| Thiruvanchikulam Temple തിരുവഞ്ചിക്കുളം ക്ഷേത്രം | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Thrissur, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 10°12′37″N76°12′24″E / 10.2103°N 76.2066°E /10.2103; 76.2066 |
| Elevation | 27.98 |
| Built | 9th century CE |
  Thiruvanchikulam Temple (Kerala) Show map of Kerala Thiruvanchikulam Temple (India) Show map of India | |
ThiruvanchikulamSivaTemple (medievalThiruvanchaikkalam Temple[1]) is aHindu temple situated inKodungallur inThrissur district ofKerala state, India. Constructed in theKerala style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during theChera period. Shiva is worshipped as Mahadeva and his consortParvathi as Umadevi. There are 33 sub-deities in this temple, the highest number so inKerala.
The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century-CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, theTevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as theNayanmars and classified asPaadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the canon.[2] It is the only temple in Kerala in the list. As per Periyapuranam, Sundara Murthi Nayanar, one of the four great saints in Tamil Shivism ascended to heaven from this place. Cheraman Perumal, the traditional legedary king of Kerala, is believed to went to ‘Kailasa’ with his companion Saiva saint, Sundaramoorthi Nayanar from this temple premises.[3]
The temple is open from 4 am – 12 pm and 4–8:30 pm on all days except during festival days when it is open the full day. Four daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the eight-dayMahashivaratri festival in the Malayalam month ofKumbham (February–March) is the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Thiruvanchikulam Devaswom under the Cochin Devaswom Board.
This is the only Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam in Kerala. Shiva is the family god of theCochin Royal Family (Perumpadapu Swaroopam) after they came to power following the decline of Chera Empire). The temple has very good mural paintings and is a protected monument by theArchaeological Survey of India. The national anthem of erstwhile kingdom ofTravancore,Vanchi Bhumi refers to the deity of this temple, the official deity of imperial Chera Empire from whom the former claim lineage. The temple has the oldest reference in history in Thevaram Hymns sung by Sundara Murthi Nayanar (also known asSundarar in Tamil), one of the four Saiva Acharyas. The images of Sundara Murthi Nayanar, and ofCheraman Perumal Nayanar can also be seen in the temple premises. It is one of the oldest Shiva temples inSouth India, where Shiva is said to live along with his whole family. It was from here, Sundara Murthi Nayanar reached Kailash by sitting on a white elephant, sent by Lord Shiva on Adi Swathi day (July/August). He was followed on horse back by Seraman Perumal Nayanar. On his way to Kailash, Sundara Murthi Nayanar sang a Padhigam which was sent back to Thiruvanchikulam on his request. The temple is associated withChidambaram temple inTamil Nadu.[4][5][6]
The capital city of theKulasekharas,Mahodayapuram, was built around the temple; it was protected by high fortifications on all sides and had extensive pathways and palaces. This temple was attacked and damaged duringTipu Sultan's invasion of Kerala; the copper roofing, gold and jewels were looted. Tipu'sMuslim soldiers fled the temple complex only after the arrival of theTravancore Army of Dalawa Keshavadas Pillai. The temple was rebuilt byPaliath Achan of thePaliam Swaroopam.
The temple is built inKerala style of architecture with entrance towers in all four sides. The sanctum occupies the centre portion of the temple, which is fortified. The sanctum is approached through a flagstaff, which is axial to the entrance tower and the sanctum. The flagstaff has images of Asthavidyesavara. The presiding deity is in the form oflingam. The image ofNarasimha is sculpted on thevimana. The images ofSundarar and Ceramanperuman are maintained at Bhagavathi temple and brought to the temple during Svati festival during July – August. There are two temple tanks in the temple, located in the second precinct.[7]
It is believed that it the temple whereParasurama, an avatar ofVishnu, worshiped Shiva to expiate his sin killing his mother Renuka.Sundarar, a 7th-century TamilSaivite poet, venerated Mahadeva in ten verses inTevaram, compiled as theSeventh Tirumurai. As the temple is revered inTevaram, it is classified asPaadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is believed to be the place where Sundarar and king Cheraman spent their last days and believed to have ascended toKailasa in a white elephant.[7]
The temple priests perform thepuja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed four times a day;Kalasanthi at 8:00 am,Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m. andSayarakshai at 6:00 pm. There are weekly rituals likesomavaram (Monday) andsukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals likepradosham, and monthly festivals likeamavasai (new moon day),kiruthigai,pournami (full moon day) andsathurthi. Brahmotsavam during the Malayalam month ofEdavam (May – June) is the most important festivals of the temple.[8][7]
