Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Pooja Timings:
Temple opening and Nirmalya Darsanam: 5:00 to 5:45 AM
Usha pooja 5:45 to 7:00 AM
Sree Bali 7:30 AM
Panthiradi Pooja 8:30 AM
Mrithyunjaya Homam 9:30 AM
Navakam Kalasha Pooja 10:00 AM
Ucha Pooja 10:30 AM
Nada Adakunna Samayam 11:00 AM
Vaaikittu Nada Thurakunna Samayam 5:00 PM
Deeparadhana 6:30 to 7:00 PM
Athazha Pooja 7:30 PM
Sree Bali(Nada Adaykkunu) 7:45 PM
About Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple:
One of the 108 famous Shiva temples of the world, Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple, popularly known as DAKHINA KASHI, is unique in archeological features and is one of the biggest and ancient temples in Kerala.
Mrigandu Muni (Saint Kousikan), the father and guru of famous Markandeyan, got a beautiful idol of Kiratha Moorthy, while taking bath in the holy river Ganga. He heard a divine voice that the idol must be laid in a very holy and suitable place.). His long search for a most suitable place ended at this place – Kandathil nall uru (Most beautiful place ever seen) – Kanda-uru become Kandiyoor. Thus the temple was established.Another story about the temple says that the temple is located at the site where Shiva cut off Brahma’s head. Sri Kandiyoor derives its name from this story, which gave Shiva the name, Sri Kantan.Centuries later Parasurama , the avatar of Vishnu, renovated the temple. He gave the tanthrik right to the family of Tharananallur. As per Ilamkulam Kunjan Pillai, the second king of Kulasekhara kingdom, Rajasekhara Varma, re-constructed Kandiyoor temple.Situated in the banks of Achankovil river, Kandiyoor Mahadevar Temple is one km west of Mavelikara town, north side of state highway SH-6, in Alappuzha District. It spreads around 7.5 acres consists of around 12 sub shrines (Upadevalayas) which is unusual even for any major Kerala temple.
The temple contains the sub-shrines considered to have been made especially sacred by the presence of all Gods of Hindu Pantheon. There are ancient inscriptions of archaeological importance and it is noted for stone sculptures.It is believed that 108 deities of hindu mythology are present in this temple. Siva is worshiped here as Dekhinamurthy in the morning, Uma-maheswara at the noon and as Kirathamoorthy in the evening. One is blessed with knowledge if he worships at Kandiyoor in the morning, at noon with post-martial bliss and with removal of obstacles in the evening. Sree Sankaran will bless you with knowlwdge, Sree Kanda will destroy all your sins, Mrithyungaya will vanquish death, Vishwanarha gives you peace and Parvatheesha gives a joyful life with your partner. One can worship Siva in Panchmukha form by worshiping from the South-West corner of Pradakshina Vazhy by viewing five Thazikakudams of Shiva temples. This is considered to be equel to the Kailasa Visit. People who cannot go to Vaikam can pray at Kandiyoor on the Ashtamay, both are equel.
Sub Deities in Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple:
Sri Vishnu
Parvatheesan
Nagaraja
Nagayakhi and other Nagas
Sasthav
Gosala Krishnan
Sankaran
Sreekandan
Vadakkumnathan
Ganapathy
Mrithyungayan
Subramanyan
Moola Ganapathy
Annapoorneswary
Brahma Rakshas
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple History:
The temple has got a great importance in the history of Kerala. There are some stones still in the temple in connection with its history. Built in AD823 by Cheraman Perumal Nayanar Rajasekara Varman century, there is an Era in the name ‘Kandiyoorabdam’ from the formation of the temple. It was in wide spared use till the introduction of “Kollavarsham”. Kandiyoor is called the Kasi of the South, Thekkan Kasi ( Dakshina Kasi ). The temple was of Odanadu King later captured by Kayamkulam King and Marthanda Varma. When there was a war between Odanadu and Kayamkulam, defeated Kayamkulam King entered the temple, surrendered his “udaval” (Sward) and escaped through the rear door. This rear door is still remaining closed even after centuries.
The temple has one of the biggest prathishta, made by Sree Chola Rajas. Kandiyoorappan, The principal deity faces east, inside a two tired sanctum.In front of the sanctum of the principal deity a platform is set for the devotees to stand and worship kandiyoorappa. This is not a part of keralas traditional style but of Hoysala style of Architecture. Standing on it, one will feel the entire cosmos just shrank into deity and the devotee.Many ancient literature mentions about the place Kandiyoor and Kandiyoor temple. One of that is “Unnunooly Sandesam” of Manipravala literature believed to be written around AD1350. Another one is Damodara Chakyar’s “Unniadi Charitham”, another Manipravala literature. This also narrates about the pompous Sreeparvatam market at Kandiyoor – Mattam which is one of oldest market known as per the available history. Also there is the famous “Kandiyoor – Mattam Padappattu”.
An unusual compound wall of Gajaprishta syle (Back of the elephent) of architecture which height about 10 feet is believed to be constructed by Bhothaganas of lord Siva in a single night. According to this myth the walls of the near by Chengannur Mahadeva temple and Mannar Kuratty Mahadeva Temple are constructed in the similar way. Bhoothaganas could not complete the construction of wall of Chenannur Mahadeva temple and is remaining as such leaving a small portion.
