About Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple:
Thrikariyoor is a village in Nellikuzhi Panchayath, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple is 4 km from Kothamangalam. This is considered the last pratistha of Parasurama. This temple deserves a special mention because it is supposed to have the spirits of Sri Krishna and Lord Shiva. Rites and rituals are based on those of the Arya Dravida traditions. It is also believed to be the capital of the Chera Dynasty.
Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple History:
The Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva temple is declared as one of the eleven sacred temples of Kerala. Thrikkariyur is believed to be the capital of the ancient kingdom of Chera. It is believed that the Aryan Brahmans settled here in Kothamnagalam, even in the 1st century AD. Trade between the Pandyan kingdom and Muzris was considerable in antiquity and was by the royal road of Madura.
Thrikkariyoor Shiva Temple is considered the last pratishta of Lord Parasurama. It is the last of the 108 Shivalayas consecrated by Parasurama. The legend says that Lord Parasurama (sixth incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu) created the land between Gokarna and Kanyakumari. After many years of penance, Parasurama invoked Lord Varuna (Lord of the Oceans) to absolve his sins.
Parasurama wanted to donate lands to Brahmins and asked Lord Varuna for this blessing. Varuna gave an axe to Parasurama and asked him to throw it away as far as possible. The distance that the axe covers from Gokarna will be given to him. The axe launched from Gokarna landed on Kanyakumari, thus creating the land Kerala for the Brahmins. After that, Parasurama set about establishing 64 villages and, consequently, 108 Shiva temples in this area. Apparently, Thrikkariyoor is where Parasurama realized salvation.
Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple Importance:
It is also believed that this temple contains the spirits of Lord Shiva and Sri Maha Krishna. But there is not much information behind the reason for this belief. Another significance of Thrikkariyoor is that it is considered the capital of the Chera dynasty. Some historians even claim that Thrikkariyoor is a modern Karur, although this theory is hardly supported.
Here, in all offerings & anushtana’s lord Siva and Shri Vishnu will be praised. Ganapathy, Vanadurga, Saptamatrukkal, Ayyappan, Yakshi etc are Upadevas.
Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple Myth:
After the construction of the Thrikkarior temple, Lord Shiva greatly strengthen the devotees. The villagers have managed to respect their dedication. So all the bronze grains were grown there. It envies evil spirits. The evil spirits (monsters) had planned to submerge the Trikkariyoor Temple, whose Presiding deity is Lord Shiva, by damming the Periyar River and flooding the area.
When this happens, the village and temple will be destroyed. One night, the monsters (bhoothathan – in Malayalam language) arrived near the Periyar River and started dashing. Suspicious of deception, Lord Shiva, omnipotent, devised a plan to dissuade them. He simulated the approaching dawn with the sound of a rooster.
Demons who feared the arrival of light fled the scene. Thus, the village of Thrikkariyur escaped unscathed. The dam that was later thought to be built by the demons was later known as ‘Bhootathankettu’. The Periyar river crosses the narrow space that the demons could not repress. There is a new dam here today. But there are ruins of the old dam.
Thrikkariyoor Mahadeva Temple Address:
Nellikuzhi Thrikkariyoor Road,
Thrikkariyoor,
Ernakulam,
Kerala 682011.
Phone: 0485 282 8746