Sasthamangalam Mahadevar Temple
An ancient Hindu temple in the Sasthamangalam ward of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Kerala State, India. It is located on top of a hill away from the city centre to promote the spiritual tranquility of the shrine. The temple is more than 700 years old according to the available records and was regularly visited by the Kings of Travancore.
Legend has it that when the site of the temple was still grassland, a woman cutting grass sharpened her knife on a rock lying on the ground, and the rock bled. On further investigation it was confirmed that the piece of stone was a shiva lingam and it was consecrated. The temple was constructed round the spot in due course.
A unique feature of the temple is that, in most of the Shiva temples such as Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, going round the sanctum (Sree kovil) is not allowed: the custom is to finish three quarters of the pradakshinam (circumambulation) and then to return and start from the beginning. (This is because crossing the passage of the holy water somasootham is not allowed). In this temple, however, as a practice followed from the early days and found by astrological consultation (deva prasnam) not to be wrong, the full pradakshinam is allowed.
Even though there is no murthi or shrine for Devi Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva, the belief is that the presence of Devi Parvathi is also there, as stated in an ancient poem which is recited in this temple.
Location
Sasthamangalam
Main Deity
Lord Shiva
Other Deities
Lord Ganesh, Lord Karthikaya and Lord Aiyappa
Festivals
The main annual temple festival is on the Thiruvathira Star Day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (in December–January according to the western calendar).
Main Offerings
Anointing the deity with water, rosewater, milk, tender coconut water & ghee, Koovalam Leaf Garland, Annadanam on Festive days, Payasam, Muzhukappu (adorning the deities with sandalwood paste), Ganapathi Homam, Mrityunjaya Homam (fire rituals), Archana.
How To Reach
By Air: Trivandrum International Airport is situated at 6.6KM from the temple.
By Rail: Trivandrum Central Railway Station is 5.5KM from the Temple.
By Road: Trivandrum KSRTC Bus Station is 9.3KM from the Temple.