People of Kandiyoor keep this holy place sacred even now though their unique rituals continuing since the time immemorial. One can rarely see any multi storied building, more than the height of the “Thazhikakkudam” (tomb) of the temple, in this place. Also strictly no cremation is taking place in this sacred place. People of this land use a distant compound known as “Kakkaramkuty” for cremation, irrespective of their race, cast or religion. The temple will remain closed in the death of any body in this place, till the body is moved away from here for cremation.
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Pooja :
The temple is noted for its impressive architecture ,emphasized on stone missionary as opposed to brick and wood work. The construction of this temple marked the beginning of a new Era. Kandiyoor Abdam. The main temple has Round shrine above square basement. Minor dities are Vishnu, Parvatheesan, Nagaraja, Nagayakhi and other Nagas, Sasthav, Gosala Krishnan, Sankaran, Sreekandan, Vadakkumnathan, Ganapathy, Mrithyungayan, Subramanyan, Moola Ganapathy, Annapoorneswary, Brahma Rakshas, all have its own separate temple buildings.
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Vazhupad:
Ganapathy Homam
Bhagavathy Seva
Shangabhishekam
Rektha Pushpanjal
Jaladhara
Rudrabhishekam
Ksheera Dhara
Muzhukappu
Mrithyunjaya Homam
Karuka Homam
Nirapara
Swayamvararchana
Sahasranamarchana
Neeranjanam
Kalakabhishekam
Abhishekam
Mala Charthu
Adithya Namaskaram
Anthi pooja
Choroonu
Thulabharam
Udayada Charthu
Vidyarambham
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Sculptures:
Vadakkumnathan
Annapoorneswary Temple
Sarppakavu
Genesa temple
Sreekandeswara Temple
Brahma Rekshass
Muruka temple
Sastha temple
Krishna temple
Parvatheesa Temple
Vishnu temple
Mrithyunjaya temple
Sankara temple
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Onattukara:
Onattukara (meaning the land of Onam) was a principality of ancient Kerala. Also known as Odanadu (meaning the land of bamboo), Onattukara was at times, part of the kingdom of Venad and was comprised of the present day Taluks of Mavelikara, Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli etc. Historical evidence shows that centuries ago Onattukara area was a flourishing centre of a Buddhist culture and civilization that was destroyed and possibly consciously erased from history after the revival of Hinduism post 8th century A.D. Names of towns and villages in the Onattukara region carry the “palli” suffix, which was common usage in Pali, the language of Theravada Buddhism. Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli, Pallickal, Pallippuram, Puthupalli are examples of such historical and present names of places in the Onattukara region. The temple festivals and customs such as the Chettikulanga Kutthiottam and Kettukazhcha are considered to have originated from Buddhist customs and practices. Also large temples, such as the Kandiyoor Mahadevar temple, could possibly have been Buddhist viharas in their initial days. The ancient Buddha statue placed today in Mavelikara town, at Buddha Junction in front of the Krishnaswamy temple, was excavated more by accident in the early 1900s from a paddy field near the Kandiyoor temple. It is possible that a lot more of the vanished Buddhist civilization of Onnattukara still lies buried in history, yet to be unearthed.
The name Onattukara is even today officially used for one of the many revenue villages included in Mavelikara Taluk.
STATUE OF BUDDHA:
The statue of Buddha is currently placed in front of “Sri Krishnaswami Temple, East Fort, Mavelikara”. Due to this, the place is known as “Buddha Junction”. The statue is in the early 1900s from a paddy field near the Kandiyoor temple . The most special thing about this statue is that it is in seating position which is rare among Buddha statues. The statue unveils the history of “Onattukara” and the importance of Buddhism in its history.
The statue is in seated posture, resembling Padmasana. A feature common to the idols is that hair has not been engraved on the head. Studies by the Archaeology Department have not been able to explain the absence of hair which is common in Buddha statues of the Gandhara and Mathura tradition. The head has resemblances of a headgear. Though the department has made a pagoda-like structure for the statue, no information on the idol is available to tourists who visit the area. Local people in the area light lamps before the idol. The idol at Mavelikara is four-foot high and is perhaps, the biggest in kerala. The engravings on the head resemble a helmet of Greek statues. The mark of a sacred thread is visible on the body. Another feature is the marking of a shawl on one shoulder. Here the Archaeological Department has put up a board specifying the age of the statue.
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Route Map:
Kandiyoor temple located just 1km west of Mavelikara town and 3 kms from Mavelikara railway station on the Kayamkulam -Thiruvalla State highway. It is 8 kms from NH47 deviated from Nangarkulangara near Haripad or 9kms from Kayamkulam. Through MC road, it is nearly 20kms from Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Pandalam and Adoor. World famous Chettikulangara Devi temple is 4kms from here.
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Nearby Temples:
Mavelikkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
Chettikulangara Devi Temple
Koypalli Karazhma Devi Temple
Mavelikkara Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy Temple
Prayikkara Dhanwanthary Temple
Thripperunthura Mahadeva Temple
Nangyarkulangara Sree Krishna Temple
Thattarambalam Saraswathy Temple
Mavelikkara Ganapathy Temple
Evoor Sree Krishna Temple
Haripad Subrahmanya Temple
Mannarassala Nagaraja Temple
Vettikkottu Nagaraja Temple
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Address:
Kandiyoor,
Mavelikara,
Kerala 690103.
