My Spiritual Travelogue - Visit to Kaduthuruthy Thalayil MahadevarTemple, Kaduthuruthy, Kerala

Kaduthuruthy is situated in the mid-way between Vaikom and Ettumanoor, about 28 KM from Kottayam.  A small town and a backwater coastal land on the northern and western parts.  As per historical facts, the name Kaduthuruthy is derived from "Kadal Thuruthy" and over period of time changed to Kaduthuruthy.  Another Purana legendary details that the name Kaduthuruthy is changed over period of time from "Kadichu Iruththy" (meaning placed in between the teeth) when Saint Kharasura got three idols from Lord Shiva, of which the one he took in his mouth had been installed at Kaduthuruthy.

Temple entrance view from road side

Temple inside view

Temple inside another view

The Shiva Temple "Thalayil Mahadeva Temple" is one of the best known temples in Kerala. During the tenth century this place was ruled by Pandya Kings.  Later it was divided into  Vadakkumkoor  and Thekkumkoor and Kaduthuruthy became the headquarters of Vadakkumkoor.  Puranic history illustrates that Saint Kharasura got three idols from Lord Shiv and he installed one idol at Ettumanoor, the other at Vaikom and the third one at Kaduthuruthy.  It is also a belief that the Shiva idols at Vaikom and Kaduthuruthy were installed at the same time and one can see separate shrines for Vaikkathappan and Ettumanoorappan.  It is a belief that whoever worship the three Shiva Lingas here are considered to be same as worshiping the three Shiva Lingas at the three different places viz. Ettumanoor, Kaduthuruthy and Vaikom.

Sri Ettumanoorappan Sannadhi

The Shiva idol of this temple faces to the east and it is the smallest of the three idols which Saint Kharasura installed, only 3" tall.  On the southern side there are separate sannadhies for Sri Ganapathy, Dharma Sastha, Goddess Durga.  There is a mandap in front of the shrine which has got many array of wood carvings which portrays about ancient architectural elegance.  The interiors and entrance of the temple exhibit the story of Lord Shiva on wood carvings.    The wood carvings in the temple also illustrates architectural style of medieval Kerala, featuring carvings of stories of Karthaveerarjuneeyam. About 300 years ago, a major fire broke out here and destroyed most part of the temple, but the mandap with its splendid carvings was remained undisturbed.   At that time, the then priest saved the idol but could not his life.  As to commemorate his sacrifice, one can see even today and idol of him erected at the northern part of the shrine.  This temple comes under the administration of Travancore Devaswom Board.

A news clipping kept inside the shrine on the temple history in Tamil.

Kaduthuruthy St. Mary's Valiapally also known as Kaduthuruthy Muthivamma is historic and famous church where Virgin Mary appeared in front of the devotees as an old woman.   This miraculous appearance of Virgin Mary happened in AD 1596, during the erection of the historic granite cross of Kaduthuruthy St. Mary's Vallyapalli.   This church is one of the churches blessed by Virgin Mary .

                                                    

St. Mary's Valiappally

50 Feet Cross

It is believed that this Cross is the highest open air cross in Asia, made out from a single granite block.  

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