Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple in Kandiyoor

MAHADEVA TEMPLE

Kandiyoor, Alappuzha, Kerala, India

God

Sree Mahadeva is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Here deity is facing in East direction and installed by Rishi Markandeya.

Interesting Facts

Kandiyoor was once the capital of the Odanadu kingdom. The temple and region are related to the history of ancient Buddhism in Kerala.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (35°C during day and 22°C during night)Average - May (32°C during the day and 23°C during night)Lowest - October to February (29°C during day and 23°C during night)Monsoon season - July to September

Dress Code

For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.

Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name	Distance	Contact Number
Mavelikara Bus Stand	1.6 KM	0479-2302282
Mavelikara Railway Station	1.6 KM	0479-2302249
Cochin International Airport	123 KM	04840-2610115

Railway Station Name	Distance	Contact Number
Mavelikara Railway Station	1.6 KM	0479-2302249

Airport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Cochin International Airport	123 KM	04840-2610115

Architecture

Mahadeva Temple Gopuram bottom tier is Oval in shape while the top tier is rectangular, there is a 10 feet (3.0 m) Gajaprishta style wall that is believed to have been constructed by Shiva's Bhothaganas and has a Golden Dhwaja Stambham. This temple was constructed in Kerala style of architecture and has a temple pond. This temple was built with brick and wood.

Temple Walls : An unusual compound wall of Gajaprishta style (Back of the elephent) of architecture which height about 10 feet is believed to be constructed by Bhothaganas of lord Siva in a single night. According to this myth the walls of the near by Chengannur Mahadeva temple and Mannar Kuratty Mahadeva temple are constructed in the similar way. Bhoothaganas could not complete the construction of wall of Chenannur Mahadeva temple and is remaining as such leaving a small portion.

Inscriptions : The Kandiyoor inscription (C.E.393) dated 1218 says that Kandiyoor temple was reconstructed by Rama Kotha Varma of Odanad and the Kalasam ceremony was attended by Devadicci Unni wife of Ravi Kerala Varma King of Venad after deliberations between the three.

Religious Significance

Many stories and legends are associated with the temple. It is said that Rishi Markandeya, the son of Rishi Mrikandu got an idol of Lord Shiva in the form of Kirathamoorthy, while bathing in the holy river Ganges. He heard a divine voice directing him to place the idol in a befitting place. The sage started his search for an ideal place to consecrate the idol and ended up in Kandiyoor which was on the banks of river Achankovil. He felt that the place was perfect and thus established the temple there. The name Kandiyoor is a colloquial form of “Kandathil nalla uru” which literally means the “best place seen so far”.

According to another legend, the temple is situated at the site where Lord Shiva is said to have beheaded Lord Brahma. The name Kandiyoor is derived from the name Sri Kantan, which denotes Lord Shiva. Lord Parasurama is believed to have renovated the temple and had given the tanthrik rights to the Tharananallur family.

History

Sree Mahadeva temple was built in 823 A.D. by Cheraman Perumal Nayanar Rajasekara Varman and Lord Parasurama renovated the temple and gave tanthrik rights to tharananallur family.

Temple Timings

Day	Timings
All Days	05:30 AM - 08:00 PM

Tours

Airports

Airport Name	Distance
Shamshabad	40 KM
Lorem Ipsum	12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name	Distance
Secunderabad	10 KM
Nampally	12 KM
Begumpet	6 KM
Lingampally	20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name	Distance
MGBS	35 KM
CBS	28 KM
kukatpally	20 KM
Lingampally	30 KM
Uppal	35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name	Distance	Contact Number
Private Transport	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757
Private Transport1	8 KM	9546858757