Temples In Chottanikara

Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple : Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is the most important religious worshipping place in Central Kerala. It is under the administration of Cochin Devaswom Board. The main deity in the temple is Goddess Rajarajeshwari, also renowned as Adiparashakthi. It is believed that the temple deity is worshipped as three forms of Devi, as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi at noon and as Durga at the evening. The deity is called as Amme Narayana, Devi Narayana, Bhadre Narayana and Lakshimi Narayana as there is a Vishnu (Naryana) idol is placed in the same pedestal of Goddess Rajarajeswari.

The temple complex contains shrines devoted to Brahma, Shiva, Subrahmanya, Ganesh abd Sastha. Thousands of devotees visit this holy temple all through the year. The Makom Thozhal in the Month of March and the Navaratri celebrations during October-November draw huge crowds of people to this temple.

The Kaduthuruthy Temple : The Kaduthuruthy temple, also known as Thali temple, is one of the three famous Shiva temples in Central Kerala. The temple is placed at the backdrop of scenic Vembanad Lake nad is placed at the top of a small hill. The Shiva idol is believed to be installed by Kharasura (Khara demon) and is one of the three idols he worshipped. Other two idols enshrine Ettumanoor and Vaikom.

The Sivalinga in this temple is placed facing East. The sanctum and the portico of the temple have many wood carvings depicting the story of the Lord Shiva. The mythological story ‘Karthaveerarjuneeyam' has been depicted in the carvings and is the specimen example of the architectural elegance of medieval Kerala. The idols of Ganapathy, Durga and Sastha are also placed in small shrines around the temple.

Vaikam Mahadeva Temple : Vaikam Mahadeva temple is the most famous Shiva temple in the Central Kerala and is located at Vaikam, a historical town near to Chottanikkara. Mythological stories relate Parasuraman, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, to the installation of Shiva linga at this place. Other mythology relates the origin of this temple to Kharasuran, who installed three Shiva temples at the corners of an equilateral triangle, Vaikam, Ettumanur and Kaduthurithy.

The deity in Vaikam Mahadeva temple is also known as Vaikuntappan, from which Vaikkom is derived. Vaikam temple is a temple in which huge flow of pilgrims is observed all through the year. The temple encloses a 'Sanctum sanctorum', mandapam, five enclosures (prakaram) and a tower.

Ettumanoor Shiva Temple:

Ettumanoor Shiva Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Central Travancore. Mythological stories boast that Pandavas and Great Sage Vyasa offered their prayers to Lord Shiva in this temple. The name Ettumanoor is derived from the word Manoor, means home of deer. The present temple is believed to be the one reconstructed during 1542 AD.

The temple structure, the Gopuram and the golden flag mast are all attractive and specimen examples of architectural mastery of Kerala.. Many mural paintings depicting vedas and mythological stories adorn the walls of the temple. The wall painting of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is very attractive.

The arattu festival in this temple is exceptional with the procession of Ezhara Ponnana (seven and a half Elephants) made of Gold during the Thiruvathira day in February.

Ernakulathappan Temple:

Ernakulathappan Temple is a famous Shiva temple in the heart of the city Eranakualm. The important feature of this temple is that the main deity of Shiva faces west. The rituals and Pooja methods in this temple are believed to be firmed up by renowned Villawamangalathu Swamiyar.

The devotees offer regular prayers to this temple and many visitors come from far off distances to this temple to attain the most privileged Moksha. The temple is a master piece of Kerala style temple architecture. Apart from the major deity of Lord Shiva in the Sanctum Santorum, there are shrines of Ganapati and Sastha.

Sree Poornathrayesa temple:

Sree Poornathrayesa temple is located in Tripunithura very close to Chottaniokkara. The present temple is a renovated one after a huge fire broke out in 1900s. The temple has a history of more than 1000 years. The prime deity in the temple is Poornathrayesan, a miraculous form of Lord Vishnu. It is in the form of Santhanagopala moorthy. Poornathrayesan was the family deity of the Royal Perumpadappu Swaroopam Family, who ruled Cochin Kingdom for many years.

Thousands of devotees visit this temple every year. It is believed that the childless couple can get their desire satisfied by praying in this temple. The festivals in the temple are unique and attract huge flow of devotees. The main festival is the Vrishchikoltsawam, conducted once in a year during Nov-Dec.