Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple

Ettumanoor Sree Mahadevan Temple
Front view of the temple
Ettumanoor Sree Mahadevan Temple Location in Kerala
Name
Proper name	ഏറ്റുമാനൂർ ശ്രീ മഹാദേവർ ക്ഷേത്രം
Geography
Coordinates	9°40′25″N 76°33′36″E / 9.67361°N 76.56000°E / 9.67361; 76.56000Coordinates: 9°40′25″N 76°33′36″E / 9.67361°N 76.56000°E / 9.67361; 76.56000
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Location	Ettumanoor
Culture
Primary deity	Shiva as Ettumanoorappan
Important festivals	Thiruulsavam in Kumbham
Architecture
Architectural styles	Traditional Kerala style
History and governance
Date built	1542 AD
Governing body	Travancore Devaswom Board
Website	ettumanoortemple.in

Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is an ancient Shiva temple in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It has brought glory and fame to the place. Myths have it that the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa had worshipped at this temple. The name of the place has its origin from the word 'manoor', which means the land of deer. The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala counted along with the Shiva temples of Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Ernakulam Shiva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple.

The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it, was reconstructed in 717 ME (1542 AD). There are Dravidian mural paintings on the walls inside and outside of the main entrance. The fresco of Pradosha Nritham (Dance of Shiva) is one of the finest Wall painting in India. There is a golden flag staff inside the temple. On the top of it is the idol of a bull surrounded by small bells and metal leaves of the banyan tree and in terms of architecture this temples stands out to be an ultimate testimant for the vishwakarma Sthapathis, for their engineering skills. The temple roofs are covered with copper sheets and it has 14 ornamental tops. Bhagavati, Sastha, Ganapathy and Yakshi are installed here as subordinate deities. It is believed that the great philosopher, Adi Sankaracharya wrote 'Soundarya Lahari' while staying in the temple.

The origin of Ettumanoorappan is from Kattampakk, a small village in Kottayam district.