Prathishta / Presiding Deity : Siva
Upadevatha / Sub Deities : xx
District: Kottayam
Thaluk: xx
Panchayath: xx
Thanthri: xx
Trustee: xx
The presiding deity here is Lord Siva. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is located 12
km north of Kottayam, at Ettumanoor. It is considered as one of the ancient Shiva
temple, believed to be built in the 16th century. Sastha, Ganapathy and Dakshinamurthy
are the subdeities of this temple.
The legend associated with this temple is that an asura demon named "Khara" worshipped
Lord Siva at Chidambaram and received three shivlingas from siva. He carried those
three siva lingas by holding each one in his hand and remaining one in his mouth.
At the place Vaikom, he placed one shivlinga on the ground as he got tired. After
the he realised that the shivalinga he kept has got fixed here and unable to move.
The place becomes Vaikkom Mahadeva temple. Khara therefore installed the other two
shivlings at Ettumanoor and Kaduthuruthy. It is believed that visiting these three
temples in one day is auspicious.
This Temple has a 10 day annual festival which falls on February / March and ends
on the day of Thiruvathira. 'Ezharaponnaana Ezhunallathu', which is procession with
the image of deity is happened on 8th day. On this occassion temple's unique treasure,
the seven and a half golden elephants (ezhara ponnaana) denoting the 8 dhik paalakas
or the guardians of the cardinal directions are displayed.
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