Peruvanam Shiva temple

Introduction to the Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

The ancient Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple is located at Cherpu, Oorakam village, Thrissur district, Kerala. It is under the joint administration of the Cochin Devaswom Board and the Travancore Devaswom Board. The Archaeological Department, India has been protecting it since 1982. The Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple is one of the famous 108 Shiva temples in Kerala.

Legend of the Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

According to the legends, Saint Parashurama established sixty-four villages after reclaiming Kerala from the sea. Peruvanam is the first and most crucial village among them. It is believed that Pooru Maharishi, the son of Hasthinapura king Yayathy, propitiated Shiva after a rigorous penance. Hence, the place's name is derived from the word "Pooru Vanam."

According to folklore, a huge Shiva Lingam that was being transported from Badrinath to this place got stuck in a tree branch, and the present Madathiliappan temple was constructed there.

The Architecture of the Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

Pooru Maharishi, the son of the King of Hasthinapura, Yayathy, built the Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple 1500 years ago. The current structure was constructed in the 12th century. The Maharaja of Travancore contributed abundantly to its development.

The Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple represents the Kerala architectural style and faces the east direction. The temple sprawls on a seven-acre land surrounded by a compound wall. Peruvanam Mahadeva, the presiding deity of Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple, is an incarnation of Shiva. The magnificent temple has two shrines, namely 'Irattayappan Temple' in the north and 'Madathiliappan Temple' in the south, dedicated to Shiva. The Madathiliappan Sreekovil (sanctum) is the tallest sanctum in South India.

The dual Shiva Lingam is the unique feature of the Irattayappan Temple, and for this reason, its presiding deity is called Irattayappan, denoting the duality. Irattayappan is worshipped as Ardhanareeswara.

The main sanctum is a square, which is rare in Indian temples. Visitors can reach the inner courtyard from the east and west sides, while the main entrance is on the east. Madathiliappan temple is situated on three stories in the south.

There are small shrines for Dakshinamurthy, Ganapati, Raktheshwari, and Manikandan. A huge Namaskara Mandapam has several beautiful sculptures.

The south Gopuram of the temple contains a vast area of land and an office called Cheri Kalam. The Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple performs Utcha Pooja, Prodhosha Nivedhyam, Nira Puthiri, and Koothu.

Festivals in the Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

The Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple grandly celebrates its annual festival, the Peruvanam Pooram, one of Kerala's oldest and grandest temple festivals. Peruvanam Pooram, celebrated between March and April, features colorful processions, traditional music, and dance performances. It attracts hordes of devotees and tourists.

The Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple is also famous for its association with classical performing arts, mainly Kathakali, a traditional dance-drama form of Kerala. It hosts Kathakali performances during the Pooram festival season