Vaikom Temple

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
Vaikom Mahadeva Temple Location within Kerala
Name
Malayalam	വൈക്കം മഹാദേവ ക്ഷേത്രം
Geography
Coordinates	9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°E / 9.76667; 76.40000Coordinates: 9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°E / 9.76667; 76.40000
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Location	Vaikom
Culture
Primary deity	Shiva
Important festivals	Vaikom Ashtami
Architecture
Architectural styles	Traditional Kerala style
History and governance
Temple board	Travancore Devaswom Board
Website	vaikomtemple.org

The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is a temple for the Hindu god Shiva in Vaikom, Kerala. The temple, along with Ettumanoor Siva Temple, Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple is considered a powerful trisome. The belief is that if a devotee worships at these three temples before 'Ucha pooja', all the wishes are fulfilled.

The Vaikom Mahadeva temple is one of the few temples which is held in reverence by both Shaivaites and the Vaishnavaites. Vaikom’s Shiva is fondly called Vaikkathappan. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be from the ‘Treta yuga’ and considered as one of the oldest temples in Kerala where pooja has not been broken since inception.

The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala counted along with the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Ernakulam Shiva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple.

Kharasura on receiving the Shaiva Vidya Upadesh from Malyavan went to Chidambaram, and did severe penance and Tapasya for the attainment of Moksha. Pleased with his penance Lord Siva granted all the boons he asked, and presented him with three great Siva Lingas drawn out of Him. Assuring that He will ever be present in them, Lord Siva disappeared, asking Khara to worship the Lingas to attain Moksha. When Khara was returning south from Himalayas with the three Lingas, one in his right hand, one in left hand and other by the neck, he felt tired and rested awhile. After rest when he tried to pick up the lingas, they wouldn’t budge. He realized that it was Shiva’s maya and when called unto, the heavens spoke thus, “I shall remain here giving Moksha to whom so ever * take refuge in Me”. Khara having attained Moksha entrusted the holy Lingas to the custody of Maharshi Vyaghrapada who had followed him invisibly and asked the sage to protect and worship them.