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| Chengannur Mahadeva temple Kerala . |
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| Chengannur Mahadeva temple Kerala .divinetraveller.net |
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| .Chengannur Mahadeva temple, Allapuzha district, Kerala, en.wikipedia.org/ |
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The Chengannur Mahadeva and Bhagawathy Temple in Alappuzha district of Kerala stands as one of the most ancient and revered shrines of South India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, it is counted among the 108 Shakti Peetams and is historically referred to as Nayanar Thiruchenkuntoor Kovil. The town itself derives its name from Tiruchenkunroor, one of the five legendary sites associated with episodes of the Mahabharata. Its location also makes Chengannur an important spiritual halt for devotees heading towards Sabarimala, earning it the title “Gateway to Sabarimala.”
Spread across six acres, the temple exemplifies classic Kerala-style architecture. The sanctum of Mahadeva is circular in shape and crowned with a conical copper-plated roof. A golden flagstaff aligned axially with the temple tower enhances the grandeur of the eastern entrance. The Mukha Mandapam in front of the shrine is adorned with exquisite carved wooden panels, reflecting the craftsmanship of medieval Kerala temple art. The main idols of Shiva and Parvathi are made of Panchaloha, a sacred alloy of five metals believed to ensure spiritual potency and long life of the deity.
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| Chengannur Mahadeva temple, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. en.wikipedia.org |
An interesting and rare feature of this temple is the gold-plated Shivalingam. Engraved on it is the image of Ardhanareeswarar – Shiva whose right half is male and left half is female. This powerful iconography symbolizes the harmony of masculine and feminine principles, emphasizing that men and women are equal and interdependent in the cosmic order and in society.
Another distinctive aspect is the temple’s famous festival, Thriputharattu, a ritual connected with the menstruation of Goddess Bhagavathy. When priests observe symbolic indications of the deity’s “period,” the shrine remains closed for a few days, and special purification rituals are conducted. The custom is deeply rooted in the belief that the Goddess here is in the form of a young married woman, and the festival is seen as a divine celebration of fertility and womanhood. The event attracts thousands of believers, especially women.
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| Chengannur Mahadeva temple . gold plated fag staff.en.wikigogo.org |
The temple is also steeped in legend. It is associated with Kannagi, the virtuous heroine of the Tamil epic Silappathikaram. After setting Madurai ablaze to avenge her innocent husband’s execution, Kannagi is believed to have wandered into this region and attained peace. A shrine in the temple honors her as Chenkamalavalli. The Chera king Senkuttuvan, according to tradition, brought a stone from the Himalayas to carve her image—an honor that highlights the temple's antiquity and cultural significance.
Today, Chengannur Mahadeva and Bhagawathy Temple continues to draw devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. With shrines for Ayyappa, Ganapathi, Chandikeswarar, Krishna, Ganga and serpent deities, the temple remains a vibrant center of worship, tradition, and mythology—preserving a unique blend of Shaiva, Shakta and regional Tamil-Kerala heritage.
