Kottiyoor Temple
| Kottiyoor Temple | |
|---|---|
Festival time
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| Name | |
| Other names | Ikkare Kottiyoor |
| Proper name | Thruchherumana Temple (തൃചേരുമന ക്ഷേത്രം) |
| Malayalam | കൊട്ടിയൂർ വടക്കേശ്വരം ക്ഷേത്രം |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 11°52′22.29″N 75°51′39.18″E / 11.8728583°N 75.8608833°ECoordinates: 11°52′22.29″N 75°51′39.18″E / 11.8728583°N 75.8608833°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Kannur district |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Shiva |
| Important festivals | Vysakha Mahotsavam |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Partially Kerala style |
| History and governance | |
| Date built | Unknown |
| Creator | Unknown |
| Temple board | Malabar Devaswom Board |
| Website | http://kottiyoordevaswom.com/ |
Kottiyoor Temple is a prominent Shiva temple in Kerala. Vadakkeshwaram Temple is the common name of the temple from ancient time, but some of the local people addresses the temple as Ikkare Kottiyoor as it in the bank of the river close to the Kottiyoor village; to differentiate it from the shrine in the other side of the river. Thruchherumana Kshetram is the proper name of Kottiyoor temple. The temple is a special category temple under Malabar Devaswom board.
There are two temples in Kottiyoor - one on the western bank of the Bavali river - and the other one on the eastern bank of the Bavali river. The shrine on the east bank (Kizhakkeshwaram or Akkare Kottiyoor) is a temporary hermitage (Yaga shrine) opened only during the Vysakha festival. The Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kottiyoor (The Thruchherumana Temple) on the western bank of the river is a permanent temple complex like all other temples. It remains closed throughout the year except for the 27 days of Vysakha festival. The temple is situated in a densely forested area amidst a sacred grove that covers about 80 acres. Mythology says that Akkare Kottiyoor, the shrine on the eastern bank of the river, was the location of Daksha Yaga, at the conclusion of which, Sati Devi immolated herself and thus committed suicide in this place.
The Thruchherumana Temple was built after the Swayambhoo lingam was found; however the exact date of construction of temple is not known, the pilgrimage has been taking place for many centuries.
The Kottiyoor Temple is highly revered in Kerala and neighboring areas of adjoining states. The legend goes that the shrine is blessed with the divine presence of The Holy Trinity or The Trimurthy (Brahma - Vishnu - Shiva) and the primordial Mother Goddess (Bhagavathy), due to this Kali (the personification of Kali Yuga), has promised Parashurama in the presence of Trimurthy in not entering the premises of the holy shrine.
Kottiyoor is one of the most sacred shrines of Shakti. There are very few shrines in India for Sati Devi amongst which Kottiyoor is one. As it is forbidden to build any permanent structures abiding by religious principles, there are only temporary and simple-looking structures, which resemblance what would look like hermits of sages. As there is no sanctum-sanatorium, Sati is worshiped as Shakti in 'Ammarakkalu Thara', a raised platform adjacent to the Swayambhoo linga where Sati Devi is believed to have committed suicide. This is believed to be the temple of the origin of the Shakti Peethas. As it is the confluence of the presence of all the known Hindu Divinities, the place is called Kottiyoor from Koodi and Uuru meaning Meeting Precinct.
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Wikipedia