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| Aluva Mahadeva Temple |
All through the day, several lives crisscross here in this flourishing town of Aluva, as like the train chugging above the placid waters of Periyar or the crawling traffic along the Marthanda Varma bridge on the NH-47. Invariably, no journeys pass by without at least a distant obeisance to the Lord of this town sitting on the sand banks - Aluva Manalpuram - between the rivers Periyar and Mangalapuzha.
The Shivalinga of this Mahadeva Temple of Aluva is believed to be Swayambhoo (Self-incarnation) rising out of the sands of Periyar. It was again consecrated by Lord Parasurama making it one among the 108 Siva Temples of Ancient Kerala.
What makes this place unique is the Shivalinga here is not enshrined in a Sanctum as in the case of other temples. What we see is a temporary structure in the form of temple. The temple constructed by Lord Parasurama and later by Vilwamangala Swamiji got destroyed in the floods. It is considered to be the divine wish not to have a sanctum here. The monsoon rains flood this temple and during some years it submerges the Shivalinga. It is the Aaraattu (Divine Bath) of the Lord.
"After a gap of 5 years it is in 2013 that the natural Aaraattu of the Lord has occurred by the monsoon rains which submerged the deity completely." - says Ram.
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| Temporary Temple Structure - Aluva Mahadeva Temple |
The Shivalinga, which is relatively very small, faces East with a Nandi idol in front of the shrine. There is only one daily pooja in this temple. Dhara and Rudrabhishekham are the main offerings. The temple is currently managed by Travancore Devaswom Board.
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| A view of train from Aluva Manalpuram |
The main festival of the temple is Maha Sivarathri in Kumbham (Feb-Mar). Devotees from all across Kerala arrive at Aluva Manalpuram during these days for worship. It is said that Lord Sri Rama, during his search for Sita, performed the Tharpana for Jadayu at this place. This could be the reason that several devotees throng at Aluva Manapuram during Sivarathri for paying homage to their ancestors.
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| Periyar River at Aluva - Film Photograph - circa 2005 |
The advents of commercialization do have taken a toll on the serenity of this divine place. One can easily imagine how magical these surroundings would have been a century back. Over the decades the extraordinary indulgence of human beings has developed it into yet another ordinary suburb.
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