Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located in Kottayam, Kerala. The temple is one of the 108 Shivalayas created by Lord Parasurama. It is believed that Sage Vyasa and Pandavas have worshiped in the shrine. The temple is famous for its murals, Ezharaponnana (the seven-and-a-half elephants finished in gold), and the Kedavilakku (the lamp which is lit always). The Nataraja mural painting on the western entrance to the temple is worth mentioning. The lighting of Kedavilakku lamp is said to have medicinal values and devotees pour oil on to this big lamp as offering. Devotess worship the deity as Ettumanoorappan.
Ettumanoor Temple along with Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple is considered as powerful tri-some Shiva temples in Kerala. It is believed that an Asura Khara of Ramayana worshiped Shiva at Chidambaram and got 3 Shivalingas from Mahadeva. He brought them to Kerala holding one in his right hand, one in left hand and one by his teeth. The one in his right hand was consecrated in Vaikom, and the one held in his left hand was consecrated in Ettumanoor, and the linga held by his teeth was installed in Kaduthuruthi. Hence a popular belief is to visit these three shrines in a day.
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple faces west and the mukhamandapam features two images of Nandi, one of stone and another of metal. There is no shrine for Parvati; however the rear of the sanctum is revered as Devi’s shrine. The temple has shrines for Ganapathy, Dakshinamurthy and Sree Dharma Shasta.
Festivals
The annual festival is celebrated on the Kumba masam in February – March. The festival concludes on the Thiruvathira nakshatra after the Ezhara Ponaana Ezhunallathu offered to the temple by the Maharaja of Travancore.
Shivarathri and Thiruvadira festival are also celebrated in this temple.
How to Reach
Ettumanoor Railway Station is the nearest access point about 2 km away. Kottayam Railway Station is the major railhead about 11 km from the temple.
Cochin International Airport is about 77 km from Ettumanoor.
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