Sree Mahadeva Temple , Avittathur

Datable to very ancient period, Avittathur is one of the thirty-six ancient gramams in the present Kerala State. The temple is one of the grama-kshetra. The great Sage Agastya had installed the idol. The earlier name of the place was Agastya-Trippadha-ur, which means the place sanctified by the holy feet of Sage Agastya. By constant usage over centuries the name was corrupted as Agastyaputtoor and later as Avittathur. 

A remarkable thing is the presence of a homa-kundham at the northwest of the temple believed to have been used by Sage Agastya. It has an extent of 50 cents and a depth of four kolu. In 1964 the dhwajam of the temple got tilted to one side. A deva-prashnam was then held. It was revealed that the reason for this incident was that Sage Agastya was not given proper respect in daily routines. To overcome this a portion of the site of the old homa-kundham was preserved by constructing a wall, besides building a sub-shrine also for Sage Agastya. The Vattezhuthe inscription is datable to the twentieth regnal year of Ko-Kottai Ravi Varman of the second Chera Empire. 

The temple was earlier owned by forty illakkars of the locality who nominated a person called Samudaya Manushyan (Manager) with powers to administer the temple. The last person who held the post of Samudaya Manushyan was belonged to Koottoor illam of Ramapuram (near Palai of Kottayam district). In course of time he delegated the supervisory work of this temple to another person of the temple, with the result even the conduct of daily pooja was affected, even though the temple owned paddy fields, which fetched 10,000 paras of paddy. The inscriptions available at the Munchira Madom indicate that a Swamiyar appointed by Munchira Madom took over charge as ‘Samudaya Manushyan’ (Manager). The Paravoor Raja, who was a Nampoothiri chief, then administered the temple. After some time again there was mismanagement. To put a stop to the mismanagement of the temple, Anchi Kaimal filed a case at District Court of Ernakulam. The verdict of the Court was in favour of Devaswam and the Samudaya Manushyan’ (Manager) lost all powers. Two Nampoothiri devotees Kuduppilli Krishnan Nampoothiri and Naduvam Narayanan Nampoothiri (known as Naduvam Mahan) did yeomen service in the temple. After the death of the former on 1086 K.E. (1911 A.D.), the latter continued to look after the temple affairs very efficiently. During his period, the Sreekovil was covered with copper sheet, dhwaja-pradishta was done and the temple rituals were made systematic. When Mahan Nampoothiri became old, he entrusted the temple affairs to Kuduppilli Neelakanthan Nampoothiri and subsequently to Kuriyedath Sreekumaran Nampoothiri and Narayanan Nampoothiri. During the administration period of the latter a committee consisting of 27 persons, all belonging to ooralar families was formed for proper management. One of them was made Chairman. 

After the implementation of the Land Reforms Act of 1963, the temple properties were lost but the ooralars managed the temple efficiently with the result the temple continued to be a private temple. In 1985, a local committee of devotees called Avittathur Siva Kshetra Samiti was formed with membership facility extended to all the Hindu families of the locality, membership about 400. The devotees elect a 40 member General Council and Nine-member executive committee. Two of its members are nominated from the ten ooralar families. The ten families are Kuriyedath mana (Avittathur). Kuduppilli mana (Tumboor), Kunnath mana (Nellayi), Kuzhikkat mana (Trippekkulam),Kaippilli mana (Thottippal), Kidangazhiyatt mana (Chalakudi), Naduvath mana (Chalakuti), Maruttombilli mana (Kodakara), Earatt mana (Kodakara) and Parakkara mana (Chengaloor). The President and the Secretary attend to the day-to-day affairs of the temple. 

As stated earlier, the temple had owned large extent of properties. Now the temple owns nine acres of land of which 3.25 acres constitute the temple complex. The structures thereon are Sreekovil, namaskaara-mandapam, chuttambalam, vilakkumaadam, valiya-balikkall, dhwajam, nada-panthal, pradakshina-vazhi, sub shrines, deepastambham, gopuram, compound wall, well and pond.

