Madavoorpara Cave Temple, Thiruvananthapuram

Address

Madavoorpara Cave Temple, Pothencode, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala. – 695587

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Madavoorpara rock-cut cave temple is situated in Madavoopara village, Kazhakuttam taluk, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India PIN 695587. It is forming part of Ayiroorppara Panchayat and located between Pothencode and Chempazhanthy. The cave is located 15 km towards North from District head quarters Thiruvananthapuram. The rock-cut cave temple was owned by the Chenkottukonam Ashram and since 1960 the premises are protected by the State Archaeological Department. It is one of the two rock-cut caves in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

Puranic Significance

Hindu Revivalism in 800-1000 A.D. gradually gets rid of Buddhism from Kerala. It is believed that many Buddhists and Jain shrines were converted into Hindu temples. Madavoorpara is an ancient one dating back to 850 A.D. According to one theory the rock-cut cave could have been built for Buddhist monks and another theory gives this credit to Jain monks. This temple, which resembles the ancient cave temples of the Jains, later they found it is shiva temple, the deity is Vinayagar, Nandi and Shiva lingam are found in this temple.