I was watching videos in one of the YouTube Channels (Paithrukam TV). They have featured a Video of one of the Shiva Temples in Kerala, which fascinated me. Since the narration is in Malayalam, I thought of bringing it in the Heritage Corner with description in English, for my non-Malayalee friends and audience. I am including the original YouTube Video for all.
Keezhthali Sree Mahadeva Temple in the Thali/Varavur Panchayat, Thrissur District is one of the 108 Shiva Temples in the area. Varavur is known as the “Place of Shiva Lingas”. This temple was renovated after the destruction during the Tipu Sultan’s time.
Before year 2000, it was only a 9 feet Shiva Linga situated on a small hill top. The locals called it as “Thadiyan Devar”. Bushes covered all over, no one had given importance to this at that time. There were some palm trees on the hill. Someone wanted to prove ownership to this place and for that they arranged a person to cut leaves of the palm tree. He started cutting the leaves. But soon he was frightened seeing a snake on the Palm Tree. Afraid, he immediately went down. To his surprise, as soon as he touched ground, he could see the same snake on the ground.
Soon the news was spread and people wanted to know about the realty. For this, they got hold of an astrologer and did the “Ashta Mangalya Prashna” and later as advised by the astrologer, formed a trust in 2002, to build a temple there. As per the science of Astrology, Ashta Mangalya Prashna is conducted to know all the good and evil matters related to you and your family. It is considered as an efficient way to know about the past and future.
Only the main shrine was built at that time and for almost 10 years it remained like that. The temple committee at that time was in difficulty to arrange funds for the daily poojas and other expenses but they really wanted to improve and extend the temple complex. A new committee was formed and took over charge of further expansion of the temple. The expansion was carried out well on plan. The Shiva Linga is about 9 feet high and 7 feet in diameter. It is engraved with the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. It is called rarest of rare as far as Shiva temples are concerned. This is the only known Shiva Temple with such a high Linga in India and probably the world.
The main diety of this temple is Shiva in his “Kiratha” form, with Mrityunjaya Kala. This temple has the biggest worshiping Shiva Linga. There are other deities like “Ganesha”, “Ayyappa”, “Narasimha”, “Devi” and “Naga” in this temple. The temple complex has 36 steps. Once a year special pooja is done for these 36 steps. It is called “Shaivaagama Pooja” or “Padi Pooja”. This is one of the only two temples in Kerala, where Padi Pooja is done. The second one is Shabari Mala Temple. The Shiva Linga in Keezhthali Sree Mahadeva Temple is facing west and considered to be the calmest form of Shiva. “Maha Mrityunjaya Havan” is the important pooja here for Shiva and for the Narasimha, “Maha Sudarshana Havan” is also carried out. These poojas are meant for long-life, well being and freedom from all sorts of difficulties in life. Maha Shivaratri is celebrated with much importance here.