The circular dwi-thala Sreekovil of sandhaara type and facing west has granite upa-peetham and adhishthaanam. The mouldings of the upa-peetham are padma-padukam and jagathi, while those of adhishthaanam are paadukam, jagathi, triple-faceted kumudam, kumuda-padi, galam, gala-padi, kampam, gala, gala-padi, valaru and padi. The sopanam has four direct steps with vyaali-faces on the top of banisters. The pranaalam has makara simha face at the base, plain sundu with rings and gomukha end. The laterite stone walls have three ghanadwaaras and a functional door. A picture of Goddess Parvathi is installed at the eastern side of the antharaalam. The roof is covered with copper sheets. The Sreekovil has a mukha-mandapam. The namaskaara mandapam has sixteen pillars. Nandi is installed within this mandapam. The well is at northeast of the akathe-balivattam.

The chuttambalam has entrances from all sides. The thidappali is at southeast. The sub-shrine of Lord Ganapati is at southwest facing east. The northern valiyambalam is used as koottambalam. Vilakkumaadam exists with galaxy of metal lamps. The Valiya-balikkal, is within the agra-mandapam. Dhwajam and Sila deepastambham are within the nada-panthal. The teak dhwajam is covered with copper paras (total height 16 m.). There is a sub-shrine of Lord Ganapati at southern naalambalam facing east. A deepastambham is installed at its front. The oottupura and office are at the southwest corner. The sub shrine of Lord Shastha is at southwest and within maryaada. The compound wall, made of laterite stone, takes the shape of elephant’s belly. The sub-shrine of Sree Agastya and the homa-kundham are at northwest. Close to it there is a shrine for Muneeswaran.

The temple is rich in woodcarvings depicting Kiratha story on walls and greeva of the Sreekovil. The story of Palaazhi-madhanam is depicted on the ceiling of namaskaara mandapam, which has also carvings of nava-grahas.

The main sila-linga idol of Lord Siva has a height of 91 cm. and has a sankalpam of Sree Kiratamoorthy. The other idols are also made of sila, Lord Ganapati in sitting pose (57 cm.), Lord Shastha sitting pose (45 cm.) and Sage Agastya in sitting pose (45 cm.), Sree Muneeswaran in linga form (23 cm).

The temple is kept open from 5-30 to 9-30 a.m. and from 5-30 to 8 p.m.

Five poojas are done daily,

Usha-pooja at 6 a.m.,

Ethrithu-pooja at 7-30 a.m.,

Pantheeradi-pooja at 8-30 a.m

Uccha-pooja at 9 a.m. and

Athaazha-pooja at 7-30 p.m.

Jaladhara, Sree Rudra-dhara. Mruthumjaya-homam, vedi vazhippadu, mala, pushpanjali, vella-nivedyam, Thrumadhuram, pal-payasam, nay-payasam, sharkara-payasam etc. are the main vazhipadu. Rudra-dhara, Jaladhara and Thrumadhuram are popular.

Earlier there was a festival that extended over 28 days (Dhwajadhi, Padahadhi and Ankuradhi of nine days each) after Kodiyettam on Thiruvathira nakshatram in Dhanu and concluding on Thiruvathira nakshatram of Makaram. The aarattu was then held at Kantozhinnar river near Chalakudi. Now it is held for ten days with the concluding day falling on Thiruvathira nakshatram in the month of Makaram. The aarattu is now held at the temple tank, which is called Ayyanchira. The Kodiyettam is held at around 8 p.m. Daily programmes include Sree-bali in the morning, deeparadhana, Niramaala etc. at dusk and vilakk- ezhunnellippu at night. The important item on eighth day is Valiya vilakku, Palliveta is held around 8-30 p.m. followed by fireworks at mid-night. Arattu-ezhunellath is held on the morning of the last day followed by kodikkal-para and arattu-kanji. Padakam, religious discourses, Akshara-sloka sadas, Ottam-thullal, Panchari-melam, Panchavadyam, Thayambaka,musical concerts and modern entertainments are the other items of attractions.

The great Sage Agastya consecrated the idol. The present thantris of the temple are from Tekkedath Perumbadappu, Vadakkedath Perumbadappu and Ottoor-Mekkad manas The shanthikkar are appointed from Malayala Brahmins. The other staff includes Moossad, Marar,Pisharady (garland-maker), adichu-tali, watchman and Devaswam supervisor.

Situated three km. southeast of Irinjalakuda at Pulloor junction and thence two km. south at Avittathur and thence 500 m. northeast, the temple is connected by tarred road. Facilities for stay are available at Irinjalakuda.