Akkare Kottiyoor
Kottiyoor Temple
is a prominent Shiva temple in Kerala. Vadakkeshwaram Temple is the common name of the temple from ancient time, but some of the local people addresses the temple as Ikkare Kottiyoor as it is on the bank of the river close to the Kottiyoor village; to differentiate it from the shrine in the other side of the river. Thruchherumana Kshetram is the proper name of Kottiyoor temple. The temple is a special category temple under Malabar Devaswom board. There are two temples in Kottiyoor one on the western bank of the Bavali river - and the other one on the eastern bank of the Bavali river. The shrine on the east bank (Kizhakkeshwaram or Akkare Kottiyoor) is a temporary hermitage (Yaga shrine) opened only during the Vysakha festival. The Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kottiyoor (The Thruchherumana Temple) on the western bank of the river is a permanent temple complex like all other temples. It remains closed throughout the year except for the 27 days of Vysakha.
Akkare Kottiyoor
Arjun MV Gayathri Anthey Gopika Hari Riya Francis
About Kottiyoor Temple is one of
the oldest hindu pilgrimage spot in the planet. The temple is located in southern India, north part of Kerala state. Kottiyoor Temple situated on the beautiful Sahya mountain range valley and is blessed with abundant natural beauty. At Kottiyoor, there are two temples - Akkare Kottiyur and Ikkare Kottiyur, located on the opposite banks of Bavali river. Akkare Kottiyur is open during the Kottiyoor Vaisakha Maholsavam festival only.As per calculations the, area needed for construction of a temple would be impossible to construct an edifice of this magnitude. Hence, even today the temple exists several small temples, almost 72 numbers. Every person connected with temple activities resides within this boundary. In the middle of the circular water pond, is a semicircular raised “Thara” – the Manithara. The site of “Swayambhoo” has water surrounding it, called ‘Thiruvanchira’ ; A devotee standing east and facing west, while praying at the Manithara , the circular ‘thara’, seen to the left is ‘Ammarakal Thara’, the place of Sati’s suicide. It is believed, Thiruvanchira is the blood scattered during Virabhadran’s destruction of the Yaga.
The shelter created for the Yaga, has given place to the thatched hutments seen today. Priests as well as temple authorities stay in such huts. More over "Koothambalam, Kalavara, Ocher, Ullattu manushyar, KudipathikaMooshari, Kollen, Kurichiyan", have different sheds today. Places in this area are named reflecting the mental and physical conditions; Sati Devi went through on her passage to the “Yagashala”. The place where she felt the pangs of separation from her beloved is "Manathana", when tears poured out, the place became "kanneer char", Feeling tired, she rested- at “Aayothumchal”. An ox provided for the tired Devi to ride on became “Kelakam”. Noise emanating from ‘Yagashala’ made her stretch out to have a glimpse is now “Neendunokki”. The place of taxation - “Chungakunnu”. Where she walked slowly became “Mandhemcheri”. The place where she fell down ,tired ,is “Murchilakadu”. Sword which decapitated Dakshan, thrown on the ground is “Mutherikavu”. Stone hearths used for boiling milk be known as “palukachiyamala”.Anyway “Kottiyoor” remains as the place where Sati Devi, Shiva and other holy men once came together.W
Mythology Kottiyoor temple, situated on
sahyaadri mountains, also known 'Dekshina Kaasi’ belived to be the place where 'Daksha yaaga' conducted. Daksha was one of the Prajapathi, son of Brahma Deva. Sati Devi, the youngest daughter of Daksha was in love with Lord Siva and she married Siva without Daksha’s wish permission. Once Daksha held a huge yaaga and he did not invite his daughter Sathi and son in low Loard Siva. Sathi went to attend yaaga inspite of warning from Lord Siva. When Devi Sathi reach 'yaagasala' (yaaga premises) Daksha started to insult her. The shameless insult and humiliation became too unbearable for Sathi and she immolated herself in the 'yaagagni' (yaaga fire) Hearing this tragic incident, Loard Siva infuriated and beat his matted hair on the ground.From that impact two deities called Veerabadra and Badrakali emerged. Lord Siva ordered them to kill Daksha and destroy the yaaga. Veerabadra and Badrakaali reach ‘yaagasaala’ and they disrupted and destroyed yaga surroundings. Veerabdra killed Daksha. Loard Brahma and Loard Vishnu approached Loard Siva and prayed shed his anger. Siva became calm and agreed to restore Daksha’s life for yaaga completion. As his head could not be traced, head of a lamb was fixed on Daksha’s body and he was revived. By the grace of Loard Siva Daksha completed his yaaga. The site of this yaaga was subsequently covered with dense forest. Centuries later hill tribes called Kurichyas were hunting deer
in this forest area and he was sharpening his arrow on a stone, suddenly blood oozed out. This strange phenomenon confused the hill tribes and they reported incident to nearby Padingitta Namboothiri’s illam.. The Namboothiri well-versed in tantric lore got an intuition that an idol is lying at a particular spot. Namboothiri told Kurichyas to inform four prominent Nair families in Manathana village. Kurichyas reach Manathana and informed KulangarayathKarimbanakkal chathoth and Thittayil families. All four members of Nair family and
All four members of Nair family and Padingitta Namboothiri went to the spot where incident happen. Great surprise they found bleeding stone in the forest. Ablutions with water, ghee and milk could not control the blood flow and finally tender coconut water stopped the blood. On consultation with astrologer they come to know that it is a holy land where Daksha conducted his yaaga and bleeding stone was a ‘swayambu idol’. It is belived that Lord Siva took form of ‘swayambu ’ next to where Devi Sathiimmolated herself in the ‘yaagagni’.
On consultation with astrologer they come to know that it is a holy land where Daksha conducted his yaaga and bleeding stone was a ‘swayambu idol’. It is belived that Lord Siva took form of ‘swayambu ’ next to where Devi Sathi immolated herself in the ‘yaagagni’. The place where swayambu idol was found is known as ‘Akkare Kottyoor’. “Akkare Kottiyoor” is opened only during the Vyskha Mahotsavam. ‘Ikkare Kottiyoor’ is nalukettu temple complex where regular poojas happening.
Rituals Vaisakha Maholsavam
celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held. Present day rituals of Kottiyoor were set out by Sri Shankaracharya. With his spiritual vision, he felt the presence of Shiva at 'Akkare Kottiyoor' and not willing to pollute the holy ground with the touch of his feet, prayed from 'Ekkare Kottiyoor' and left.The Vaisakha Maholsavam festival is held every year during the months of May - June. The twenty eight day festival commences with the 'Neyyattam' ritual on the 'chodi' Day in Edavam and concludes with the Thrikkalashaattu. The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held. Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor.An important ritual during the festival is the ‘Elaneer Vayppu’ or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga. On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple who pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as ‘Elaneeraattam’.
Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual. The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati. As a part of the festival, a procession (Ezhunnallippu) is held with two elephants carrying the idols of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. After the procession, the elephants are fed well (Aanayootu) and given a formal farewell.
Clay Model of Akkare Kottiyoor
Process