Pandalam - Mahadevaya Nama

Pandalam Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest temples in Pathanamthitta district and is out of the 108 Shiva temples where idol consecration was believed to be done by Khara, ardent devotee of Lord Chidambaranathan(Shiva), who is mentioned before in relation with the Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Kaduthuruthi temples as well as Pallavoor, Thrippaloor and Ayalur temples which I did post some time back.  The sacred and world famous temple is located on the left banks of the river Achankovil(Achankovilaaru), 3 Km away from Pandalam town in Pathanamthitta district.  Pandalam is also world famous as the home town of Lord Ayyappa.

The temple is unique with its natural 3/4 circumambulation route around the sanctum. This is because the river flows by the side of Namaskara Mandapa as if touching the feet of Lord Pandalam Mahadeva, just like Ganges flows after falling on the divine hair of Lord Shiva. This is a rarity as no other Lord Shiva temple can be seen with a natural 3/4 circumambulation route around the principal deity, Lord Shiva. (It is generally believed that while circumambulating the shrine of Lord Shiva, the devotees shouldn't take a full circle as they will cross river Ganga supposedly flowing out through the Pranala. So they have to stop before the Pranala and go back thus making a 3/4 circumambulation around the shrine).

In addition to Lord Shiva the idols of Lord Ganapathi,  Lord Subrahmania, Lord Ayyappa, Maya Yakshi,  Nagaraja,  Brahma Rakshassu and Rakshassu are also worshipped here. 

The temple was one of the major temples of Edapally swaroopam and was under the direct administration of Edapally thampuran, Kulakkada Nambi Mattom, Njettoor Vazhuveki Mattom, Thottakonam Mannil Mattom and Venmani Kallamon Mattom. Now the administration of this temple is held by 'Mahadeva Seva Samithi' which consist of 12 villages like Mulambuzha, Mudiyoorkonam, Thottakonam, Mangaram etc. also called as 12 Karas in Pandalam. Panthalam Neelakantan, an elephant belonged to this temple was very famous like Guruvayoor Kesavan and Kottarakara Krishnankutty and made it to 'Aitihyamala' written by Kottarathil Sankunni.

Photo: Lord Shiva as Mahadeva sitting on 'Koorma' (tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu) to appease the deity.

10 days major festival is celebrated in the month of Dhanu (November–December) every year. Kumbha Thiruvathira and yearly Kettukazhcha associated with the festival is also one of the major attractions of this temple.

Kaipuzha temples:

Kaipuzha Lord Shiva Temple, whose legend is associated with the Pandalam Mahadeva temple, is also located on the banks of Achankovil River, in Pandalam. This shrine was built by the Pandalam Royal Family. Due to the difficulty faced by the King of Pandalam to reach Pandalam Mahadeva temple, he installed a new idol at Kaipuzha temple.

Picture courtesy : Manorama Online

There are actually two shrines in this complex, one dedicated to Lord Shiva and the other dedicated to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna(Vishnu) is believed to be in the disposition of Santhanagopala here and is famous as Kaipuzha Sri Krishna temple but it is also believed that the idol of the temple is that of Narasimha Swami, a powerful ferocious incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Following several unfortunate incidents in the palace, astrologers suggested that the power of the idol should be decreased. And as per the direction of the astrologers, priests chanted Santhanagopala mantras(hymns) to decrease its fierceness. 

Elders of the area say that there is a secret tunnel from the temple to the palace. No archaeological exploration has been undertaken so far to give support to this belief but one fact remains there is an underground cell in the temple which has not been opened. Though Devaswom authorities conducted two Devaprasnas (astrological surveys), they were advised not to touch the cellar on both occasions. The Lord Shiva temple is managed by the Palace administration and the Krishna temple by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Pandalam Valiyakoyikkal Dharmasastha Temple:

 
 
Believed to be constructed by King Rajasekhara soon after his return from Sabarimala after the installation of Lord Dharma Sastha(Ayyappa), this temple was built to worship the Lord Ayyappa everyday. Instead of an idol, divine Salagramam(Saligrama), piece of rock taken with certain qualities usually from the Gandaki river of Nepal, is worshipped here. The Valiyakoyikkal temple has been functioning as a private place of worship. The shrine remains closed for 12 days on the death of any member of the royal family. Certain omens appear in the temple as herald of an impending danger. Priests also have noticed the presence of ants in the Sanctum Sanctorum before a death in the family.