History of Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is surrounded by 108 Shiva temples in Kerala, located at the southern tip of India. It is famous for its mural art. The paintings of Lord Nataraja (God of Dance) on the gopuram (temple tower) is one of the main attractive and interesting things here. Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is located in Ettumanoor, Kottayam district in the state of Kerala, India. It is said that the statue of the temple was given by a Travancore Maharaja.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. As stated by legends, an Asura called Khara got three Shivalingas from Lord Shiva himself. He took them with him to Kerala, holding one by his teeth and one each in his right and left hand. While the Lingam held by his teeth was blessed in Kaduthuruthy, the one held in his right hand was blessed in Vaikom ( Vaikom Mahadeva Temple) and the one held in his left hand was blessed in Ettumanoor. After blessing all these 3 divine places on the same day, Khara is believed to have become a deer and started worshipping the Gods. It is accepted as true that the God in Ettumanoor took the deer in his hand and held it there. After this , the place was called Udhruthaina Puram, which means Ettumanoor in Malayalam (The place where the deer was lifted).
The earliest temple was rebuilt in the year 1542 AD. The temple is built in such an authentic Kerala style The walls inside and outside of the main entrance of the temple are adorned with Dravidian Mural paintings. The best sketch of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the best in India. Inside the temple there is a golden flagstaff. On the highest part of the golden flagstaff the idol of a bull is surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree. The temple roofs are placed under cover with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops. Bhagavati, Sastha, Ganapathy and Yakshi are set in place here as subordinate deities. It is believed that the great philosopher, Sankaracharya wrote the ‘Soundaraya Lahari’ staying in the temple.
The popular Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple organises the Arattu festival celebrated on a grand level on the Thiruvathira day in February–March every year. Lot of people visit this temple between the 8th and 10th day of the festival when seven and half elephants (in Malayalam: ezharaponnana) made of gold (nearly 13 kg) will be held in public view.
The Thulabharam is one of the prime rituals of this temple. People offer presents to God for favours received.
Temple Opening and Closing Time of Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
4 AM to 12 PM & 5PM to 8PM
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple Pooja Timings
| Opening of Sreekovil | 4 am |
| Nirmalyam | 4 am to 4:30 am |
| Abhishekam | 4:30 am to 5 am |
| Madhavippalli Pooja (Usha Pooja) | 5:30 am to 6 am |
| Ethruthu Pooja | 6 am to 6:30 am |
| Pantheeradi Pooja | 8 am to 8:30 am |
| Dhaara, Navakom etc | 10 am to 10:30 am |
| Ucha Pooja | 11 am to 11:30 am |
| Ucha Sree Bali | 11:30 am to 12 pm |
| Deeparadhana | 6:30 pm to 7 pm |
| Athaazha Pooja | 7:30 pm to 8 pm |
How to reach Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
Distance By Air:– You can fly from New Delhi to Ettumanoor Temple directly, it approximately takes 3 hours 10 minutes.
Distance By Train:- You can travel by train from New Delhi to Ettumanoor Temple, it approximately takes 4 hours 45 minutes.
Nearest Airport :-The nearest airport to Ettumanoor is Kochi Airport which is 57 km away.
Famous Place To Visit Near Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary:- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is considered as the most famous bird watching spot in the country. It has over 14 hectares.It is located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake in Kottayam.One can enjoy a variety of migratory birds. Best month to visit is June and August as people get to see many rare sights.
- Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple:- Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple is located in the heart of Kottayam which is covered with 108 Shivalayas in central Kerala.The temple is one of the largest temples of Kerala and is about 500 years old. The temple was built by Raja of Thekkumkoor
- St. Mary’s Church:- St. Mary’s Church is one of the oldest Syrian Catholic Churches in India and comes under the Archdiocese of Changanacherry.
Read also:- Unknown Facts About Kedarnath Yatra
Where To Stay Near Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple
There are several accommodation options available near Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple to suit various preferences and budgets. Here are some suggestions.
Hotels and Resorts
Look for hotels and resorts in nearby towns such as Kottayam. These towns offer a good environment and reasonable hotels and resorts. Some popular choices include such as Vettoor Tourist Home – Hotel-Lodge-Rooms,Sanjos Residency.
