Pattanakkad Mahadeva Temple, Alapuzha Dist., Kerala

Our journey this time is across Ernakulam towards south to the district of Alapuzha. Starting early in the morning from Tripunithura, we crossed Aroor bridge before the summer sun hit the ever hectic National Highway. Our destination is the Mahadeva Temple in a little known village between Thuravoor and Cherthala called Pattanakkad. 

In the 108 Sivalaya strotra the place name is mentioned as "Kodumboor Ashtamikkovil Pattanakkadu Thashtayil". However as per the note in the 108 Sivalakshetrangal by Kunjikuttan Illayath it is referred as Pattinikkadu which probably means at some point in the history the PattInikkadu (Forest of Poverty) became PattAnakkadu (Forest of Town)! 

Whatever it may be, the temple is now situated right along the National Highway to Kanyakumari (NH-66, earlier NH-17).  And looking at the roaring, explosive NH, it might be exactly when this NH came into being it became PattAnakkadu! 

However inside the temple all these things change. The sandy soil around the temple provides us a relaxed feel. The small entrance to the inner prakara takes us into more peaceful ambience. The square shaped sanctum is small in size and a look at the Lord inside evaporates all our fatigue instantly. The namaskara mandapa is in proportion to the sanctum and so is the Nandi idol. There are shades of antiquity, like the old well inside and the old coloured dwarapalakas. However the sanctum and many portions of temple are brass covered 8 years back. Lord Siva is considered Swayambhoo and is in Kiratha Sankalpa facing East. Ganapathi and Subramanya are also consecrated inside.

In the outer prakara there are sub shrines for Yakshiamma, Nagas, Sastha, Rakshas, Devi with an old feel and a large pond in the backside. There is no temple wall around here other than the one at the east. The deepasthambam in the front and back looks centuries old. We could not get any historical details or legends on this temple. However, as per Illayath, this temple was managed by the Karthas (Kaimals), local landlords of the past. However details of their family is not available. Now it is with Travancore Devaswam Board. Tantram is with Puthumala Illam. Festival is celebrated during Sivarathri.

With all these beautiful aspects of this temple, the plastic waste strewn in the inside and outside of the temple is painful to absorb. The countless plastic bottles thrown around after lighting oil lamps to the Lord is not something the Lord himself could digest! This is surely not what a temple should be for. When lighting the oil lamps to the Lord for our wellness, we should also be concerned about the wellness of the temple and the Lord of this Nature as well, isn't it? We started our journey ahead not before praying to the Lord for a placid life and plastic-less world!