Kottarakkara Chandrasekharan
This temple elephant was to Travancore what Guruvayoor Kesavan was to central and northern Kerala. The pachyderm was of immense size with huge tusks and was said to be a treat to watch when bedecked for temple festivals. His presence was a must for festivals of temples of Travancore. He also won the admiration of the royals of Travancore, especially, King Swathy Thirunaal.
Captured as a calf from a trap pit on the border of Travancore and Cochin in the Sahya hills circa 1758 C.E, he was in the custody of king of Cochin. The tiny elephant was 'sneaked' out to Travancore by the bureaucrats of King Karthika Thirunaal and christened Chandrashekharan after the main deity of Kizhakkinkara (Ganapathy) temple. He was gifted to the same temple in 1773, C.E, as per a decision taken earlier. There are a number of interesting stories about the elephant.
Chandrashekharan is credited with the killing of a rogue wild tusker that had killed a number of people and was a threat to people around Aryankaavu. The tusks of the rogue elephant were carried to the King of Travancore by the local administrator travelling atop Chandrashekharan.
A small boy who had stoned Chandrashekharan was paid back in the same 'stone' when Chandrashekharan found the assailant after about 40 years in Trivandrum while taking part in a temple procession near Shankhumukham. People believe that the elephant was keeping the stone the boy had thrown in its mouth, removing it only while eating and drinking. The elephant threw the stone immediately on identifying his old 'enemy', now a middle aged man, in the crowd. The stone injured his leg seriously. The unusually heavy stone was broken before King Swathi Thirunaal in the presence of the victim who was a daily wage earner from Kallada. Out came a gem and a dumbstruck but pleased king ordered the victim be treated at state's expense and also sanctioned a monthly pension of Rupees 25 to the man. The stone was cut and polished and fixed on one of the golden necklaces of the king. He used to wear the ornament on certain special occasions.
Exaggerations apart, Chandrashekharan's majestic looks, brilliance and amiability made him part of folklore. Having lived nearly 100 years, he breathed his last in 1852, C.E.
Mahadeva Temple (Padinjattinkara)
Royals belonging to Ilayidthu Swaroopam were said to be devotees of Shiva. The family patronized the Shiva temple at Padinjattinkara (western suburb), not far from the Ganapathy temple. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that it found a place in the ancient list of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala.
Kottarakkara Goshala: The temple had a cowshed (goshala, ?????) built probably 250–300 years ago by a Brahmin called Parambil Namboothiri (full name not available) from Malabar. When the Brahmin was born, astrologers forecast he would die of snake bite at a young age. He set for Kottarakara Shiva temple for prayers to ward of the disaster and his prayers were answered when the cobra that appeared to bite him on the 40th day of his stay was killed by a kite. The kite dropped the dead snake in the temple compound, near the southern boundary wall. The Brahmin thanked the lord by constructing a cowshed in stone (black granite) at the place where the dead snake was dropped by the kite. It was said that even the roof of the cowshed was made of rock. Towards the end of 19th century,C.E, it fell into a state of disrepair. Kottarathil Shankunni (1855–1935), author of Aithihyamala, mentions of a dignitary visiting the temple to see it in 1917. Strangely, he does not specify whether this was in Kizhakkinkara temple or Padinjattinkara temple. But elders recount that there was some stone structure on the southern side of the Padinjattinkara temple and that it was demolished for constructing a building. This kind of neglect and lack of respect for heritage structures has been rife in Kerala since time immemorial.
Pattazhy Devi Temple
Pattazhy iPattazhy is a beautiful temple village situated in Pathanapuram Taluk of Kollam District in Kerala. The land of Pattazhy comprising two panchayat areas (Pattazhy and Pattazhy vadakekara) was given as a gift to Pattazhy Devi by the King of Travancore for the help and shelter given during the fierce battle against the king of Kayamkulam. The place is highly gifted with its natural beauty. The green hills and valleys, the river Kallada and sky high rocks are an added attraction. Pattazhy also got a place in the Guinness Book of world records for the 'Longest bamboo'. Pattazhy Devi Kshetra Samrakshana Samithi registered in 1971 has been working successfully aiming at the cultural, social and spiritual development of the people and also for the preservation of the historic temple and its traditions. Pattazhy is a blessed place having the peace and tranquility of Devi' s divine presence. The atmosphere is pleasant with the abundance of flora and fauna with a heavenly texture filled with chirping of birds and musical symphony of river Kallada, giving a celestial experience.
The first syllable of the word Pattazhy (Patt) means soft and it represents the compassion and affection of Devi to her beloved devotees. The second part Aazhy means ocean which represents the depth of Devi's grace. The name Pattazhy was also derived from the word Bhattarika which means a virtuous and pious woman.
Mannady Temple
About the origin of this merciful and graceful Mannady Devi, certain legends are prevailing. According to one version this Bhagavathy is a ‘SELF APPEARED’ goddess to redress grievances of the pious believers. According to one of the legends, an old lady in order to cutgrass from the premises of the temple, sharpened her sickle ( arival ) by rubbing it against a stone. Suddenly blood started oozing out of the stone. Hearing her loud cry the residents of the locality rushed to the place and were also witness to this unique incident.
One among them suggested that, the flow may be terminated by beating the sand with power at the stone from which blood was oozing. By doing so, the flow of blood stopped. The sand was the material used for stopping the flow and beating was the mode of method used for it. Hence a new word originated by using sand – beat. Later this place has been given the meaning derived from the two words, sand-beat- in Malayalam Mannady. It became a Desam of the earstwhile Travancore.
