Thrikkadavoor Sree Mahadevar Temple is an ancient temple located in Thrikkadavoora, a small village on the banks of the Ashtamudi backwater in Trikadavoor, Kollam District, Kerala. Lord Shiva is worshipped as Mahadevar here. The temple’s annual ten-day festival is a lavish celebration attended by thousands of people. The highly devotional festival of Thiruvathira and the resplendent kettukazha add to the attraction of the festival.
The extremely devotional festival of Thiruvathira and the magnificent kettukazhcha add to the beauty. Kettukazhcha is a huge figure dressed in bright colors that are brought to the temple by devotees as an offering to the deity during the festival period. Devotees from eight regions (kara) around the temple will drive Nedumkuthira or Eduppukuthira (men carrying horse-drawn carts), known as Kettukazhcha, through the calm waters of Ashamudi is a spectacular sight to behold here.
The flag hoisting ceremony will take place on the first day of the festival which marks the beginning of the festival. Spiritual discourses, cultural programs and bhajans are conducted. Various cultural programs like Kadhakali, drama, music fest, Mohiniyattam etc also take place during this period. floats and processions a large number of people during these days. The temple is maintained by Travancore Devaswom Board.
Thrikkadavoor Shiva Temple Timings:
Morning: 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Evening:5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Thrikkadavoor Shiva Temple History:
The myth is associated with Markandeya. Sage Mrikandu and his wife were saddened as they did not have a child. Once Lord Siva appeared before them and gave them two options. One was to have a short-living intelligent boy and the other to have a long-living idiot. The couple selected the former and was blessed with a baby boy who would live for 16 years. They named him Markandeya. Young Markandeya was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. At the age of 16, on his last day, he sat immersed in prayers in front of a Lord Siva idol. The divine mood deterred the messenger of Yamaraja (the God of death) from taking Markandeya’s life. Later, Yamaraja took up the task and sprung the noose aiming for the boy’s neck. Unfortunately, the noose fell over the Sivalinga which angered Lord Siva. The furious god entered into a war with Yama which the former won. At the end of the battle, Lord Siva laid the condition to spare the life
of his devout Markandeya for not killing Yamaraja. Mythology says that Thrikkadavoor was where this event occurred. This place was once known as “kadavulinte ooru” (God’s land) later renamed as Kadavoor.
Thrikkadavoor Sree Mahadeva Temple Address:
Perinad, PO,
Trikadavoor,
Kollam District,
Kerala – 691601.