About Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple:
Anandavalleeswaram Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Mahadeva located in the heart of Kollam town and is 2.5 km from Kollam Junction Railway Station. There are many government offices nearby and the beautiful Ashtamudi Lake is very close to this sanctuary. The temple is believed to be 1100 years old. There is a golden flag pole in this temple.
The deity who presides over the temple of Anandavalleeswaram is Lord Shiva and his wife Devi Parvathy. The Mahadevan of this temple is considered in ‘Soumya Bhava’. He is supposed to be “Uma Maheswaran” and “Ananda Swaroopan”. It is thought that Shiva and Parvathy are consecrated as in the concept ‘Just Married’ and are therefore in a very calm and pleasant way. The temple bears the name ‘Anandavalleeswaram’ of this concept.
The idol of Devi Parvathi is standing posture. There is a lotus flower in one of her hands. Parvathy Devi of this temple is also known as “Swayamvara Parvathi”. The idol of Lord Shiva is as usual in the other temples of Shiva the name of ‘Shiva Linga without form’, but Devi Parvathi with him. He is represented by Parvathi Devi sitting on the left thigh of Lord Shiva and embracing her. This form is represented on the assumption that just after the wedding ceremony, the two are therefore very kind and willingly concede the legitimate needs of the faithful, according to this belief.
Devotees visit this temple for getting a suitable bridegroom and for removing obstacles in their marriage, Large number unmarried girls visit the deity Parvathi Devi of this temple.
The annual festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Meenam (mid March). The festival is celebrated for 10 days in a grand manner. The Thantric rites are for ‘Thazhamon Madom’. Shivaratri, Navaratri, Mandala Makara Vilakku etc. are all celebrated. During Navarathri festival on ‘Vijaya Dasami Day’ ‘Saraswathi Pooja’ is held at the Sanctum of Parvathi Devi in this temple.
Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple History:
There is no historical document showing the antiquity and origin of the temple. The name of the temple was Anandeswaram in ancient times. There are five famous temples in the city of Kollam, namely Rameswaram, Manaleeswaram, Anandeswaram, Chittadeeswaram and Thrikkupaleswaram. All these five temples were built during the same period. Some believe that the temple was built by Sri Lankan merchants who traded with Kollam. Some say the temple was built by Navakody Narayana Chettiyar, a Thanchavur industrialist who settled in Kollam. The fact that a Chettiyar family is involved in temple business reinforces this conviction. Later, the temple was taken over by the rulers of the former Venad, based in Kollam, before being transferred to Thiruvananthapuram.
The temple was renovated and a new idol of Panchaloha was built during the year 1806 AD. Panchaloha is made of five metals: iron, copper, tin, silver and gold. It is said that the deity was the tutelary deity of the Venad dynasty. During the civil war between Veluthampy Dalawa and the British, the temple suffered damage that was repaired by the British government in 1823 AD.
Sub Deities in Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple:
Ganapathy
Lord Murugan
Sree Krishnan
Lord Hanuman
Ayyappan Swamy
Sri Mahavishnu
Sri Lakshmi Devi
Bhoomi Devi
Naga Devathas
Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple Annual Festival:
The annual festival in this temple is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Meenam (mid March) The festival is for 10 days and the Tantric rites are for ‘Thazhamon Madom’. Shivaratri, Navaratri, Mandala Makaravilakku etc. are all celebrated.
Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple Auspicious Days:
Pournami
Pradosham
Ayilyam
Thursdays and Tuesdays are very auspicious for darshan.
Offerings in Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple:
Abhishekam
Ganapathy Homam
Mrithyunjaya Homam
Ashtotharchana
Muzhukappu
Pushpamjali
How to Reach Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple:
By Road:
Kollam is well connected by road through the national highways and frequent interstate buses which run in this route are available. Buses are operated from all major cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Pondicherry, Thrissur and more.
By Train:
Kollam Junction Railway Station is 2.5 km from Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple.
By Air:
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the nearest airport which is just 76 km.
Kollam Anandavalleswaram Temple Address:
Anandavalleeswaram Temple,
Ara Nagar,
Kaankathu Mukku,
Kollam,
Kerala.
Pincode – 691007.