Thrippalur Mahadeva Temple Explained

Thrippalur Mahadeva Temple
Map Type:	India Kerala
Coordinates:	10.6437°N 76.5678°W
State:	Kerala
District:	Palakkad
Location:	Alathur
Elevation M:	83
Deity:	Shiva, Krishna, Narasimha
Festivals:	Maha Shivaratri, Deepavali, Ashtami Rohini
Architecture:	Kerala style
Temple Quantity:	Three
Monument Quantity:	1

Thrippalur Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Krishna and Narasimha is situated on the banks of the Gayatri river at Alathur of Palakkad District in Kerala state in India.^{[1] [2]} References to this temple are found in many of the classics of Malayalam Literature. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva in the Treta Yuga. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala.^[3] The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha and Lord Krishna in addition to Lord Shiva.^[4] Therefore, the Saiva-Vaishnava glow is a holy abode.

History

Though the history of the temple is difficult to trace, it was once under the control of the Kavalappara Swarupam of Palakkad Kings.^{[5] [6]}

Temple Architecture

The temple complex having three main sreekovil for Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna and Lord Narasimha. The two-storey intricate carvings on the shrine of Lord Shiva reflect its antiquity. The Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna are in square shape. The shrine of Lord Krishna has two storeys and the Narasimha is circular (rounda-sanctum). All the three idol of the goddesses facing west. The interior of the temple is covered with polished granite stones. The well-packed small space gives its atmosphere an antique feel. On the east side of the temple, there is a kind of old paintings on the wall that appear to have been built by a devotee of Trippalur Shiva on closer inspection. It believe that these painting are a century old. Those who did this seem to have done a good deal of research on the temple and its legends. The temple has a large pond outside the western temple gate. It is believed that the temple was built to calm the power of Lord Shiva.^[7]

Temple Festival

Deepavali Vavu is the main festival of Thrippalur Mahadeva temple.^{[8] [9]}

Sub Deities

• Ganapathy
• Subrahmanya^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Thrippalur - Mahadeva Temple . www.shaivam.org.
2. Book: Volume 8 of Census of India, 1991: Bhārata Kī Janagaṇanā, 1991, Śr̥ṅkhalā 12, Kerala. Kerala, India. Director of Census Operations, Kerala . Director of Census Operations, Kerala . 1 . 8 . Original from the University of Michigan . 1993 . 155 .
3. Web site: 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala created by Lord Parasurama. www.vaikhari.org.
4. Book: Biju , Mathew . Prasanth Kumar V.T, Biju Mathew . Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage . Info Kerala Communications Pvt. Ltd. . 1 . Issue No. 10 . Kacheripady, Kochi, India . Sep 2017 . 155 . 978-81-934567-0-5 .
5. Title Kavalappara papersIssue 2 of Calicut University historical seriesAuthors K. K. N. Kurup, University of Calicut. Dept. of HistoryPublisher Dept. of History, Calicut University, 1984Original from the University of MichiganDigitized 9 Aug 2007Length 162 pagesSubjects Kerala (India)
6. Title Varakavi KanakattȧAuthor Kunnath Kunhikanna MenonOriginal from the University of CaliforniaDigitized 3 Jun 2009Length 340 pages
7. Web site: 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala created by Lord Parasurama - 70. Truppaloor Mahadeva Temple . www.vaikhari.org.
8. Web site: തൃപ്പാളൂർ ദീപാവലി വാവുത്സവം ഇന്ന് തുടങ്ങും.
9. Web site: തൃപ്പാളൂർ ശിവക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ ദീപാവലി വാവുത്സവം ഇന്ന് തുടങ്ങും – Malayalam Express . www.malayalamexpress.in . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191103083407/https://www.malayalamexpress.in/archives/888818/ . 2019-11-03.
10. Web site: Thrippalur - Mahadeva Temple . www.shaivam.org.