Airanikulam temple complex is located in Kakulassery village, Mukundapuram taluk of Thrissur district. There are two temples at Airanikkulam, the ancient Thekkupurathambalam and the later Vadakkupurathambalam situated side by side. The latter temple came into being because of the internecine feud between the Nambi families managing the temple.
Thekkedathambalam (the southern temple) faces east. Passing by a Nandi and Valia Balikkal, one comes to the base of the erstwhile Vaathilmaadam structure beyond which is the basement of the Naalambalam with yet another nandi facing Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva faces east.
In the south-east corner of the naalambalam enclosure comes the later addition of thidappalli (temple kitchen). The naalambalam has only the basement, the roof being pulled down during army invasions in the medieval era. The Shrikovil is circular in shape.
The tall basement is in granite but the superstructure is in laterite, plastered over. The vimana is two-storeyed, both being tiled. The joining of 64 common rafters in one ridge piece is a feat achieved by the legendary Perumthachan in this temple. There are no dvarapaalakas(guardians at the door).
The pranala for the discharge of divine effluents is located in the northern side and is a very well crafted one, with fluted body and a lion's face. It rests on a dwarf squatting within an ornamental rectangular enclosure, all in granite. The pranala of 'thekkedathambalam' scores over many other similar ones in its grandeur setting.
The subsidiary deity within the nalambalam is Ganapathi in the kannimoola(south-west corner).
Vadakkedathambalam (the northern temple) is of subsequent origin and is comparatively well preserved. The bali-peetha is comparatively smaller than that of the earlier temple. Entering through the naalambalam one comes to the small namaskara mandapa with only four wooden pillars and a pyramidal-tiled roof, beyond which is the Srikovil. The Srikovil is square in shape with an attached mughamandapa. The vimana is two-tiered with tiled roof. The shrikovil basement is of granite.
The Srikovil has two granite figures of dvarapaalakas on either side at the entry. The pranala on the northern side is fluted as usual and resting on a dwarf but not so prominent as that of the Thekkedathambalam.
Inside the Srikovil, panchaloha idols of Shiva, Parvathy and Subrahmaniya can be seen, all the three in the same pedestal which is a rare sight. Here the goddess is considered important. In the north-east corner inside the naalambalam is the well. The thidappalli is on the south-east side.
Outside the shrikovil, on the southern side, there is an idol of Yakshi.
This temple complex was earlier known as Airaneeswaram and is one of the 64 grama kshetras established by Parasurama. The Airanikulam temple is considered as one of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala built by Parasurama.
Airanikkulam being quite close to the erstwhile Chera capital of Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur), has some very interesting historic connections.
Tolan, who was a minister in the Chera court at Kodungalloor, belonged to Airanikkulam gramom. The canal running in between the western boundary of Airanikkulam and the eastern boundary of Mahodayapuram even now bears the name 'Tolan thodu'. After the fall of Mahodayapuram in the early 12 th century at the hands of the Cholas, the then ruling King of Mahodayapuram adjourned to Quilon in 1102 AD and his minister Tolan must have retired to the Pandya regime.
The damages to the Namaskara mandapa and naalambalam of the Thekkedathambalam must have occurred during the campaign of the Chola general Naralokavira since the temple was being patronised by Tolan and situated in close proximity to Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur). The fact that the later northern temple stands intact is clear proof that the onslaught on the southern temple has taken place in early 12th century and not in 18th century during the Tippu invasion as doubted by many. The period of the northern temple can in no way be advanced to late 18th century.
The Airanikkulam temple contains some inscriptions of the period of the Chera kingdom at Kodungallur, mostly of the 9th and 10th centuries of the Christian era. One inscription belongs to the period of Kota Ravi Vijayaraghavadeva (AD 883-915), who was the son-in-law of Chera Monarch Sthanu Ravi. The inscription speaks of gifts of land, 'Onam ghee' etc to the temple at Airaneeswaram by Iravi Neeli Pirattiyar, the wife of Vijayaraghavadeva.
Three poojas constitute the daily ritual. Shivarathri and eight day festival in Dhanu (december) with arattu on Thiruvathira constitute the festival routine. 'Karthika deepam' is celebrated in the temple on the 5th day of the festival.
