Kadappattoor - at the abode of Lord Shiva worshipped by Sage Gauna

Kadappattoor Mahadeva Temple is located on the banks of Meenachilaaru in Kadapattoor village near Palai, Kottayam district. The main speciality of this temple is that the idol of Lord Shiva is not in the Linga form instead as Swaroopa Vigraha. In almost all other Shiva temples Lord Shiva is worshipped in Linga form. The legends of Kadappattor temple is aasociated with Sage Gauna. 

According to legends, the Meenachilaaru originates from the Kamandalu (the small water pot carried usually by sages) of Gauna Maharshi like the Kauveri from Agasthya's Kamandalu. Hence this river got the name Gauna Nadi. Gauna Maharshi filled his Kamandalu with Sapthanadi Theertham (water from the 7 holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathy, Sindhu, Narmmada, Godavari and Kauveri). A beautiful idol of Lord Subrahmanya was also kept in his kamandalu. It was Tretha yuga and saint was eagerly waiting to see of Lord Sri Rama in his return journey to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. Sri Rama was accompanied by large number of devotees like Vibhishana, Sugreeva, Hanuman and Angada in the Pushpaka Vimana. So Maharshi Gauna could not see Lord Sri Rama and Sita Devi properly. In disappointment Gauna threw the kamandalu away and the idol of Subrahmanya Swami came out. These incidents occured on a hill and since then the hill is known as Kudamuruttimala. This flow of water became a river and thus the present Gauna nadi was formed. Along wih the flow of the water, the idol was carried away to the Vishnu temple in Kidangoor and was later installed in a new sreekovil. This is the present Kidangoor Subrahmanya Swami Temple. So the water in Gauna river is as holy as the Sapthanadi Teertham.

Later Sri Rama and Sita Devi gave darshan to Gauna Maharshi. Rama advised Gauna Maharshi to continue his meditation and gave him a beautiful idol of Lord Shiva. Gauna Maharshi then started his journey along the river bank and finally reached a beautiful village and decided to stay there. He consecrated the idol and started worshipping Lord Shiva there. The local people were his ardent devotees and they provided him all assistance. Hence Gauna Maharshi named this place as 'Kadappetta ooru' or Kadappattor and the idol of Shiva worshipped by Gauna Maharshi is now famous as Lord Kadappattoorappan.

After thousands of years, the idol of Shiva was discovered by a woodcutter named Madathil Paachu Nair from inside a large Athi (Country Fig) tree on the banks of Meenachil river on 14th July 1960 while he was cutting fire wood. The day was quite unusually stormy with deafening thunder bolts. When half of the tree was cut, the tree fell to the opposite side. Pachu Nair got quite frightened and became unconscious as the tree fell to one side and the stone idol of Lord Shiva appeared from that. The news of appearance of a beautiful Shiva idol from the tree spread like wild fire through central Travancore and people flocked to see the idol. Later a temple came up with the efforts of devotees. Initially the temple had a unique architecture resembling North Indian temples.

The Devaprasnam conducted in the temple revealed that Lord Mahadeva is unsatisfied with the architecture of temple. Hence the temple authorities decided to renovate the temple and consulted Brahmasree Kanippayyoor Krishnan Nampoothirippad to remodel the temple structure. The renovation works were completed in 2006 and Naveekarana kalasam was performed in March. Now the temple has a three storeyed big rectangular sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) with copper covered pyramidal roof and golden thazhikakkudam. The sreekovil walls are decorated with sculptures. The namaskaramandapam also has a copper covered pyramidal roof and golden thazhikakkudam.

The Nagagandhi tree with typical flowers blooms near the western gopuram which attracts several devotees. Ganapathy, Ayyappa, Nagadevathas, Bhagavathy and Brahma Rakshass are the sub deities of Kadappattoor temple.

Every year July 14 is celebrated as Vigraha Darsana Dinam. On that day there will be Akhanda naama japa yajnam from early morning. Tantri Paramboor Bhattathiri will perform the Vigraha Darsana Pooja at around 2 pm and will open the sreekovil doors for the devotees. Thousands of devotees from near and far will come here to have a view of Lord Kadappattoorappa.

Annadanam (offering food), especially on 14th day of every month, is the main vazhipadu of this temple. Dhaara, Rudrabhishekam, Bhasmabhishekam, Sahasranamarchana, Ashtothararchana, Aravana, Kadumpayasam, Vella Nivedyam, Kalabhamcharthu, Koovalamala and Vedi vazhipadu are the other main offerings to Lord Kadappattoorappa. Neeranjanm and Ellu payasam are the offerings to Lord Ayyappa. Ganapathy Homam and Karukamala are the offerings to Lord Ganapathy, Noorum Palum, Manjal (turmeric powder) and Pulluvanpattu are the offerings to Nagadevathas. Bhagavathy Seva and Raktha Pushpanjali are the offerings to Bhagavathy. Palppayasam is the main offering to Rakshass.

The ten day long annual festival is in Meenam (March - April). Pathamudayam (Medam 10) and Shivarathry are also celebrated. Thousands will offer Vavu bali on the banks of the Meenachil river, near the temple on Karkkidaka vavu day. Men, women and children will throng the temple from early morning to perform Pithrukriyas. On Aayilyam day in Kanni and Thulam months there will be Aayilyam pooja for Nagadevathas. Mondays, Saturdays and Pradosha days, Mandala - Makaravilakku season (Dhanu 1 to Makaram 5) and Ramayanam month (Karkkidakam) are also important here.