Peruvanam Mahadeva Kshetram Timings:
Morning: 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Evening: 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Peruvanam Siva Kshetram Daily Poojas:
4:00 AM Palliyunarthu
5:00 AM Nirmalya Darshanam
7:00 AM Ushapooja, Nivedyam
8:30 AM Pantheeradi pooja, Nivedyam
9:00 AM Pooja for Madathilappan, Nivedyam
10:15 AM Uchha pooja, Nivedyam
10: 30 AM Temple closes for the afternoon
5:00 PM Opening
6:15 PM Deeparadhana
7:15 PM Athazha pooja
7:30 PM Closing
* The timings are given are approximate. It can vary during certain special occasions.
Peruvanam Mahadeva Kshetram History:
GoshalakrishnanLegend has it that the Saint Parashurama established 64 Gramams or sections after reclaiming Keralam from sea and Peruvanam Gramam is the 1st and most important among them. It is said that the temple was created by ‘Pooru Maharshi’, the son of the Hasthinapura King Yayathy after propitiating the Load Shiva with rigorous penance and the name of the place derived from the word “POORU VANAM”. Further, it is believed that while transporting a beautiful, big Shivalinga received from a lake near Badarinath to this place, it happened to stick in the branch of a tree and the present Madathilappan Temple has been constructed at this place. Shiva in dual linga form is the main feature of the temple and Lord is called “IRATTAYAPPAN” which denotes the duality. The Sricovil of Madathilappan is considered to be the tallest Sricovil in South India. Four Sastha temples at Akmala, Kuthiran, Edathiruthy and Oozath are located on the boundaries of Peruvanam Gramam and Thiruvullakkavu Sastha Temple is located at the centre of the Gramam. Irattayappan is the ‘Gramadhipathi’ and Thiruvullakkavu Sastha is considered the ‘Gramaraskhakan’. Now the temple is under the joint administration of Cochin Devaswom Board and TravancoreDevaswom Board. There is a vast area of land and an office called ‘Cherikalam’ exists near the south ‘Gopuram’ of this temple. It is important and rare that the Maharaja of Travancore had an interest in this temple and therefore, the expenses for ‘Utcha Pooja’, ‘Prodhosha Nivedhyam’, ‘Nira Puthiri’, ‘Koothu’ are borne by him. It still continues.
Peruvanam Siva Kshetram Administration:
The temple is under the joint administration of Cochin Devaswom Board and Travancore Devaswom Board, the HQ of which are located at Thrissur & Thiruvanathapuram respectively. It is quite important and rare that the Maharaja of Travancore had an interest in this temple and therefore, the expenses for ‘Utcha Pooja’, ‘Pradhosha Nivedhyam’, ‘Nira Puthiri’, ‘Koothu’ are still borne by him.
Nowadays, the ‘Cherikalam’ (the office of the Travancore Devaswom) is also used to teach the traditional art forms like ‘Koothu’, various forms of ‘Melam’, etc.
The temple is spread in an area of approximately 6.5 Acres and at present, the maintenance is vested with Archaeological Survey of India.
Peruvanam Sree Mahadeva Kshetra Upadeshaka Samithi is a recognised body constituted under rules, regulations and by-laws approved by Cochin Devaswom Board. The Samithi includes members from devotees of the nearby areas, Devaswom officer and representative of the temple employees also. The main function of the Samithi is to assist Cochin Devaswom Board in the smooth administration of the temple and to organize/ celebrate the rituals of the temple in a befitting manner by collecting donations from devotees and also to locate sponsors for various rituals.
Peruvanam Siva Kshetram Darshana Kramam:
There are two approaches to the inner courtyard (Chuttampalam) of the Peruvanam temple, from the west and east sides. The main entrance is from the east.
As you enter from the east you are facing Sreeparvathy, the Goddess who is the consort of Irattayappan. You may start the Darshanam there, but, have to come back later. There you are in front of a large circular sanctum sanctorum (Sreekovil) of Irattayappan facing west. It is the custom to start the worship with Irattayappan.
Next, you go behind in an anticlockwise direction (Apradakshinam) and pray to Sreeparvathy facing east. There is a taboo all over Kerala in crossing the imaginary ray (Soma Rekha) emanating from Siva and going north. Hence, one does not make a complete perambulation in the inner courtyard of Siva temples.
Most devotees at the Peruvanam temple go round the Bilva tree to the north and return clockwise to the south side where there is a shrine of Ganapathy and Dakshinamoorthy. You, then, go back to the west and worship Irattayappan once again.
There is an independent, large, Sreekovil of another Siva, the Matatthilappan, on the south. It is a three-storeyed structure and you reach the shrine of Matatthilappan after ascending a flight of over twenty steps. You will find a huge Sivalinga at the back of a large Mukhamandapam (hall). It is believed that the Sivalingam worshipped by sage Puru for long years is beneath that.
The sage, himself, has been enshrined to the southwest corner of the inner courtyard (Chuttampalam). After getting down the stairs of Matatthilappan you pay obeisance to the sage.
If you keep to the western border of the courtyard and walk to the north you reach the shrine of another Ganapathy, with his trunk twisted right. You pray to him for the ultimate goal in human life, for salvation and turn to the north side. There you get to the front of the last of the shrines inside the inner courtyard. Two deities are housed there, Raktheswary and Manikantha. The former is a form of Bhadrakali and the latter a form of Lord Siva.
You must worship Irattayappan once again before coming out of the inner courtyard, through the same entrance you got in. There is a shrine, of Gosalakrishna, outside the main structure (Chuttampalam) of Irattayappan on the north side. This is Lord Krishna in the company of his dear cattle. You go in a clockwise fashion to worship Him. That ends the Darshana Kramam at the Peruvanam temple.
Peruvanam Mahadevs Temple Dress Code:
All Devotees have to wear Indian traditional dress. Strictly avoid fashion, Western and stylish wears.
There is a verse (Sloka) describing this order of worship, as follows:
“Poorvan Pooruvane janais savinayam dwithwaasrayas sankaro
Vandyah, caatha gireendrajaa, punaratas sanyaasayogee kramaal
Yugmesasca, mahalayoparivasan maateswaroanantaram
Yogeendrasca, gajaananah, punarato yugmeswarasca kramaal.”
Meaning:
First, at Peruvanam, Siva in dual form is to be worshipped humbly by the devotees.
Then, Sreeparvathy and then the Lord in meditation (to be worshipped).
Then, Ganapathy and then the Lord occupying a high abode (to be worshipped).
Next to the sage, Ganapathy and finally Irattayappan (are to be worshipped)
We note here that the order of Ganapathy and Dakshinamoorthy is reversed and praying to Irattayappan after this is omitted. The omission of Raktheswary, Manikanthan and Gopalakrishnan must be as they have been enshrined in a later period
Peruvanam Siva Kshetram Festivals:
Bhagvatha Sapthaham
Illam nira, Triputhari
Karkkidaka Masam
Koothu
Laksharchana
Pooram
Prathishtadinam
Thiruvathira
Utharadu Oottu
Shivarathri
Peruvanam Siva Kshetram Address:
Peruvanam Sree Mahadeva Kshetra Upadesaka Samithi
Peruvanam,
P.O. Cherpu,
Thrissur,
Kerala – 680 561.
Mobile No. 9847849283 / 9447495615