Thiruvizha Sri Mahadevar Temple at Mararikulam is one of the ancient temples in Kerala and is located near Cherthala, in Alleppey district. The deity is worshipped by many saints including Vilwamangalam Swamiyar. This temple of Lord Neelakanta(Lord Shiva with bluish throat who swallowed poison, during the churn of the Ocean of Milk, which got condensed in his throat) is very famous for purifying the devotees by making them vomit out the poisonous elements eaten by them, using certain indigenous medicines.
According to lores, this place was once a dense forest. The aborigines of the place were called as Ulladas. One day, while hunting tortoise in a pond nearby, one of the Ullada woman pierced a cylindrical object with her weapon, as it appeared to be a tortoise-shell. Blood soon gushed from the place where the weapon had struck. As time went by, the color of the pond changed into scarlet and villagers decided to empty the pond. The task was accomplished within no time but they failed to terminate the profuse bleeding. At that time a Yogi, who came from east, sprinkled white ash upon the wound and the bleeding soon bated. He then declared that the cylindrical object is a Shiva Linga and the villagers should soon built a temple there. He also systematized rituals that should be performed, once the temple is constructed.
Many devotees come here for the treatment of Asthma, addiction to liquor, insanity etc. It is said that it all started after Lord Shiva, with certain types of herbs that grow in the temple premises, cured the madness of a person who works in the temple. After taking the medicine for neutralizing the effect of poisons, person will vomit and after some time he will be given Payasam which was offered to Yakshi. Pregnant women and persons who are suffering from heart ailments are not given the medicine.
Yakshi, Ganapathi, Vishnu, Sastha, Naga etc. are the sub-deities of the temple. During rainy seasons, water rises inside the Srikovil. At that time, the Swayambhoo Linga will get immersed under water. The Shiva Linga is seen approximately three feet below the land level of that place. The main festival of the temple falls in the month of Meenam, which commences on the Chathayam day and will last for ten days which concludes with an Aarattu on the Thiruvathira day. Shivarathri, Ashtami Rohini, yearly sapthahams were all celebrated in this temple in a pompous manner.
Trivia of the day -
Shiva is called as Ashtamurthi. This is because he is worshipped in eight different forms that symbolizes five elements, Surya, Yanja and Chakram.
1. Sharva - Kshithi
2. Bhava - Jalam
3. Ugra - Vayu
4. Bheema - Sky
5. Pasupathi - Yanja
6. Rudra - Agni
7. Eesana - Surya
8. Mahadeva - Chakram
