Chemmanthitta Mahadeva Temple Timings:
Morning: 4:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Evening: 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
About Chemmanthitta Mahadeva Temple:
Chemmanthatta Mahadeva temple is a ancient Hindu temple located in Chemmanthatta, in the Thrissur district. According to folklore, the sage Parashurama set up the idol. It is one of the 108 temples of Shiva of Kerala. Kerala urayma devasom board and kshethrakshema samidhi chemmanthatta Maintains the temple.
A beautiful Kerala-Dravidian laterite temple surrounded by rich green rice fields. Legend has it that the area, Eeyaal, where the temple is, was once a melting pot of Buddhist and Jain cultures. These spiritual vibrations, secular, still prevail in this pleasant environment.
Before entering the temple from the east, the magnificent pond of the temple hosts the pilgrims. Pilgrims can stayed for a while admiring the majestic view. The red steps of the laterite, with its green shrubs and deep green waters, make it completely captivating.
“There is an intrinsic link between the pond and the Teertha well inside the temple, which is why the natives preserve it with the utmost purity,” said Kesavan Namboothiri, the current temple priest.
The narrow corridor leads to the eastern entrance, decorated with ancient motifs (Sala-Kooda), also entirely in laterite stone. In 1982, the temple was classified as a protected historical monument by the Indian government and the renovation work was entrusted to the archaeology department. The way it is preserved in its present form must be highly appreciated.
The surrounding interior prakara is paved with granite stones. The tapered roof is copper plated. The shrine (garbha-griha) is circular and built in Dravidian style. The base is molded in Krishnasila. The laterite exterior walls have beautiful wall paintings dating from the 17th-18th century A.D. There are murals of Sreerama Pattabhishekam, Nataraja Siva, Kirataarjuneeyam, Indra with thousands of eyes, Narasimha, Markandeya Purana, Durga in the lion, to say some. The entrance of garba-griha has dwarapalakas.
Chemmanthitta Mahadeva Temple History:
The history states, this temple was built by the Royal family of Talapilli (one of the administrative taluk under Kingdom of Cochin). This was handed over to Venmanathoor Mana family for administrative purposes. Few more Ooraaanma families later joined and at one time the temple administration was under 9 families (Manas).
It is stated as one among the 108 Siva temples and naturally it gets connected to the legend of Parasurama. However, another version considers the deity here as Swayambhoo. Whatever be the history, myths and legends, the powerful deity of Lord Siva has been here as a witness to those past unexplained, the present uneasy days and will be here to be part of the unpredictable future too!
The idol of Lord Siva in the sanctum is almost 6 feet tall and is facing East. The deity in the temple is consecrated in Rowdra-Bhava, a form of Siva-Taandava after Sati parityagam. To balance the fierce power of the Lord, there is presence of Lord Vishnu as well in the temple. Inside the sanctum, behind the idol are three ancient stone lamps. They are considered auspicious traditionally. We however missed to notice it as we came to know about it only later. Lord Ganapathi and Lord Bagavathi are also consecrated in the inner prakara.
“This thattakam (Chemmanthatta) has now around 150 families. Traditionally these households were mostly of Namboothiris/Amabalavasis and still remain so. Earlier the temple administration was by nine Mana’s (Namboothiri families). Now it is taken up by Ooraanma Devaswam.
The outer prakara of the temple has sub-shrines for Sastha and Narasimha Moorthy. Nagas, Badrakali and Vettaykorumakan are also consecrated around. During 1940s, a fire destroyed the roof of the temple and the present copper-plating was done.
“There are three poojas in the temple. In the morning, temple opens at 4:30 and closes by 9:30. In the evening, it will be reopened at 5:00 and closes for the day by 7:30. The thantris are from Puliyanoor Mana and Keezhmundayoor Mana. Festival is in the Meena month (March-April). More than festivities, the adherence to rituals is of utmost importance here. Similarly the sanctity of the temple is extremely essential.
“Here only cow’s milk should be used for preparing nivedyam. It will be completely different from what you get in other places.”
Chemmanthitta Mahadeva Temple Dress Code:
The entry inside is strictly restricted with dress code.
Men: White Pancha, Dhoti
Women: Saree with blouse, Punjabi Dress with Dupatta, Chudidhar with Dupatta and Half saree.
Chemmanthitta Mahadeva Temple Address:
Velithiruthi – Eyyal Road,
Chemmanthatta,
Thrissur District,
Kerala 680501.
