to the temple from the nearby Bhagavathi Temple. Kodungallur, located 3 km away, is also renowned for its Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple, enhancing the spiritual significance of the region. Currently, the temple is managed by the Thiruvanchikulam Devaswom under the Cochin Devaswom Board. Based on the old post:
https://www.navrangindia.in/2019/07/thiruvanchikulam-shiva-temple.html
https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/thiruvanchikulam-mahadeva-temple-in-thrissur-003143.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvanchikulam_Temple
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