Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple
Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kadakkal, Kollam, Kerala, India. It contains the largest cult image of 'Dharma Sastha', an epithet of Lord Ayyappan.
During the Pandava’s expulsion into forest, Arjuna wandered the forest and did penance to Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, while resting he fell asleep on a rock. As he woke up and continued his journey, a bird flew around him and chirped. Astonished at the chirp of the bird, he meditated. After his meditation, he followed its path. The bird flew every day until one day, it reached a valley. The bird finally sat on a tree as high as the sky. Arjuna reached the place where the bird chirped. It was a big tree called “Kilimaram”. The bird gazed at the face of Arjuna all the while chirping & sitting on the branch of the tree. Arjuna had a feeling that bird was talking to him, saying this is the place where you can have your ascension. The bird suddenly plucked 3 leaves from the nearby “Koovalam” tree and put it there. Arjuna felt like he was asked to do ascension for Lord Shiva. Arjuna commenced his ascension as he sat by the tree the bird was sitting. Thus, the place came to be known as “Kilimarathil Kavu” and later to “Kilimarathukavu”.
Arjuna always took bath in pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva Lingam stone found there. As time went by, Arjuna’s penance became severe. On Goddess Parvati’s request, Lord Shiva came to Arjuna as a wild man and Parvathi as a wild woman. This time a monster sent by Duryodhana came to kill Arjuna. The monster took the shape of pig. Lord Siva saw this and pointed his bow and arrow at the pig protect Arjuna. At the same time Arjuna sensed danger and took aim at the Pig with his bow and arrow. Both of them shot the pig at the same time. Arjuna and Lord Shiva started an argument on who hit the pig first. Arjuna started to beat the Lord Siva (wild man) with “Gandeevaam” (bow of Arjuna). Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva stopped it and explained who the wild man was. Hearing this Arjuna did sashtanka namaskar and Lord Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave Arjuna his blessings. Lord Shiva told Arjuna, the place where they were standing has become sacred and whoever came there for prayer should be blessed. Lord Shiva disappeared after saying this and a Shivalingam appeared itself on the same place.
Even today two Shivalingam are worshiped: Shiva and Mahanadan. Mahanadan is one of Lord Shiva’s form who is very powerful. He is usually worshipped in the aniconic form of lingam. The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent around his neck. Mahanadan deity is very special since the lingam has serpent embossed on the surface. He is very special in the geography of the deity’s location where shrine is facing the temple pond and the construction the temple is with open roof which makes the deity exposed to rain and sun light.
Location
Kadakkal
Main Deity
Lord Siva & Goddess Parvathy
Other Deities
Lord Murugan, Lord Shastha, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganapthi, Nagathara (Nag's Ground) and Navagraha.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri on kumbham Malayalam calendar. Navaratri on kanni Malayalam calendar. Skandha Shashti on thulam Malayalam calendar. Mandalapooja Makaravilakku on vrischikam Malayalam calendar. Hanuman Jayanti on Medam Malayalam calendar.
Main Offerings
Milk & Rose water (During Mathru Pooja), Aushadha Kanji, Koovala Mala, Neeranjanam.
How To Reach
By Air:Trivandrum International Airport is situated at 51.6 KM from the temple.
By Rail: Kollam Railway Station is 48.1 KM from the Temple.
By Road: Kilimanoor KSRTC Bus Depot is 11.6 KM from the Temple.