[S.T.D.]

ETTUMANOOR

Situated eight miles to the north of Kottayam is the little town of Ettumanoor. It is famous for the temple of Lord Siva. The origin of the temple is attributed to the Rakhasa Khara, a great devotee of Siva.

KHARA PERFORMED severe tapas, at Chidambaram to propitiate Siva and the God, pleased with his devotion and austerities revealed Himself to him and gave him three lingams, and enjoin ed him to consecrate them at such places as he deemed fit. Kahara, carried them one in each hand and the third pressed against his neck, with the chin, and traveled in a south westerly direction. Arriving at Vaikom, he felt the lingam in his right hand too heavy that he had perforce to deposit on the ground. Nor could he lift it later. A divine voice said him to consecrate the lingam there itself. The one in his left hand was dropped at Kaduthuruthi, and the other at Ettumanoor.

Deity’s wrath:
The original Siva temple at Ettumanoor, was only a small one. In the 12th century, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, consecrated a temple, near the shrine of KRISHNA. This had the effect of softening the ireful aspect of Siva. In the 15th century the present temple was constructed. The central is circular, topped by a conical copper plated roof. Gabbled roof, rectangular nalambalam with rows of tiny brass lamps attached to the outer side and tall gold staff in front, the temple has a typical Kerala architecture. The gopuram has fine mural paintings of Siva as Nataraja.

The temple has a collection of jewels. Among them is the EZHARA PONNAANA (SEVEN AND A HALF ELEPHANTS)-eight miniature elephants made of gold. Seven of them are three feet, and the eighth one is hardly one foot. This offering was by the Maharaja Rama Varma (Dharma Raja) after his defeat over of Tippu Sulthan. On the 8th, 9th and 10th day of the festival held in February these elephants are taken out in a procession.