The Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple is a temple for Lord Shiva in Kaduthuruthy, Kerala.The temple, along with Ettumanoor Siva Temple, Vaikom Mahadeva Temple are considered as three very sacred and powerful Siva temples.
As per the legends an asuran called Khara, a great devotee of Lord Shiva, on receiving the Saiva Vidya Upadesam from Malyavan (great grand father of Ravana), went to Chidambaram and did severe penance for the attainment of moksha. Pleased with his penance Lord Shiva not only granted all the boons he asked for and also and presented him with three great Shiva Lingas. When Khara was returning south from Kailash with the three Lingas carryinng them one in his right hand, one in left hand and other over neck, he felt tired and placed the lingas to rest for awhile. When he tried to pick up the lingas, they wouldn’t move. Khara having attained Moksha then entrusted the Lingas to Maharshi Vyaghrapada who was following him and asked the sage to protect and worship them.
It is beleived that the Shiva Linga placed by Khara Asura by his right hand is the one at Vaikom, the one that was in his left hand at Ettumannoor and the one by neck at Kaduthuruthy even today. Getting a darshan of all these three Lingas on a same day is considered as good as the Shiva darshan at Kailash.
The Temple : The temple is built in a typical Kerala architectural design.The mandapam in front of the shrine has on display a beautiful collection of wood carvings.The moolavar (presiding deity) of the temple is Lord Shiva. The Sivalinga at the temple is small and only three inches tall facing east. On the southern side in the praharam there is a sannidhi for Ganapathy.Sannidhis of Ayyappan,Goddess Durga are also there.
About 300 years ago there was a major fire the mandapam that has plendid carvings was fortunately not damaged. During the raging fire ,the chief priest clasped the idol close to his body to save the idol, but sadly he prished in the fire. You can an idol of this chief priest at the northern part of the temple in his remeberance.
Temple Festivals :
Apart from the regular pooja,Shivrathri is an important festival of this temple.
Temple location The temple is situated midway between Vaikom and Ettumanoor.
Temple Timings The temple is open from 4:00 AM till 12:00 noon am and from 5:00 pm till 8:00 pm
Dress code Stringent dress code exists for entering the temple as in most of the Kerala temples. Men can only wear Veshti without shirts. Women can wear Saris, skirts & Salwar Kameez.
How to reach? The nearest airport is Cochin and Kottayam is the nearest major railway station, about 25 Km from the town.