Thrikkaviyoor Mahadevar Temple is located in a village called Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta District and is more than 1000 years old. The main deity is Lord Shiva (worshiped as Sambhashiva or Uma Maheswara), but importance is given for Lord Hanuman, one of the sub-deities worshiped in this temple.
The temple has a unique style of architecture and is one of the oldest of the Shiva pantheons in Kerala. It stands on a small hillock and is built in the gable style architecture peculiar to Kerala. It is believed to have been constructed in the early years of the 10th century and the 'Kaviyoor Shasanas' of 950-951 CE has references to the gifts that were offered to this temple. The Darushilpas (wood sculpture) seen around the temple belong to the 17th century. The perfect round Sreekovil with Sandhara style of architecture having a typical basement clarifies this opinion. The wood carvings on the outer wall of the Srikovil (sanctum sanctorum), inner roof of Balickalpura and Namaskara Mandapa are remarkable.
The addition of Parvathi, worshiped as Srimoola Rajeshwari, on the western side of srikovil was done by Kaviyoor Pachu Moothath (1845–1917) who had the rights to kazhakam of all shrines within the temple, though this was objected by the then Tantri of the temple, saying there could not be two 'Parvathis'. However Moothath being the then royal physician for the king Sree Moolam Thirunal and also the first principal of Ayurveda College, Trivandrum, used his connections to overurle the tantri.
The Hanuman shrine in the north-west corner of Srikovil is very famous. The idol is believed to have been installed by sage Vilwamangalam Swamiyar. The Lord is believed to sit on the Ilanji tree just outside the sanctum sanctorum. Once an Ilanji perished new one would sprout at the same place, so there used to be no planting of new trees in the past. The raised dais-like structure, the Ilanjithara, around the tree, used to be the podium for conducting arts and cultural programs.
Dakshinamurthy is worshiped on the southern shrine of the sanctum sanctorum. Lord Dakshinamurthy is believed to sit under a banyan tree in the Himalayas facing south, teaching the wisdom of Vedas to the divine people. Hence the idols of this god is always installed facing south. The Ilanjithara houses serpent gods and was a later addition as people, pressured by modern ways of living, found it difficult to maintain Naga shrines in their homes, the idols were transferred to the temple. The main pooja here is on the Ayilaym day in Kanni.
The Sreekrishna Temple, now reduced to a minor shrine, to the west of the Shiva temple, existed much before the construction of Shiva temple. Its location is unique in that the mound over which the Shiva temple was built hides this shrine from the rising sun. Since the temple is below the level of the main temple it is also called Keezhthrikkovil. Although an independent temple, tantric-wise, is regarded as a part of Shiva temple by the Devaswom Board for convenience of administration. The poojas are performed by a Brahmin family named Kuzhiyaanoor Illam, brought to Kaviyoor centuries ago exclusively for this temple from Kozhikode during the fiefdom of Pathillathu Brahmins.
Yakshi shrine is outside the temple, near Keezhchirakkal Illam, which owned it long ago. The Yakshi was brought to Kaviyoor from Kodunthura, Pathanamthitta by an elder Moothath of the Illam when he married a girl from Kodunthura. The shrine was later handed over to Kaviyoor temple authorities. The Yakhi is believed to bless spinsters who pray for timely marriage.
Yakshi shrine is outside the temple, near Keezhchirakkal Illam, which owned it long ago. The Yakshi was brought to Kaviyoor from Kodunthura, Pathanamthitta by an elder Moothath of the Illam when he married a girl from Kodunthura. The shrine was later handed over to Kaviyoor temple authorities. The Yakhi is believed to bless spinsters who pray for timely marriage.
The
temple festival, on Thiruvathira, is held in December–January of every year. Hanuman
Jayanthi, the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman, is also celebrated along
with the temple festival. Ashtami Rohini, the birth anniversary celebrations of Lord Krishna at Sree Krishna Temple is celebrated in Chingam (August–September).
