The Navaikulam Sankaranarayana Temple is located at Navaikulam village approximately 50 Kms from Trivandrum, in the Trivandrum-Attingal route through NH 47, in Trivandrum district. The principal deity is Sankaranarayana (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu) and is one of the rare Sankaranarayana temples in Kerala.
The temple is having one of the largest Srikovils (Sanctum Sanctorum) in Kerala. According to the Mathilakam records and also from the Vattezhuthu scripts, the temple is built in between AD 1350 and 1400 during the reign of 3rd Chera King, Udaya Marthanda Varma's period. It is written in the records that the renovation was started on 505 ME and was completed on 514 ME and the reconsecration ceremony was carried out on an Utthrittathi star day in the month of Medam, the same year.
According to the legends, once upon a time Lord Shiva with his family and bhootha ganas traveled across the southern parts of Kerala and came to a place called 'Darsanavattam'. Lord Shiva wanted to stay near that place permanently and hence requested Sree Bhagavathy, his sister (Goddess Lekshmi is considered as the sister of Lord Shiva), to find an adequate place. Sree Bhagavathy went in search of a suitable place and reached a forest named 'Naalvathilkulam' which is surrounded by ponds on all the four sides. Mesmerized by the beauty of the place, Sree Bhagavathy sat there for a very long time having forgot her mission. Lord Shiva then sent Lord Ganapathy in search of Sree Bhagavathy. Lord Ganapathy soon found her and reported the matter to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became very angry and came furiously to that place and kicked Sree Bhagavathy in her breast with his leg to a far off place. Suddenly, Lord Vishnu appeared there in the form of 'Mohini' to appease Lord Shiva and they combined to form the Sankaranarayana deity. Sree Bhagavathy is also worshipped outside the temple compound as 'Ottamula Bhagavathi' (Devi with single breast). 'Naalvathilkulam' was later became 'Navayikulam'.
According to the historians, it was in this temple, Ramayyan Dalwa, minister to the King, killed the spies of Kayamkulam Raja, who were hidden in the temple to collect details of the Marthanda Varma, the then ruler of Travancore. Ramayyan Dalwa misled the spies by saying that if they come out one after the other, they will be set free. Believing this the spies came out through the south entrance as requested, but were mercilessly decapitaed with sword.Southern entrance was closed after that incident forever.
The idol is made of Krishna shila (a typical stone) and is Chathurbahu (having four hands) with left hands holding Conch and Lotus while right holding axe and Serpant. The idol is approximately 5 ft tall and is consecrated on a large circular sanctum having copper plated sopanam. The temple once had a golden flag mast but was lost during the attack of King Mukilan, and is now replaced with a copper flag mast. The temple is rich in sculptural and architectural marvels.
Navaikkulam Chakkathoran (a typical Keralite curry) was also famous like Ambalappuzha Palpayasam, Kottarakkara Unniyappam and Cherthala thadi, once upon a time, when the temple was under the governence of Akavoor Mana. It was believed that Sankaranarayana will come in disguise as a common man to have the Chakkathoran. Other offerings are Thrippuli nivedyam in the month of Thulam, Palpayasam, Chathussatham, Kalabham etc.
Sub-deities of the temple are Lord Ganapathy, Goddess Saraswathy inside the Nalambalam. Hanuman and Garuda are worshipped inside the Balikkalpura. Outside the Nalambalam, Lord Sastha, Serpent Gods, Srikrishna, Yakshi and Bhagavathi are being worshipped.
The ten day long temple festival starts with 'Urul nercha' in the malayalam month of Medam on the Uthrittathi star, every year.
