Sree Siva Temple, Thodikkalam

Datable to very ancient period, the temple was administered for a long time by the Pazhassi kovilakam. The place is associated with the legendary King Harischandra. Lord Siva pleased with his honesty presented a Siva-linga to him for installation at an appropriate place. Harischandra set on a pilgrimage and visited many places. When he reached here he saw Lord Siva dancing at a Chudala Kalam (cremation ground). Feeling that it is the most suitable site having divine presence he installed the idol at this site. In course of time and by usage the name of the place (Chudalakkalam) became Thodikkalam

The temple was re-built about five centuries back as an atonement by a Tamil Brahmin belonging to Maayavaram of Tamil Nadu. The reason stated for the re-building of the temple is that an astrologer predicted that his only son would die of snake-bite. The Brahmin decided to seek the blessings of Lord Siva and visited many temples but his inner consciousness directed him to proceed further. Ultimately he reached this temple. He experienced the immaculate powers of this deity and decided to have bhajanam here. Both the Brahmin and his son started bhajanam by sitting at the namaskaara-mandapam. On the predicted day of snake-bite, i.e. on a Chaturthi-day they saw a long snake with raised hood approaching them from a nearby hill. With great fear and anxiety the boy rushed to the garbha gruham and embraced the idol, an act reminiscent of the legend of Sree Markandeya Maharshi. Suddenly a black fierce serpent came out from the central point on the top of the Siva-linga and killed the approaching snake. The serpent then proceeded to Maaloor (in Sivapuram village) and disappeared. A termitary grew at the place of disappearence of the serpent. In expression of gratitude and relief the Brahmin purchased a large tract of land in Maaloor desam and donated it to this temple. This area, known as Maaloor padi, is still associated with the rites of Ashtami-utsava of the Thodikkalam temple. Since the snake came from the hill on a Chaturthi-day the hill is now known as Chaturthi kunnu

Later, being a large hilly tract the Thodikkalam became the hide-out of Pazhassi raja for sometime but fearing the destruction of the temple by the British forces, who were after his head, he shifted the centre of his activity from Thodikkalam to Manathana. This timely act of Pazhassi raja saved the celebrated pagoda from ravage.

The administration of the temple was subsequently vested with one Moosad family who managed the temple for a short period. The HR&CE Department took over the control of the temple in 1966 and it is now managed through a Trustee Board. The Executive Officer attends to the daily affairs of the temple. Now the temple has been declared as an archaeological monument by the Government of India.

The temple owns two acres of land of which one acre constitutes the temple complex. The structures thereon are Sreekovil, sub-shrines, namaskaara mandapam, chuttambalam, valiya-balikkal, wells, temple-pond and agrashaala. Except the tank at the front the temple premises are on an elevated terrace having eighteen laterite steps from the front (east). The square dwi-thala Sreekovil of sandhaara type and facing east has laterite adhishthaanam and walls and copper-plate covered roof. The mouldings of adhishthaanam built over an upa-peetham are paadukam, jagathi,vrutha kumudam, kumuda-padi, kampam,galam, gala-padi, kampam, galam, gala-padi, valaru and padi. The laterite adhishthaanam has been plastered with cement up to the level of kumudam and with lime above it. The granite sopanam has six direct steps. The banisters on sides (also of granite) have full vyaali-figurines. The pranaalam, made of granite, has vyaali mukham at the base and simplified sundu but it is in a slightly slanting positon supported on a pillar. The walls have twelve pillars, three ghanadwaaras, besides the main functional door at the east. There are niches, exquisite carvings and mural paintings on the walls of the Sreekovil. The roof of the Sreekovil was renovated in 1998 at a cost of Rupees ten lakhs by the Archeological Survey of India. A sub-shrine of Lord Ganapathi, facing east, is attached to the southern side of the Sreekovil. The namaskaara mandapam built in 1991 over sixteen round pillars (four at the inner and twelve at the outer row), has concrete roof. Nandi is installed at the namaskara-mandapam. The well is positioned at the north-east of the temple.

The chuttambalam has entrance only at the east. Except the thidappali at south-east, and two sub-shrines (at south-west for Swami and at north-west for Lord Ayyappa). the chuttambalam is in ruins. The inner walls of chuttambalam do not exist now. The ruined laterite Valiya balikkal is a detached structure and outside the chuttambalam. The pradakshina paths is made of laterite having a width of one metre with a slight curved surface. The agrashaala is at north-east with a detached well for its use at its western side. The sub-shrine of Nagas is outside the dilapidated maryaada. On the eastern side there is an excellent tank having flight of steps from all sides. The spring in the tank and the provision made to drain the polluted water in it to the nearby Kannavam river help to have crystal clear water in the tank in all seasons.

