In the SW state of kerala there are countless Hindu temples dedicated to God Shiva and among them 108 Shiva temples are popular. In this state the Swayambu form of God Shiva is rare and not that many temple have self manifested form of Shiva as in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. The one in the town of Thiruvalla is quite interesting and here God Shiva is in the Swayambu form (self-manifested).
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| Thiruvatta Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvalla, Kerala.en.wikipedia.org |
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| Thiruvatta Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvalla, Kerala.en.wikipedia.org |
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| Thiruvalla town in Pathanamthitta district,Kerala weatherforecast.com |
Thiruvalla town is in the Pathanamthitta district and in the Shiva temple here the deity facing East direction is close to the banks of the Manimalayar river. The main deity being in the very low level during the SW monsoon season when this part receives lots of rain the srikovil is flooded.
The legend has it that this Shiva temple was installed in Treta yuga by none other than sage Parasurama near the Manimalayar. One among the108 Shiva temples, from Vazhappally inscriptions in copper plate (oldest inscription in Kerala) we understand that this temple existed during the rule of Kodungallur Chera king Rama Rajasekhara (formerly Kulasekhara). The temple is said to have been constructed during the reign of the Second Chera dynasty by Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled over the city of Mahodayapuram. The Thiruvata Temple and the Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple have been around since the heyday of Chera Empire.
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| Naalambalam Thiruvatta Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvalla, en.wikipedia.org |
In the state of Kerala, the term Nalambalam actually refers to four temples dedicated to Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna of the Ramayana. Nalambalam in Kottayam District is at Ramapuram. Offering prayers in the four temples before noon puja on a single day in the month of Karkidakom (which is also known as Ramayana Masam) is believed to be most auspicious among Hindus. Here at Mahadeva temple the term refers to different shines under one roof. https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2017/02/significance-of-exciting-nalambalam.html
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| Srikovil/sanctum Thiruvatta Mahadeva Temple,Thiruvalla,.en.wikipedia.org |
The Srikovil of this temple is square in plan and the main deity Swayambhu Shiva Lingam is enshrined a little at lower level in the sanctum. Consequently as mentioned earlier in case of heavy rain and if the river is in spate, the sanctum may be partly water-logged. The main shrine in rectangular shape has walls made of granite and the top is covered with copper plates for extra safety to protect the wooden frame work below. The idol of Ganapati is in the SE corner of the main shrine.
Nalambalam: of this temple has wide quadrangle plan and the walls are made of stone-lime mortar. Inside the Naalambalam there are two shrines and the main shrine has Shiva linga in swayambhoo form; the other one has a big Shiva linga installed separately. During water-logging the Arattu abhishekam and puja rituals are done to Lord Shiva in the shrine on the south side. The nalambalam is close to balikkal mantapam and they are built with a blend of Kerala and Dravidian style of architecture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvatta_Mahadeva_Temple
