Thrithala - Thalathilappan Sahayam..

Thrithala is a village in Ottapalam taluk and is located on the banks of Bharathapuzha and is well famed for Lord Shiva temple, probably built during the 9th and 10th century which marks the transition from the Chola to the Pandya style of architecture used in the construction of temples. 

The Pakkanar memorial, honouring the legendary saint, stands near Thrithala - Kootand Road. The legend of 'Parayi petta panthirukulam' is centred around Trithala. According to this story, a Brahmin named Vararuchi, married a lower caste woman without knowing her true identity. After the marriage, they set out on a long journey. During the course of the journey, the woman became pregnant several times, and every time she delivered a baby, the husband asked her to leave it there itself except the Vayillakunnilappan. Each of the babies was taken up by people of different castes (totally 12), thus they grew up in those castes, forming the legendary 'Panthirukulam'. They all became famous in their lives and many tales are attributed to them. The eldest was Agnihothri, a Brahmin, whose place is Mezhathur in Trithala. The others are Pakkanar (Basket weaver), Perumthachan (Master carpenter), Naranathu Bhranthan (the divine mad), Vayillakunnilappan (a child without mouth whom the mother wanted to keep with her) and so on. Their stories are mentioned in 'Aithihyamala' by Kottarathil Sankunni.

The temple is on the banks of Bhatathapuzha. Both the sanctum as well as the Shiva Linga are enormous. Lord Shiva is seen as facing East. Sub-deities are Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganapathi, Lord Ayyappa and Goddess Bhagavathi. The Thrithala temple is also one of the 108 Siva temples and is considered very sacred by the Shaivites. 

The idol of Lord Shiva in the temple is also known as Thiruthalathilappan and is said to be made with sand. According to a legend, the child Agnihotri was bathing in the river along with his mother. He heaped the sand in the form of a mound on a plate ('thalam' in Malayalam). When the mother tried to remove the sand, she found that it has solidified in the form of a Shiva Linga. Thus the deity is known as Thalathilappan, which means God in sits on a platter. It is believed that the sharp bend in the Peraar river in the area was formed due to the river changing its course on its own, to give space for the temple to be built.

Devotees offer Dhara, Paayasam and Chathussatham to Lord Shiva. An annual ten-day festival is held in the temple and the main festival of the temple is Mahashivaratri. It is celebrated very grandly and thousands of devotees from various parts of the state gather here to attend the celebrations.

Monday, Pradosham, Saturday, Ashtami rohini and Navarathri are also celebrated in full grandeur.