Kilimarathukavu Shiva Parvati Temple- Kerala

Address

Kilimarathukavu Shiva Parvati Temple- Kadalkkal, Koolam District, Kerala-691536

Diety

Shiva Amman: Parvati

Introduction

Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple and in Malayalam as , is located in Kadakkal, Kollam, Kerala, India. It is one of the most famous centuries old temples in South India. This temple is very special in its deities. One of the specialties is that it has two Lord Shiva deities one is the main Shiva and the other is Mahanadan. It is also well known for the biggest Cult image of ‘Dharma Sastha’ who is Lord Ayyappan. Lord Hanuman temple is located at the center of temple pond. Also may be one of its kinds in the world, elliptical Navagraha temple is another special deity temple in Kilimarathukavu.. The temple (puja) routines are strictly followed.

Puranic Significance

Kilimarathukavu Temple is one of the ancient temples in southern Kerala which is thousands of years old one. It was believed that the old temple was destroyed in the past and only the idols were left behind. And in the 21st century the people surrounded by the temple thought of renovating it to give the temple a new face. As a result, the new temple construction was completed and the daily poojas restarted. Travancore devasom board has taken the control of the renovated temple with the help of temple advisory committee in the year 2011. During the Pandava’s expulsion in forest, Arjuna traveled to ascetic for Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, he slept on a rock to take rest. As he woke up and continue his journey, a bird flew around him and chripped. Feeling boggle at the chirp of the bird, he meditated. He woke up in the existence of the bird and followed its path. The bird flies every day and one day, it reached a valley. The bird finally sat on a tree as high as the sky near to a clean stream and this drew Arjuna’s attention towards it. Arjuna reached the place where the bird chirped. It was a big tree called “Kilimaram” the bird was sitting and chirping. The bird gazed at the face of Arjuna sitting on the branch of the tree. Arjuna had a feeling that bird said, this is the place where you can have your ascension. Bird suddenly plucked 3 leaves from the nearby “Koovalam” tree and put it there. Parthan felt like he was asked to do ascension for Lord Shiva. Arjuna commenced his ascension as said by the bird. Thus the place came to know as “Kilimarathil Kavu” and later to “Kilimarathukavu”.Arjuna took bath in pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva Lingam stone found there. As time went on, Arjuna’s ascension became severe. As requested by Lord Parvati, Lord Shiva came to Arjuna as a wild man and Parvathi as a wild woman. This time a monster sent by Duryodhana came to kill Arjuna. Monster in the figure of pig was attacked with arrow by Arjuna and Lord Shiva in wild man outlook. Arjuna and Lord Shiva started argument on hitting the pig. Arjuna beat the wild man with “Gandeevaam” (bow of Arjuna). Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva stopped it and explained who actually the wild man is. Hearing this Arjuna did sashtanka namaskar and Lord Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave blessings. All goddess including Ganapathy, Murugan, Sastha, Anjaneyan requested to meet the look of wild man who is Lord Shiva. Finally everyone came to see the wild man and Lord Shiva told ” Aujuna, the place where we are now is very sacred and whoever came here for prayer should be blessed.” Lord Shiva disappeared after saying this and a Shivalingam appeared itself on the same place. Even today two Shivalingam are worshiped.

Special Features

Lord Shiva, It is rare that one temple is having two Shiva deities. In the main sreekovil one Lord Shiva deity and Sree Parvathy deity is there. It is said that the Shiva here is “Ardhanarishvaran”. And another deity of Lord Shiva here is “Mahanadan”. Sivarathri is the main festival for Lord Shiva. On the same day after athazha pooja Lord Shiva is received outside the main sreekovil and is placed in a specially designed mandapam outside the sreekovil. On the same day devotees donate “para” for Lord Shiva which is a ritual the temple. Sree Parvathy Devi, Sree Parvathy Devi is on the same sreekovil near to Lord Shiva. “Kunkumam” pooja is special for Parvathy Devi. Navarathri is the main festival for Sree Parvathy Devi. As a part of Navarathri, Devi will be dressed up on different forms of Devi on each day and on vijayadhasami it is Lord Sree Saraswathi Devi. On the same day is Vidhyarambhan when hundreds of kids will start their first writing lessons which will be led by Temple Thandhri ” Sree Kokkalathu Madathil Madhavar Shambhu”. Lord Murugan, As in Kailasam near to Lord Shiva and Sree Parvathy Devi is the place for Lord Murugan (Subrahmanyan). The main festival is Skandha Shashti and Shashti on every month. All devotees gets facility to fast during the same days. On normal Shasti days which is on every month devotees will get prasadam (padachoru and payasam) from temple by 10 am. On Skandha Shashti (Shashti on Thulam Malayalam month) devotees will get prasadam from 7 am onwards. The speciality in the temple is that every quantity prepared as prasadam will be taken for pooja. Kumarasukthapushpaneali is the main pooja done for Lord Murugan. Another pooja for Lord Murugan is Vettila donation. Devotees can donate one Betel leaf(Vettila), one arecanut(pack), one lemon and one coin on every Tuesdays. This can be donated on one to one hundred and eight weeks continuously. Lord Shastha, May be it is the largest Shastha (Lord Ayyappa) deity in India is in temple. It was proved in devaprashnam that it was largest deity of Lord Shastha and during temple construction the old deity was found as the supporting evidence for the proof. It is believed that for sanidhosham devotees can pray to Lord Shastha. Neeranjanam is the pooja done to Lord Shastha on every Saturdays with one coconut, ellukizhi and oil. Mandala vilakku is the main festival for Lord Shastha starting from vrischikam 1 to makaram 1. Lord Hanuman, Lord Hanuman or Anjaneya is the rarest deity in southern kerala. The temple is situated in the middle of temple pond. Lord Ganapathy, Lord Ganapathi is near to Lord Shiva and Parvathy. Ganapathi homam and ashtadravya mahaganapathihomam are the pooja for Lord Ganapathy. Unniyappam is the prasadam for Lord Ganapathy. Nagas, Nagathara is also another deity, Lord of snakes. Ayilya pooja is the main pooja for nagas which is held on every ayilam . Navagraha, Navagraha temple is the temple which was built lately in the Kilimarathukavu Temple premise as part of the Devaprashna conducted in 2020, it was found that there was presence of navagraha and the same had to be built in the temple premise. So the temple Vastu architect and the temple main preist( thandhri) came to a decision to built it in elliptical shape to provide the realistic navagraha concept. Unlike other Navagraha temples which is in square, this Navagraha temple is in elliptical shape which is constructed very similar to the galaxy in the milky way. Another specialty is that the navagraha deities are with couple concept. After getting all the guidence and approval from all the concerned parties the construction started on 5 December 2020 and completed by 5 February 2021. And the prathistta was made on 17 February 2021 and devoted the temple to the people for worship.

Festivals

Shivaratri on kumbham Malayalam month, Navarathri on kanni Malayalam month, Skandha Shashti on thulium Malayalam month, Mandalavilakku on vrischikam Malayalam month.