108 Shiva Temples Explained
This is a list of the 108 Shiva Temples mentioned in the Shivalaya Stothram.[1] [2]
Background
According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Parasurama created the land between Gokarna and Kanyakumari. It is said that Kerala was reclaimed from the ocean using his axe for donating to Brahmins after the killing of King Kartavirya Arjuna and other Kshatriyas.[3] He split this land in to 64 villages (64 gramas). Out of these 64 villages, 32 villages are in between Perumpuzha and Gokarnam and the spoken language was Tulu. The remaining 32 villages were in the Malayalam-speaking area between Perumpuzha and Kanyakumari.[4] [5]
Parasurama is the sixth avatar of Maha Vishnu; he was the youngest son of sage Jamadagni and Renuka. According to legend, after donating the land to Brahmins, one hundred and eight Maha Shiva Lingam and Durga idols were installed in these 64 villages. These hundred and eight Shiva temples are mentioned in the Shivala Sotram and a song is written in the Malayalam language.[6] Of the 108 Shiva temples, 105 temples are situated in Kerala state, two temples in Karnataka and one in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.[7]
List of temples
Notes and References
- Web site: Stotram. 108 Shivalayangal. 2021-12-13. 108 Shiva temples of Kerala. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330045048/https://shaivam.org/temples-special/108-shiva-temples-of-kerala . shaivam.org. 30 March 2019 .
- Web site: Stotram Song. 108 Shivalayangal. 2021-12-13. 108 Shivalayangal Stotram Song. live. shaivam.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230174249/http://shaivam.org:80/scripture/Malayalam/1657/nurretteu-shivlayangal . 30 December 2016 .
- Book Title: Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage; Author: Info kerala Communications Pvt. Ltd; Editor: Mr.Biju Mathew; Publisher: Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd, 2017;, 9788193456705
- Book Title: The Collected Aithihyamaala - The Garland of legends from Kerala Volume 1-3, Author: Kottarathil Sankunni Translated by Leela James, ; Publisher: Hachette Book Publishing india Pvt Ltd, 4/5 floor, Corporate Centre, Plot No.:94, Sector 44, Gurgaon, India 122003; (First published in Bhashaposhini Literary Magazine in 1855~1937)
- Book Title: Kerala District Gazetteers: Palghat; Gazetteer of India Volume 6 of Kerala District Gazetteers, Kerala (India) Authors Kerala (India), C. K. Kareem Publisher printed by the Superintendent of Govt. Presses, 1976 Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 2 Sep 2008 Subjects History › Asia › India & South Asia History / Asia / India & South Asia Kerala (India)
- Book Title A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2 A Handbook of Kerala, T. Madhava Menon Authors T. Madhava Menon, International School of Dravidian Linguistics Publisher International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002 Original from the University of Michigan Digitized 2 Sep 2008, 9788185692319 Length: 496 pages; Kerala (India)
- Book Title: 108 Siva Kshetrangal, Author:Kunjikuttan Ilayath, Publishers: H and C Books
