Avittathur Mahadeva Temple is located at Avittathur village in Irinjalakkuda, Thrissur district and is one of the famous Lord Shiva temples in Kerala. Out of the 64 Gramams (traditional vedic and spiritual villages) extending from Kanyakumari to Gokarnam, 34 exist in Kerala and the remaining are in Karnataka. Avittathur temple as well as Avittathur Gramam is equally famous like Thaliparambu, Sukapuram, Irinjalakuda and Peruvanam Gramams.
Avittathur Mahadeva Temple is more than 2000 years old and is one of the 108 Lord Shiva temples constructed by Lord Parasurama. The consecration of the idol, it is believed that was performed by none other than Sage Agasthya. The Homakunda(fire place where Maharshi Agasthya performed his rituals) is still seen near the temple. Lord Siva in the form of Kiratha moorthi, blessing and giving boon to Arjuna (giving his divine arrow, the Pasupathastra) is the disposition of Lord Shiva in this temple. To add to its uniqueness, Lord Siva is worshipped as Kirathamoorthy in the morning, Dakshinamoorthi at noon and Ardhanareeshwara in the evening.
The temple is housed in a compound wall with an extent of 3¼ acres of land in square shape. Circular Sreekovil with around 50 feet flag-mast and Nadappura definitely add to the ethnic and exemplary stature of the temple. Kiratham, Palazhy Mathanam and Ramayanam stories are inscribed on the inner roof pillars and also as sculptures around the Srikovil.
Stone inscriptions are still seen in the Pradakshina vazhi (circumambulating path) which the archeologists confirm that are the writings belonging to the 13th century. The writings on the entrance of the Srikovil is well known in the name as 'Avittathur Sasanam' which is said to be proclaimed by the Kulasekhara King Kotha Ravi during his 20th year of rule.
It is said that the 28 day festival is confined to only 3 Temples in Kerala and are Kottiyoor in north, Sucheendram in south and Avittathur in the middle are the 3 temples. In olden days the festival commenced with the flag hoisting on the Thiruvathira during the Malayalam month of Dhanu and culminated with the Aarattu (holy dip) on the Thiruvathira day in Makaram.The Aarattu was held at the Kandozhinjaru near Chalakudy.
In connection with the festival, Manthrankam koothu which used to last for 41 days was also to be performed. Later, the festival was confined to 10 days and the Aarattu shifted to the temple pond near the temple.
Stone inscriptions are still seen in the Pradakshina vazhi (circumambulating path) which the archeologists confirm that are the writings belonging to the 13th century. The writings on the entrance of the Srikovil is well known in the name as 'Avittathur Sasanam' which is said to be proclaimed by the Kulasekhara King Kotha Ravi during his 20th year of rule.
It is said that the 28 day festival is confined to only 3 Temples in Kerala and are Kottiyoor in north, Sucheendram in south and Avittathur in the middle are the 3 temples. In olden days the festival commenced with the flag hoisting on the Thiruvathira during the Malayalam month of Dhanu and culminated with the Aarattu (holy dip) on the Thiruvathira day in Makaram.The Aarattu was held at the Kandozhinjaru near Chalakudy.
In connection with the festival, Manthrankam koothu which used to last for 41 days was also to be performed. Later, the festival was confined to 10 days and the Aarattu shifted to the temple pond near the temple.
Earlier the ownership of the temple was vested with 40
families and later it was confined to 10 families. The temple activities
were then looked after and controlled by a person appointed by or a
representative of the families. Naduvam Mahan Namboodiri, Kuduppilly
Krishnan Namboodiri, Neelakandan Namboodiri, Kuriyedath Narayanan
Namboodiri, Sreekumaran Namboodiri etc. were the prominent ones from the
families. From 1985 onwards management of the temple activities is
taken care by a committee registered by name Shivakshethra Samithi.
During the last 24 years under the Shivakshethra Samithi who manages the day to day affairs of the Temple and Devaswom with the active participation of the public in general used to arrange the festival with fervor and various programmes in which thousands of people in and around the area used to throng.
During the last 24 years under the Shivakshethra Samithi who manages the day to day affairs of the Temple and Devaswom with the active participation of the public in general used to arrange the festival with fervor and various programmes in which thousands of people in and around the area used to throng.
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