Kottarakkara Lord Siva Temple Timings:
Morning: 4:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Evening: 5.00 PM to 8:00 PM
Kottarakkara Lord Siva Temple Daily Poojas:
4:00 AM Palliyunarthal
4:30 AM Nadathurappu
4.40 AM Nirmalyam
4:50 AM Abhishekam
5.30 AM Ashtadravya Ganapathihomam
6.00 AM Usha Pooja
7.00 AM Ethritheu Pooja
7.15 AM Sreebali
9.00 AM Pantheeradi Pooja
10:00 AM Navaka Pooja
10.30 AM Ucha Pooja
11:00 AM Uchasreebali
11:30 AM Nadayadappu
5:00 PM Nadathurakkal
6:30 PM Deeparadhana
7:30 PM Athazha Pooja
7:45 PM Athazha Sreebali
8:00 PM Nadayadappu
About Kottarakkara Lord Siva Temple:
Locally known as the temple of Siva Padinjattinkara, one of the 108 temples of Siva located in Kottarakara, the main deity is Lord Siva and the shrine is round in shape. Destined to the west, Kulakkada Mana makes the Thanthries. There are five poojas and Seeveli, daily eight days festival. Kottarakkara Lord Siva Temple is 1 1/2 kms From Kottarakkara city.
This temple belongs to the Kottarakkara King family, now Travancore Devaswom Board. “Ramanattam” (a form of dance) inspired on the Ramayana story of Kottarakara Thampuran is played in this temple for the 151 time.
The Kottarakara Ganapathy Temple is one of the famous temples of southern India and is of great historical significance. Kottarakara Ganapathy has many legends. In fact, the main Prathistha (idol) is Lord Shiva, but Ganapathy is famous here. The exact name of the temple was Kizhakkekara Siva Kshethram. The main deity is none other than Lord Shiva himself: Shiva facing east. In fact, Ganapathy is only a minor deity here. But today’s temple is famous as a temple of Ganapathy instead of a temple of Lord Siva.
The story behind this temple that Kizhakkekara temple belonged to two houses of Nampoothiri: Akavoor and Oomanpally. The temple of Padinjattinkara Siva belonged to the royal house of Elayidathu.
One day, before sunrise, rituals were taking place for the consecration of Siva at the Pandinjattinkara temple, the work of which was managed by the legendary Uliyannor Perumthachan. Outside the temple , while listening to the manthras , he started chiselling a piece of jackfruit tree. To his surprise, he found that it was the form of ‘Ganapathy’ that was taking shape. Thus he asked the chief priest to enshrine ‘Ganapathy’ also after the consecration of Siva. The chief priest denied. “This is a Siva temple. Ganapathy cannot be consecrated here.”
Perumthachan, desperate, walked towards the east and thus reached Kizhakkekkara Siva temple where the temple priest was preparing offerings for the lord- Unniyappam. Perumthachan asked him “Can you not sanctify this Ganapathy here ?”. The priest agreed. Perumthachan viewed the place- Siva facing east, in front of that it is Ganga, Parvathy turned towards the west. Southwest there is Sastha and northwest Subrahmanya. If Ganapathy too is installed, Siva family will be complete. The place will be none other than Kailas itself. Thus Ganapathy was installed southeast by Perumthachan.
Perumthachan then asked the priest “ Unni Ganapathy must be hungry. What is the sacrificial food that you have prepared?”. “Unniyappam” was the reply. On a leaf, the priest placed six to seven Unniyappams stringed together. Perumthachan, with all his heart devoted his first offerings-Koottappam. Koottappam is still known to be the most wanted nivedhyam for Kottarakara Ganapathy. After the offerings Perumthachan affectionately declared “Though father is the main diety, the son will be much more famous”.
His words proved to be true. Kizhakkekkara Siva temple is now known as Kottarakara Ganapathy temple.
Kottarakkara Lord Siva Temple Address:
Chenthara,
Kottarakkara,
Kerala 691506
Phone: 0474 245 7200