Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

Introduction to the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is a revered Hindu temple located in Vaikom, Kottayam, Kerala. This is popularly known as the Kashi of the South. It is one of the few temples where Shaivites and Vaishnavites worship.

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is among Kerala's three powerful Shiva temples. The other two temples are Ettumanoor Shiva Temple and Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple.

Legend of the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple has many legends. According to one of the legends, the demon king Kharasura once performed penance towards Shiva to attain Moksha. His penance pleased Shiva. So, he gave three Shiva Lingams to the demon king Kharasura to attain Moksha (salvation). He was carrying one Shiva Lingam in his right hand, one in his left, and one was hanging from his neck. When Kharasura was returning from the Himalayas to the south, he felt tired.

So, he kept the Lingams on the ground and rested there. When he got up, he could not lift any of the Lingams. An oracle from the sky said that the Lingams would stay there and make people attain Moksha. After attaining Moksha, Kharasura handed the Lingams to the saint Vyaghrapada and left the place.

The Lingam, which was in Kharasura's right hand, is at Vaikom. The Lingam, in his left hand, is at Ettumanoor, and the Lingam that he had on his neck at Kaduthruthy.

The Architecture of the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is in traditional Kerala architectural style. It is constructed using wood. Saint Parasurama built the temple in the 11th century. It went for renovation in the 15th and 18th centuries.

The deity of Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is also called Vaikkathappan. The temple has four Gopurams with sculptures of epic characters from Hindu mythology. The vast temple courtyard stretches over 8 acres of land.

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple faces the east. It has four Gopurams on all four sides. A golden plate covers the Dhwaja Stambham, and it is 317 feet high.

The sanctum (Sreekovil) is round and roofed with copper sheets. Sri Mahadeva is the presiding deity of the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, an incarnation of Shiva. The Shiva Linga is made of black stone and adorned with Chandra Kala (crescent), three eyes, a nose, and four arms with Shaiva abharanams (ornaments) in pure gold as 'anky.' The Shiva Linga measures 6 feet high and is said to have been installed by Saint Parasurama.

Shiva is worshipped in three different forms here. In the morning, as Sri Dakshinamurthy, who grants knowledge, wisdom, and understanding; at noon, he is worshipped as Kiratha Moorthy, who protects from dangers and grants success; in the evening, as Shakti Panchakshari, who blesses devotees for all worldly pleasures. Shiva is with his consort Parvati and sons Ganesha and Kartikeya in the Shakti Panchakshari form.

The sanctum sanctorum has two chambers that are entirely built in stone. The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple has a Namaskara Mandapam. The paintings of Puranic stories and wooden sculptures decorate the temple's outer walls. It has an engraved wall painting, which is 18 centuries old.

A well at the northern side of the temple called 'Sivananda Theertha' is believed to have been created by Shiva from the Ganges. A pond named 'Arathihara Theertha' is on the eastern side of the temple.

There is a stone image of Ganesha near the Balikkalpura (sacrificial stone) of the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. The inner roof of the Namaskara Mandapam depicts stories from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Visitors can see a single rock-cut statue of Nandi, Shiva's vehicle.

Festivals in the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The most famous festival celebrated in the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is Vaikkath Ashtami, which is held between November and December. Shivratri is another renowned festival that attracts hordes of devotees to the temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

The devotees receive the holy ash as Prasad in the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple, which is believed to cure people of poison, hysteria, and wounds.

The devotees believe that Shiva can grant all their wishes if they worship at these three shrines on the same day before Uccha Pooja.