About Vanchiyoor Sree Kanteswaram Mahadeva Temple:
The Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram temple is also known as old Sreekanteswaram temple, located at Puthenchantha in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the ancient temples of Shiva in Kerala. According to the famous historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, this temple already existed in the ninth century. This temple is the original home of the Lord of the new Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva temple. The new temple is located on the outskirts of the “North Fort” in Thiruvananthapuram. As Dr. M. G. Sasibhooshan pointed out, the ancient temple was on the route taken by the King of Travancore and his entourage in relation to the paliveta of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Lord Siva and Lord Krishna (Vishnu) are the main deities of Old Sreekanteswaram. Sreekanteswara linga (Siva) is believed to have been installed by Sage Parashurama. According to the devotees, Sage Kanwa’s samadhi is in the temple compound. Chettikulam, a nearby pond recovered several decades ago, is mentioned in Syanandura Purana Samuchaya and Anantapura Varnana as Kanvatirtha. This gives credence to the belief that Old Sreekanteswaram and Chettikulangara were part of Kanwa Tapovana. The idol of Sri Krishna was installed later to reduce the ferocity of Shiva. The idols of the gods Ganesha and Snake also find a place in the temple. All the deities here look to the east.
Here Mritunjaya Homam, Mrityunjaya archana, Jaladhara, Pinvilakku and Kuvala mala samarpanam are the most popular offerings to Lord Siva in this temple.
Vanchiyoor Sree Kanteswaram Mahadeva Temple Address:
Overbridge,
Vanchiyoor,
Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala – 695001.
