| History of Trikkur Mahadeva Temple | ||
| The easiest way to attain Moksha in Kaliyuga is worshipping Lord Shiva. ‘Naradabhakthisuthra’ proclaims that neither cast, creed and education, nor wealth and karma form the criteria for Sivaradhana. Siva the, the immortal lord of destroyal showers his blessings through numerous shrines across the universe, among which, Trikkur Mahadeva Cave Temple is one of the most ancient and auspicious. The village of Trikkur is situated in the cultural capital of Kerala, ten kilometres away from the city of Thrissur, well ornated with greenery and scenic beauty. Plantains, palms and paddy set the theme for the place, as for many places in Kerala. On the banks of Manali river, about 200 feet above the ground level, Trikkur Mahadeva Cave Temple stands its face up, on a hillock covered with black rock. One of the 108 temples of India, with the sanctum sanctorum as a cave with a “swayambhoo” deity in it, the unique Siva linga here is six feet tall and two feet dia. Right above the sanctum sanctorum, on the hard rock, there is a pond with a spring which withstands the hottest sun of any summer. This, is of course a wonder. Analysing the artistic and architectural details, historians mark this as a site where Jaina and Budhha meditated. The government of Kerala has marked the temple as an archeologically important and protected site. The door of sanctum sanctorum –the thirunada- faces the north. The rare system of darshan followed here allows the devotees to worship only from the left. A mughamandapam of hard rock has been erected before the sanctorum. It is so believed that Lord Agni who performed the installation rituals of the idol here, stays with Mahadeva. For this reason, the idol is never taken out for any rituals if it rains. Goddess Sreeparvathy dwells here as Vidya (knowledge) and Lord Ganesha as a sculpture on the side wall. A Vaishnava saalagramam is worshipped in the mughamandapam. The temple has a Namaskaaramandapam, a rectangular entity, made of rock pillars, on which sculptures have been carved out with great expertise, as well on the side walls of the temple that are finely laid rock slabs. The Chuttambalam is made up of rock pillars and a lot of wood carvings which forms its roof too. . Saaraswathi Pooja of Navrathri and Chakiarkoothu- an ancient temple art form, are performed in the chuttambalam. The flag post and the valiyabalivilakku is erected on the eastern part of the temple where the sub deities (devi, sastha and Ganapathy, the upadevathas) are kept and worshipped. Mathrusala-temple of seven mothers who protect the temple and village, and the shrine of nagas, the snakes are on the eastern part of the premise. Occasionally in the festive seasons, special poojas and bali are performed. |
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