The stone carvings on the walls of Sreekovil depict figurines of Rishis and Devas taken from the episodes of Ramayana and Sreemad Bhagavatham. There are ashta-shilpas on the walls i.e. Siva-Sakthi on the east. Radha-Krishna on the south,Vettakkorumakan on the west and figurines of Kiratha on the north.

The temple is famous for its exquisite mural paintings which date back to the medieval period. They extent to an area of about 700 sq.ft spread over 40 panels and about 150 pictures. On the eastern wall of the Sreekovil (ie. on the southern side of sopanam) the thandava nrutha/ Tandava dance of Sree Nataraja witnessed by Nandikeswara, Ekaadasa Rudras, Dwaadasa-Aadithyas, Sree Aghora moorthy etc. are painted. On the northern side of the sopanam (on the eastern wall) one can see mural paintings of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and a Raaja (presumably Kottayam raja).

On the southern-side the paintings relate to Sree Dakshinamoorthy, Sree Aghora-Sivan, Sree Rukmini playing with ball, Rukmini-swayamvaram,Sree Krishna, Sree Balarama,Sree Sudhamav (Kuchela) meeting Sree Krishna, Sree Veeraraghavan, Lord Ganapathi, Ganapathi-prathal, Lord Sastha. Sree Sankaracharya, Sree Harischandra Perumal etc. besides depicting rural life of the people, their dresses etc.

On the western side of the Sreekovil the paintings are based on Ramayana. Dasaratha and his consorts, Sree Rama,Goddess Seetha, Sree Lakshmana, sages, Sree Hanuman etc and the war with Ravana are depicted on the wall of the Sreekovil. Motifs of Devathas are painted on the northern wall.

The main idol of Lord Siva is of sila-linga type with a height of 60 cm. At the central point on the top of the Siva linga there is a small scar which substantiates the legend of the serpent which came out to save the son of the Brahmin from snake-bite. The idols of Lord Ganapathi and Lord Ayyappa are in sitting-poses with heights of 27 cm. and 33 cm. respectively. There is an idol of Brahmarakshas (known as Swami) in the form of mirror type (27 cm.) made of sila. The Swami, is none other than the Brahmin who spent his last days at this temple when the Lord saved his son from snake-bite and who re-built the temple.

The temple is kept open from 5:30 AM. to 12 noon and from 5 to 8 PM. The main poojas are
usha pooja at 6 AM
Uccha pooja at 9-30 AM
Athazha Pooja at 7:30 PM.
No Sree-ball is done daily at present. On Sivaraathri day, Uccha-pooja is held at 11 AM.

The main vazhippadu are rudraabhishekam, Sharkara-payasam. Panchaamrutham, Sankhaabhishekam, mruthyunjaya-homam, Ganapathi-homam and pushpanjali. Of these, mruthyunjaya-homam and Sankhaabhishekam are very popular.

Sivarathri and Ashtami (in Vrischikam) are celebrated. On Sivarathri day, niramala-vilakku is held. Ilaneer abhishekam on Ashtami festival held for two days (Sapthami and Ashtami) is important. The elaneer is taken in procession from the Maaloor-padi (the land donated by the Tamil Brahmin about five centuries ago) at 1 PM. on the Sapthami-day and the abhishekam done on the next day. Neyyabhishekam is done at 11 AM on Ashtami-day followed by ilaneer abhishekam at 11-30 AM. At 2-30 PM. there is a ritual known as kalasam-varavu i.e. bringing of kalasam from the Sree Kannirakkunnu Bhagavathi temple. In the evening of Ashtami-day sreebhoothabali, panchavaadyam, thidambu-nrutham and thayambaka are held besides ottam-thullal and religious discourses.

It is believed that Harischandra (a king of Soorya vamsa and blessed by Thrimoorthis for his renowned honesty) installed the idol of Lord Siva at this site. The present thantri belongs to Nanthayaarvalli illam of Chalakkudi. (Thrissur district). The mel-shanthi is appointed from Malayala Brahmins. The other paid staff includes a kazhakam and a clerk.

Situated 10 km. north-east of Koothuparambu at Thodikkalam on Kannavam-Itumba road (near the Primary Health Centre). The temple is connected by tarred road. The distance from Thalasseri is 24 km.and the route is via Kannavam-Itumba. The Kannavam river flows about 250 m south of this temple. Facilities for stay are available at Koothuparambu and Thalasseri.