Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple Kerala

Introduction to the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

The Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple or Vazhappally Mahadeva Temple is a Siva temple located in Vazhappally, near Changanassery, Kottayam district, Kerala. The Travancore Devaswom Board administers and maintains it.

Legend of the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

According to the legend, Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Maha Vishnu, gifted the land of Kerala. Parasurama himself installed the idol of the Mahadeva. This magnificent temple is one of the 108 Siva temples. Maha Vishnu incarnated as Parasurama in the Treta Yuga. The exact construction period of this Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple is unknown.

According to legends, Chera Raja Pallibana Perumal, a Buddha follower, decided to convert the Neelamperoor Siva Temple into a Buddhist monastery. Ten Brahmin families, later known as Pattiyillam Pottimar, took the Shiva Lingam from Neelamperoor, rushed to Vazhappally, and installed it here.

The Shiva Lingam brought from Neelamperoor Temple was first placed in Devalokam, north of Vazhappally village. Later, when they tried to move it, they could not. Parasurama appeared before the grieving Brahmin family and offered them the Shiva Lingam he had worshiped. He advised them to build the temple using the Ardhanariswara concept.

The History of the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

Vazhappally copper plate, the cheppedu, (830 CE), is a single plate with writing on both sides. It dates back to the 9th century and is the earliest available inscription in the Malayalam language. The inscription is engraved in Vattezhuthu and Grantha scripts. It is of the times of Cheraman Perumal Nayanar, the Chera-Kulasekhara emperor of 820-844 AD.

Despite the fall of the Cheras dynasty and subsequent rule by Thekkumkur and Travancore kings, the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple survived numerous wars and was safeguarded by divinity and devotees' prayers.

The Architecture of the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

The Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple is one of the rare temples in Kerala. It has two Nalambalams (a four-walled structure surrounding the sanctum) and two Dhwaja Sthambams. The temple's Siva idol is centuries old. The temple was built during the reign of the first Chera dynasty between the second and third centuries. It displays the typical Kerala architectural style.

The sanctum is built within three walls of rounded stone granite. The Shiva Lingam graces in the east, and the Parvati idol is in the west. Parasurama consecrated the Shiva Lingam at this temple. Here, Mahadeva is otherwise known as Thiruvazhappally Lachan.

Ganapathi and Dakshinamurthy are inside the sanctum facing the south. The sub-deity Ganapathi is more important than the main deity, Mahadeva. He is popularly known as 'Vazhappally Ganapathi,' with a separate Dhwaja Sthambam. Subramanya, Sri Krishna, Sastha, and Nandi are other sub-deities here.

The Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple is famous for its wooden sculptures including Ganapathy, Nataraja, Kirathamoorthy, Poothanamoksham, Ardhanarishwar, Narasimham, Ananthashayanam, Sri Rama Hanuman darshan, Gopika Vastrakshepam, Sri Rama Avataram, Narasimha, Sastha and Nagaraja. The legendary Perumthachan sculpted these sculptures and built the sanctum and Namaskara Mandapam. The granite pillars are rich in carvings and sculptures made from a single stone.

A large Thidapalli is in the south-eastern corner of the Nalambalam. The Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple appointed the Kasaragod Tulu Brahmin family to perform tantric rites and daily pooja, with the main priest residing in the Kuthasanthi Math. It gained prominence during the second Chera dynasty.

Vazhappally Ganapathi Appam, also known as Vazhappally Ottayappam, is the primary offering in the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple. It was the first offering made before the Swayambhu Prathishta of Ganesha.

Festivals in the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple

The ten-day Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple festival is held on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March –April). Other famous festivals celebrated in the temple are Maha Shivaratri and Mudiyettu, a folk dance drama and a ritual theatre that dramatizes the battle between Kali and the demon Darika. Following the harvest season, Mudiyettu is held in Bhadrakali temples between February and May.