Kazhakuttom Sri Mahadeva Temple is located on the eastern side of NH 47 at a distance of 18 km north of Trivandrum city and is one of the most renowned temples in Kerala for its ancient wooden carvings and architectural marvels. The name of the temple seems to have emerged from the progenitor of the temple, the Sage Kalakkoth. Archaeologists have assigned a date of 9th century to the sthanaka murthy of Vishnu in the sub-shrine located in the north east corner of the temple premise. But it is difficult to decide whether the Ay Kings who ruled this region at that time were directly involved in its construction.
The temple complex occupies an area of 4 Acre and 13 cents. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva in a pensive mood after Dakshayaga. The temple faces east and the main srikovil is a square dvitala vimana (two-tired architecture), consisting of a square sanctum and mukha mandapa. The front part of the mukha mandapa has been surrounded by another structure known as thiruchchurru mandapa, constructed by a person named Damodiran Kandan in AD 1470. He was also responsible for covering certain parts of the temple with copper. During this operation mukha mandapa and its columns seem to have been reparied or added, for, the adhishtana moulding of the mukha mantapa are not exactly the same as those of the garbha-griha, the former sporting floral and other decorations in the kantha. The tiruchchurru mantapa separates the temple unit from the namaskara mantapa, built on a mancha type of base.
The central shrine and the pavilion in front of it are built of hard stone upto the basement, while the superstructure is of laterite blocks. The walls show very ornate plastered panjaras of kutas, salas and nasikas in the projections and recesses and karnas having false windows inside plaster frames, while the bhadra centre in the four cardinal directions have functional wooden doors. Above the superstructure comes the sloping timber rooof covered with copper sheets and with sukanasa.
The srikovil belongs to the sandhara type of classical order, the interior having a square sanctum and close set pillar scheme around it. It is also a sarvatobhadra type of temple in that it has four functional doors in the four cardinal directions. The mukha mantapa ceiling has well decorated woodwork showing the navagraha devatas. Similarly, the namaskara mantapa ceiling has diverse floral decorations in its ceiling. The namaskara mantapa has 12 stone pillars around the periphery and four in the inner row. Dvarapalika figures have been painted on the side walls of the sanctum. The srikovil has a direct flight of steps. The thidappalli (kitchen) comes on the south east corner, inside the nalambalam and the well is in the north east corner.
The cloister or the nalambalam encloses the above with a valiambalam on the eastern side with a projecting agra mandapa containing the large balikkallu. The flag mast comes in front of the agra mandapa.
The temple complex has a number of sub-shrines. Outside the nalambalam, on the south come the Ganapthy and the abode of the serpant gods under the peepal tree. The Sri Krishna temple in gosala model with an octagonal griva and sikhara is in the south-west side of the outer circumambulating path, along with a well beside it. The ootupura or the dining hall comes in the north west corner of the campus. A Sastha shrine, apsidal in plan comes on the south west side as a separate compound. Of the five sub shrines, the most important one is the Vishnu shrine, due to its antiquity, located on the north eastern corner with a west frontage and containing a standing image of Lord Vishnu datable to the 9th century.
Daily rituals consist of three poojas accompanied by Sreebali. Annual festival of 10 days duration is in Medam with Aarattu on Thiruvathira (Ardra) star. The Aarattu is in Thumba beach. Apart from the annual festival, other rituals of imporatnace ar the Kalamezhuthu and Pattu in Vrishcigam for 30 days, Thiruvathira in Dhanu, Maha Sivarathri in Kumbhom, Onam in Chingam and Vishu in Medam. The trantric rights of the temple is vested in the Tharananallur family.
The office and open air stage are located on the south east corner. The temple is now being managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
