Tag: Lord Shiva

Thiruvanchikulam Temple in Thrissur, the cultural hub of Kerala, is a temple you can’t miss at Kerala, the green paradise! Acclaimed worldwide for its captivating landscapes, backwaters & beaches, Kerala is also known for its famous temples. Interesting legends and local history make each temple worth a visit! Lord Shiva is portrayed in various forms at the Thiruvanchikulam temple. The prime deity is Lord Shiva, as Mahadeva and his consort Goddess Parvati as Umadevi. Together considered as Uma Maheswara a form revealed to Sage Parasurama. This is a complete guide with lots of useful information. You can jump straight to these sections to touch on the specifics. The Legend As per local legends, the eminent Shaiva saint, Sundara Murthi Nayanar commenced his journey towards Kailash (Lord Shiva's abode) from here mounted on a white elephant sent by Lord Shiva; Cheraman Perumal Nayanar escorted him on horseback. Idols of both are ensconced in the temple. History The Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple history dates back to more than 2000 years & it is believed to be constructed by a legendary Chera King, Cheraman Perumal. The oldest reference of the temple comes in the history of the ancient Tamil Sangam literature in a religious work Tevaram created by the Tamil saints, the Nayanmars. They listed the temple as one of the Paadal Patra Sthalam (a group of Shiva temples in the Tevaram). Incidentally, Lord Mahadeva is also the family deity of the Cochin Royal family who took up reign after the decline of the Chera rule. The Dutch and The Tipu Sultan of Mysore demolished the temple during their invasions. Later the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple was renovated in 1801 AD. Architecture Typical Kerala temple architecture built according to the principles of Vastu Shastra can be seen at the Thiruvanchikulam Temple. One of the major