Pallickal Devi Temple
This temple is situated at the side of this Mannadi road 2 k.m away from the Kottarakkara Mahaganpathi temple. It is thousands of years old.
Jagadambika (The Mother Goddess) has her presence over here in a virtuous and philosophic form as an embodiment of love and prosperity.
It is learned from records that the Velu Thampi Dalava had visited this temple with his younger brother Thampi during his days of exile.
The other adjoining temples of ‘Bhuthathan’, ‘Yekshiyamma’, ‘Nagathan’, ‘Uthayan thampuran etc.’
Kulashekaranellor Sree Krishna Swami Temple
The temple is under THIRUVITHAMKOOR DEVASWAM BOARD. BALAGOPALAM is the main deity. The main festival is ‘Janmashtami Rohini’. Milk porridge (Palaphishekham) the wholy basil plant garland (Thulasimala) thirumaduram (A mixture of honey, sugar and banana) flowers etc are the main offerings. History records that temple celebrations were organized by the REVATHY THIRUNAL THAMPURAN of Kottarakkara Dynasty in 997 AD.
The Temple advisory board conducts ‘Kulashekhara’ nellor matha padasala (Religious School). The sat seva samithy is also making an awareness of cultural direction in the students. The kulashekharanelloor Devi temple, which has the presence of ‘Jagathamba’ and owned by kottarakkara east N.S.S branch is, situated near by. The festivals of ‘navaka puja’ and ‘ponkala’of this temple famous. The Kottarakkara Mahaganapati temple is under the kulashekharanelloor group of Travancore Devaswam Board.
Trikkannamangal Sree Krishna Swami Temple
The idol of Mahavishnu is erected facing westword and ‘Garuda’ facing it from the opposite. The kulashyva brahmins settled here following the tussle between the Elayidath dynasty and Ettyapuram Lords. At present it is under the Thiruvithamkoor Devasom Board taken from the Kadalaymana Thampurans who owned a number of temples.
The NagaRaja idol of this temple is famous. The Ayilya puja in the month of ‘Kanni’ attracts thousands of devotees. All the usual cerimonial rites are also offered at the doors of temples of Mahaganapathi, Mahadevar, Manikandaswami, Mada swami.
The festival of this temple is celebrated on the ‘Utram’ in the month pf ‘Medam’. The peculiar practice of offering food of the deity is also famous. The other special offerings are payasam, Unniyappam and Noorum Palum. The first fruit is also offered.
The Muthumari Ammankovil
Mutharamman Devasthanam Trust is looking after the temple. ‘Bhadrha Kali’ is dwelling here in the form of Durga. The history of then temple is associated with ancient Viswakarma families of Mannadi, Varoor, Krishnan Achary and Pettayil veedu of Kottarakkara.
As per the order of kottarakkara Thampuran some Viswakarmajers from Petta, Tamil Nadu came here for the construction work of places and temples, under the supervision of Thiruvithamkoor Rajas. The Petta family was in charges of Padinjattimkara Temple pillar works and the decoration works of Temples, places, crowns, robs and ornaments were entrusted with the Mannadi Pattoor family. The temple was constructed at the side of the dense grove; ‘Kavu’ owned by ‘Mutharu’ family as a result of a dream vision.
Payasam, lighting lamps are the main offerings. Temples of sree Mahaganapathi, Mohave Subramanian Swami, Made swami, Yoogeshwaran, marutha etc are also errected here. ‘Amman Charitha vilpattu’ is the main item of programme in the festival. A group of artists from Nagarcovil perform this programme.
The Thiru Utsava Kettukazhchakal of Kottarakkara Mahaganapathi Temple Stars from this Muthumariyamman Kovil.
Chirakadavu Devi Temple
The Goddess Kodungalloor Amma’s presence in the form of bhadra is present here. The Devi gives all her blessings in eight ways. The place is surrounded lay dense groves and large pond. The place has an environmental importance and is more enlightened and blessed with presence of Devi. It is believed that the offerings of traditional lamps and pearl rimmed umbrellas would bring more auspicious blessings to the devotees.
The deities of Mahaganapathi, Brahma rakshas, Yakshiyamma, yogeshwaran, Marutha, Bhoothathan etc are also consecrated here.
Kumbha Bharani. Navarathri, idol Consecration anniversary etc are properly celebrated.
Neeleshwara Sree Dharma Sastha-Mahadevan Temple
In this sacred temple one would be blessed both by Sree Parameshwaran and Sree Aiyyappan. Early the place was named as Neelakadeshwaram ‘Neelakanda’ the Mahadevan who had swallowed the first out come ’Kalakuda’ deadly poison that came out during the churning of the ‘sea of Milk’. Later the name was changed it Neeleshwaram. Thiru utsava and Mandala Chirappu are the main festivals. The ‘aazhi puja’ worship of the fire pit is also conducted.
Kalarvattathu Kiratha Moorthi Temple
Sree Parameshwara blessed Arjuna with ‘Pashupatham’ a missile of shine disguised as a barbarian. The idol is believed to comply with this supposition. Once this place was a dense grove supposed to be the dwelling of ‘Made swami’. But through an astrological enquiry it was revealed that a proper temples for the Kirath moorthy is to be erected here and daily offerings and relates are to be served.
Neduvathur Pattu Purackal Sree Dharmasatha Temple
The main deity in this temple is sree Dharma Shasta. There are other deities Devi, Yekshiyamma, Brahmarakshassu, Madaswami, Bhoothathan, Nagaraja, Naga yekshi etc. The festival of this temple is celebrated on the day of ‘Uthram’ in the month of ‘Meenam‘.