Thiruvaloor Mahadeva Temple, Alangad, Aluva, Ernakulam Dist., Kerala

Thiruvaloor Mahadeva Temple

There are temples which by their name itself are famous. There are several others which due to the deliberate administrators try to promote their presence. And then there are those rare ones which even though fundamentally supreme prefer to keep away from the limelight of public. They are the gems which cannot be googled out easily.

"Those temples are like the great jnanis (realised persons) who live a secluded life far away in the mountains." - says Ram.

We are traveling along the state highway connecting N.Parur to Aluva. We moved past Alangad but did not see any direction to the temple we are searching for. On enquiry we came to know we missed that junction and road. We returned back and took the right road to the little village of Alangad. 

Paddy fields at Karumaloor - a nearby village of Alangad

After a while we reached near a big peepal tree with a large playground close by. The old people relaxing under the tree are looking at us. They readily know we are visitors to their village. We asked them for the directions and they gently pointed to the temple at a distance. 

There it is - the Thiruvaloor Siva Temple which we are searching for. We enter the temple through the gopuram on the West side. As soon as we go in we see a distinct lamp mast not commonly seen anywhere else. Here is something different to start with! A rich old feel envelops us inside the vast temple compound. It is hard to imagine such a magnificent temple exist in such a humble village. A walk on the footpath in the outer compound feels like a panacea to our feet. Is it just an overexcited thought? No. It is not - the pulse below the feet is reaching out to our brain. The calmness which we felt on entering the village is pervading inside the temple as well. 

Thiruvaloor Mahadeva Temple - another view

We enter the chuttambalam through the main entrance in the east. The moment we enter, we all stand stunned and amazed like never before. Inside we are surrounded by fascinating work of art on wood and stone. 

"Before entering the chuttambalam, not even for a moment I thought we are at such a magnificent place. It is hard to believe, this temple, in this simple village has arguably the best sculptures you could see anywhere in Kerala". - says Divs

The entire chuttambalam is paved with old granite stones. The sacrificial stone (Balikallu) is grand and imposing. The main sanctum (it is vatta-sreekovil) has unique stone carvings of Ramayana (to be verified) around it. The namaskara mandapam is rich with the Markandeya Purana carvings in wood and the valia-balikal pura has the fine works of Kirata story, again in wood. The mriga-mala surrounding the sanctum is similar to what we found in Iranikulam Mahadeva Temple. This indeed is a splendid gallery of great art! All the works are 'surprisingly' very well maintained. We are told by a local person that these structures were renovated/built during the reign of Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1857-1924) of Travancore.(this is to be verified).

These overwhelming surroundings are well complemented by the commanding Lord here. Lord Siva facing East without his consort Parvathi is in Rowdra Bhava. The deity is consecrated as Agni Prathista with Lord Siva's Third eye open. There is a vast pond of exactly the same size of chuttambalam directly in front of the East gopuram to cool down the Rowdra Bhava of the Lord.

The pond at Thiruvaloor Mahadeva Temple

"Yes. The Lord here is not easy to please. It is not that you come one day, make a wish and He grants it readily . It is with sincere and regular prayers you could please the Lord. And when He do please He just showers His blessings. We the people of village have experienced this." - says the flower vendor lady outside the West entrance. 

The flag mast of the temple was of teak wood and when it came down a new one was created in 1979 (01.04.79/18.08.1154,Malayalam year). The big Rudraksha tree on the North-East corner of the temple is another unique feature. The festival of the temple is in the month of April finishing one day before Vishu. The Aaraattu (Divine Bath) as part of the festival is held at Aluva in Periyar river. Lord Ganapathi and Dakshinamurthi are the other two deities of the temple. 

Among the several legends associated with the temple, a noteworthy one could be read in Kottarathil Sankunni's 'Ithihyamala' which tells about the death of a famous Bhattathiripad of Sooryakaladi Mana at the West Gopuram of the temple. The foot mark, believed to be of Bhattathiripad could be still seen on the granite stone at the entrance.

The West Entrance
-the foot mark of sole could be seen on the
left side water logged stone

To know about this marvelous temple itself is a great thing.

To visit this temple is nothing else, but divine wish.

Such are the vibes here that as we returned we all had just one feeling - "We are indeed blessed!"

P.S. : Thiruvaloor has been selected as the venue for the 32nd Akhila Bharatha Srimad Bhaghavatha Satram 2014.

How to Reach : From Aluva take the State Highway to N.Parur. From the Alangad Junction (with a school) take left. Temple is around 2 km from there.