Legend of Kandiyoor Mahadeva Temple

An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located on the banks of Achankovil River in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara is considered one among the 108 Shiva temples consecrated by Lord Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu to protect the land of Kerala, which he had recovered from the sea.

There are many legends associated with the origin of this temple and the most popular one is of Saint Mrikandu, father of Markandeya. Once, the saint was taking in the holy rivers of Ganges and there he got an attractive idol of Lord Shiva in the form of Kiratha Murthy (As a tribal warrior). As he took hold of the idol, he heard a heavenly voice saying him to take the idol to a serene place and consecrate it.

Believing those words are from Lord Shiva, the Saint started his journey in search of a suitable place. Finally, he reached in Kerala, near the banks of Achankovil River, and the place found to be the ideal one. He consecrated the idol there. That being the best place among many places seen by him, it came to be known as “Kandathil Nall Ooru” which means the best place among the places seen in the local language Malayalam and later it became Kandiyoor.

Another legend says that it was the place where Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Brahma and hence the name “Kandiyu” came after one of the many names of Lord Shiva, “Sri Kandan”. Later, Lord Parasurama found the idol there and consecrated it after constructing the temple. It was he who gave the tantric rights to Tharananallur Illam.

A group of historians claims that the temple belonged to Hinayana sect of Buddhists and the King of Mavelikkara ordered to remove the Buddha from the temple and to consecrate Shiva idol there. They are of the opinion that the Buddha idol, which has been found in the nearby paddy fields years before and that has been installed near the temple was the original deity installed inside the temple.

Kandiyoor Temple is believed to be a Devadasi Temple. In other words, the Devadasi system has been practiced here. According to a 14th century Sanskrit Text "Shiva Vilasam", written by Damodara Chakyar, then king of Odanadu, Kerala Varma married a devadasi woman Cherukara Kuttathi, who used to reside in this temple. There are mentions of some other devadasis also in this text.

The temple has great significance in the history of Kerala. Before the present Malayalam calendar “Kollavarsham” has introduced it was Kandiyoorabdam was used in Kerala. This started from the date of the consecration of the idol in the temple.

Kandiyur was the capital of the erstwhile Odanadu dynasty. Later it has been conquered by the King of Kayamkulam. Later, it has been annexed to Travancore by Marthanda Varma. It is believed that the King of Kayamkulam visited the temple when he was defeated by Marthanda Varma and left his sword inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and left through the back door. The door has never opened since then.

The deity is called as Kandiyoorappan and is being worshiped in three forms or bhavas. In the morning the rituals will be conducted assuming the deity is Dakshina Murthy, in the noon the rituals will be for Lord Shiva in Umamaheswara Bhavam and in the evening it is as Kiratha Murthy.