Kottarakara - Shiva who belongs to Elayidathu Swaroopam

Kottarakkara, a land of infinite enchantments, is renowned as the home to the son of Lord Shiva, Lord Maha Ganapathi. He showers blessings incessantly upon the village-folks of Kottarakkara and in return, accepting their token of love in the form of 'Koottappam' which he is very fond of. But, in this composition, I consider another temple called Padinjattinkara Shiva temple which is infact the Shiva temple that falls among the 108 Shiva temples built by Parasurama and is situated a stone throw away from Manikandeswara Shiva temple(Kottarakkara Mahaganapathy temple).

In olden times, Kottarakkara was the capital(Kunnumel near Kilimanoor was the first capital and later it got shifted to Kottarakara) of Elayidathu Swaroopam(Northern area of Trivandrum, Nedumangadu, Kottarakkara and some places of Pathanapuram and Shengottai after the division of Venad in the 14th century; later some members of the royal family shifted to Nedumangadu aka Elavannoor Nadu). During the reign of Marthanda Varma(1729-1758) of Travancore, he ousted the 'Sarvadhikaryakar' (governor of Elayidathu) and started ruling the region forcing the last queen, later, to move to Thekumkur. The queen, with the help of the Dutch, fought back in 1741. Marthanda Varma won the battle and queen decided to have a compromise. Dutch admiral didn't like this and under his surveillance queen was taken to Kochi. After a few days, she committed suicide and Elayidathu swaroopam became a part of the Travancore province.

The first palace of Kottarakara was built by Chera Udaya Marthanda Varma, ruler of Venad, during his period(1382-1444).

Elayidathu - Thripappoor - Deshinganadu royal families were each other's closest relatives.

Kottarakara is the place where the world famous classical art form called Kathakali was conceived. The legend behind the formation of Kathakali will be told on another occassion.

Padinjattinkara Mahadeva Temple is a royal temple in all aspects and Shiva is called as Elayidathappan. Elayidathu King was an ardent devotee to Lord Shiva of this temple. In the main sanctum one could see the Swayambhoo Shiva Linga facing west. According to tantric exponents, the Shiva Linga here is a perfect one by all means. Moreover, west-facing Shiva idols are very powerful. On the rear side, one could also wish Sree Parvathy facing east. The copper covered two-tiered circular Sreekovil is big and has beautiful sculptures on it.

The temple was constructed by the master craftsman, Perumthachan aka Uliyannoor thachan as per the wish of Kottarakara Thampuran.

There is a Ganapathy idol on the south side of the Sanctum sanctorum. Another Ganapathy idol can be seen in the Nalambalam which faces east. Thus inside the Nalambalam there are two places where Ganapathi is worshipped. The Valiyabalikallu(a large stone used for sacrifice) is located outside the Nalambalam. The Mahadeva temple also has a copper flagmast. A large gopuram is there on the western entrance.

The east-facing Shastha shrine is situated at the south-west corner of the temple compound. The beautiful Sarppakkavu(abode of serpent-gods) is located close to the Sastha shrine. Women are not permitted to enter into the Sarppakkavu. Navagraha(Nine Planets) idols are located at the north-east corner of the temple compound. Sree Krishna's shrine can also be seen near it. The temple pond is in the eastern side. Usually, five poojas (Usha pooja, Pantheeradi pooja, Ucha pooja, pradosha pooja, Athazha pooja) will be conducted daily.

A story which is similar to the lore of Markandeya, who was saved by Thrippangottappan(Lord Shiva of Trippangod), had happened at Kottarakara temple before many a century. The protagonist was a Malabar brahmin youngster who was told by the astrologers that he will die at the age of twenty. He started a journey to the south and reached Aranmula Parthasarathy temple. He started a 41 day long supplication there, worshipping Aaranmulayappan(Lord Krishna) with utmost devotion. On the forty-first day, a person came in his dream while he slept at night and told him that he should go to Kottarakara and start worshipping Elayidathappan within no time. Hence, he reached at the Padinjattinkara temple and started supplicating Lord Shiva.

Forty days passed by and on the forty-first day he found out that a giant snake is on his prowl and is not going to let him off easily. He ran to the sopanam and prostrated there. The sanctum had been closed for Deeparadhana. Hardly had the snake bit the brahmin when a huge eagle appeared above the temple. Eagle descended upon the snake and carried off it. When the doors of the sanctum sanctorum opened amid the clanging of bells, Brahmin stood up and was quite amazed for not seeing even a trace of the serpent near him. He was informed that the eagle sliced the reptile into pieces and put it on a place outside the temple. That place is later turned into a Sarppakavu called Jadayan Kavu.

In gratitude, the brahmin built a Goshala(cattle-shed), the famous Kottarakara Goshala, which later was destructed over time.