Kadappattoor Mahadeva Temple
Kadapatoor Mahadeva Temple is situated 3 KM from the heart of Pala. The main speciality of this temple is the idol of Lord Shiva. The stone idol of Lord Shiva is noteworthy and is unique. This is the only Shiva temple in Kerala where Lord Shiva is worshipped in a Swaroopa Vigraha (idol). In all other Shiva temples Lord is worshipped in Linga form.
The legend of Kadappattor temple is associated with Sage Gauna. According to legends the Meenachil river starts from the Kamandalu of Gauna Maharshi like the river Kaveri from Agasthya Maharshi's Kamandalu. Hence this river got the name Gauna Nadi. Gauna Maharshi filled his Kamandalu with Sapthanadi Theertham (water from the 7 holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathy, Sindhu, Narmmada, Godavari and Kaveri). A beautiful idol of Lord Subrahmanya was also kept in his kamandalu. He was eagerly waiting for the Darshan of Lord Sree Rama in his return journey to Ayodhya after killing Ravana. Sree Rama was accompanied by a large number of devotees like Vibhishana, Sugreeva, Hanuman and Angada in the Pushpaka Vimana. So Maharshi Gauna could not see Lord Sri Rama and Sita Devi properly. So the angry Gauna threw the kamandalu away and the idol of Subrahmanya Swami came out. These incidents occurred on a hill and since then the hill is known as Kudamuruttimala. This flow of water became a river and thus the present Gauna nadi was formed. Along with the flow of the water, the idol was carried away to the Vishnu temple in Kidangoor and was later installed in a new sreekovil. This is the present Kidangoor Subrahmanya Swamy Temple. So the water in Gauna river is as holy as the Sapthanadi Teertham.
Later Sree Rama and Sitha Devi gave darshan to Gauna Maharshi. Rama advised Gauna Maharshi to continue his Tapas and gave him a beautiful idol of Lord Shiva. Gauna Maharsi then started his journey along the river bank and atlast reached a beautiful village and decided to stay there. He started worshipping Lord Shiva there. The local people were his ardent devotees and they provided him all assistance for Shiva pooja. Hence Gauna Maharshi named this place as 'Kadappetta ooru'. Later Gauna Maharshi went to Shivaloka. After that this place became a great forest. This place is now famous as Kadappattor and the idol of Shiva worshipped by Gauna Maharshi is now famous as Lord Kadappattoorappa.
The emergence of Kadappattoor Mahadeva temple is a wonderful incident. After thousands of years, the idol of Shiva was discovered by a woodcutter named Madathil Paachu Nair from inside a large Athi (Country Fig - Ficus Glomerata) tree on the banks of Meenachil river on 14th July 1960 while he was cutting firewood. The day was quite unusually stormy with deafening thunder bolts. When half of the tree was cut, the tree fell to the opposite side. Pachu Nair got quite frightened and became unconscious as the tree fell to one side and the stone idol of Lord Shiva appeared from that. The news of the appearance of a beautiful Shiva idol from the tree spread like wildfire through central Travancore and people flocked to see the idol. Later a temple came up with the efforts of Bhaktas. Initially the temple had a unique architecture resembling North Indian temples. Gradually Kadappattoor has become an important pilgrimage center in Kottayam district.
The Devaprasnam conducted in the temple revealed that Lord Mahadeva is unsatisfied with the architecture of the temple. Hence the temple authorities decided to renovate the temple and consulted Brahmasree Kanippayyoor Krishnan Nampoothirippad to remodel the temple structure. The renovation works were completed in 2006 and Naveekarana kalasam was performed in March. Now the temple has a three storied big rectangular sreekovil with copper covered pyramidal roof and golden thazhikakkudam. The sreekovil walls are decorated with sculptures. The namaskaramandapam also has a copper covered pyramidal roof and golden thazhikakkudam.
Location
Pala
Main Deity
Lord Siva
Other Deities
Lord Ayyappa, Lord Ganesha, Bhadrakali, Brahma Rakshass & Naga Deities
Festivals
July 14 is celebrated as Vigraha Darsana Dinam, The ten day long annual festival is in Meenam (March - April) & maha Sivarathri.
Main Offerings
Dhara, Rudrabhishekam, Bhasmabhishekam, Sahasranamarchana, Ashtothararchana, Aravana, Kadumpayasam, Vella Nivedyam, Kalabhamcharthu, Koovalamala and Vedi vazhipadu.
How To Reach
By Air: Cochin International Airport is 72.2 KM from the Temple.
By Rail: Ettumanoor Railway Station is 16.5 KM from the Temple.
By Road: Pala KSRTC Bus station is 2.6 KM from the Temple.