Introduction :

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is more than 2000 years old temple situated in Kodungallur in Thrissur district. This place was the capital of the Chera dynasty that ruled here till the 13th century. It is believed that Cheraman Perumal, a legendary King of the Chera dynasty build this temple. Lord Shiva who is worshipped as Mahadeva is the main deity here and this temple is popular for the various manifestations of Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India where Lord Shiva is said to live along with his whole family.

The Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple also houses many sub-shrines that are dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses. Hence, this temple has the largest number of Upadevas or sub-deities in Kerala. The main attraction of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is its Namaskara Mandapam in front of the Sreekovil that has 16 pillars. The ancient murals, wood carvings and sculptures are the other attractions of this temple.

History of the Temple:

It is believed that the Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is built by Cheraman Perumal, a legendary Chera king. It is also said that Cheraman Perumal and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, his minister and close friend, left their life in this temple. Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple has the idols of Cheraman Perumal and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, considering as two ‘Upadevas’ (sub -deities) of the temple. This temple has the largest number of Upadevas in Kerala.

Cheraman Perumal and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar worshipped Lord Shiva leading to eternal bliss. Sundaramoorthy Nayanar reached Kailash by riding on a white elephant, sent by Lord Shiva and was followed on horseback by Cheraman Perumal on Swati day in the month of Karkkidakam (July/August). Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple has shrines for both Sundaramoorthy Nayanar and Cheraman Perumal.

Besides Lord Shiva, Lord Ganapathy, Cheraman Perumal, Sundaramoorthy Nayanar, Bhangiradi, Sandhyavelakkal Sivan, Palliyara Sivan, Sakthi Panchakshari, Bhagavathy, Goddess Parvathy, Lord Parameswara, Pradosha Nritya, Sapthamathrukkal, Rishabham, Nandikeshan, Unni Thevar, Lord Ayyappan, Lord Hanuman, Nagaraja, Lord Pashupathi, Nadakkal Sivan, Lord Subrahmanyan, Goddess Durga Bhagavathy, Goddess Ganga, Konnakkal Siva, Kottarathil Thevar, Nagayakshi, Dakshinamoorthy, Althara Gopuram Swamy are also worshipped at this temple.

This temple had witnessed several invasions in the flow of time. The temple was fully ruined during the invasion of the Dutch and The Tipu Sultan of Mysore. After that, the temple was renovated in 1801 AD. The main idol of worship, Shiva Linga is believed to have been brought from Chidambaram Rameswaram temple which is one of the most popular Shiva temples in South India. The Shiva Linga of this temple is of 4-inch length, 12-inch diameter and in semi-circle form and there is water around as synonymous to Ganga. The idol of this temple is said to have been self-incarnated.

Speciality of the Temple

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple owns the oldest reference in history in old Tamil Sangam literature.

It is one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India where Lord Shiva is said to live along with his whole family.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple has got a healthy relationship with the Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu.

The beautiful gateway of the temple is decorated with carvings of Gods, Goddesses, and elephants. There is a stone carving of Shiva and Parvathi on the left side of the entrance. There is a porch inside the temple with carvings dedicated to the characters of the great Hindu epic of Ramayana.

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple has the largest number of Upadevas or sub-deities in Kerala.

Timings

Temple Timings

Festivals in the temple

Annual Festival: It is an 8-day festival that begins with the flag hoisting atop the Flagstaff (Dwajastambam) which is about 70 feet high and ends with the Arattu in the sea on the new moon day. The annual festival of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February–March). Aanayottam is a special event of this festival.

Maha Shivaratri: Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple celebrates Maha Shivarathri with great importance which occurs between the months of February and March that attracts a huge number of devotees.

Dress Code to visit the temple:

Traditional wears are the most preferable attire while visiting Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple.

Best Time To Visit

Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple can be visited throughout the year.

Way to reach :

 By Air - Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport to Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple which is situated at a distance of 27 Km. On reaching the airport, one can hire a taxi or bus to reach the temple.

 By Rail - Irinjalakuda Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple which is situated at a distance of 22 Km. On reaching the railway station, one can hire a taxi or bus to reach the temple.

By Road : Kodungallur is well connected to major cities via road. Several state transport buses and private buses run from Kochi, Thrissur, Guruvayoor, etc to Kodungalloor.

FAQs about Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple - Kerala

Who is the main deity of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple?

The main deity is Lord Shiva, worshipped as Mahadeva. The temple is also notable for the presence of Lord Shiva’s family and other sub-deities.

What is the historical significance of Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple?

The temple is over 2000 years old and is believed to have been built by Cheraman Perumal, a legendary Chera king. It is one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India and is prominently featured in Tamil Sangam literature.

What is special about Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple?

It is one of the few temples where Lord Shiva is said to live with his entire family. The temple also boasts the largest number of sub-deities (Upadevas) in Kerala.

What is the connection between Thiruvanchikulam Shiva Temple and Chidambaram Temple?

The temple shares a historical relationship with the Chidambaram temple in Tamil Nadu. The Shiva Linga at Thiruvanchikulam is believed to have been brought from Chidambaram.

What is unique about the Shiva Linga at Thiruvanchikulam Temple?

The Shiva Linga here is believed to be self-incarnated and was brought from Chidambaram. It is 4 inches in length, 12 inches in diameter, and surrounded by water, symbolizing the Ganges.

Monday through Sunday, all day