“ aham nirvikalpo niarakara rupo / vibhur vyapya sarvatra sarvendriyaanaam
sada me samatvam na muktir na bandhah / chidananda rupa Sivoham Sivoham ”
We are at the coastal town of Cherthala along the NH-66, about 40 km south of Kochi. According to one legend, the Hindu saint Vilwamangala Swamigal, while traveling through this place found an idol of Devi immersed with the head in muddy pond which he consecrated as Karthiyayani Devi and the place came to be known as Cher (Muddy water) Thalai (Head). This place is known to many as the birth place of Irayimman Thambi, the music connoisseur of Travancore court during the time of Swathithirunal and as the place of great Dalit woman, Nangeli who fought against social injustice.
On the way to Cherthala town from the NH is the Velorvattam Mahadeva Temple, one of the 108 Sivalayas of Pracheena Kerala. We reached there in the morning hours after our prayers at Pattanakkad. As we arrived at the location, we see a large idol of Lord Siva and a name board which helped us confirm our destination. Outside area of the temple is crowded with vehicles parked everywhere. In the temple compound, there are several concrete structures ill-suited to the overall ambience, like the umbrella cover of the deepastambas.
To the left of the entrance is the sub-shrine of Nagas with tree canopy. There are two sanctums in this temple each with separate entrance, balikallu and dwajasthambam. The entrances to inner prakara are small and narrow but are in proportion to the overall structure of the temple. In the inner prakara, the two sanctums are adjacent to each other and both have Lord Siva consecrated in them. One on the north is Vadakkanappan and on the south is Thekkanappan. Thekkanappan, with square sanctum and small deity, is in Kirathamoorthi sankalpa and is considered swayambhu. This reminds us on its similarity to the structure of the Velappaya Mahadeva Temple in Thrissur district. At Velorvattam the deities are facing east while at Velappaya they are facing West. One legend says (Reference : 108 Sivakshetrangal by Sri.Kunjikuttan Illayath) when Azhvanchery Thamprakkal were not able to pray at Vaikkom temple, Lord appeared to them as Swayambhoo in their sacrificial fire which is the current form of Thekkanappan. Vadakkanappan, with Mahadeva sankalpa, is in a circular sanctum (vattasreekovil). Both the sanctums, the entrance are all brass covered entirely. The namaskara mandapa, Nandi idols are small but suited to the overall ambience.
As per Sri.Illayath, this temple was owned by Elangallur Swarupam. Elangallur Swarupam, also known as Edapally Tampuraans were medieval era feudal landlords, who handled areas around Cherthala, Haripad, Vazhakulam etc. They were one of the two Brahmin royalties in Kerala. It is believed these lands were provided to them by the late Chera Dynasty rulers. A priest of Trikakkara Temple is considered as the founder of Elangallur Swarupam. When Edapally Elangallur Swaroopam lost their independent status, they handed over the temple to Azhvanchery Thamprakkal. Currently this temple is handled by Uraayma Devaswam.
Probably, the only antique feel we observed inside is the granite paved well in between the two sanctums. There are Sastha, Ganapathi and Vishnu as upadevas in the inner prakara and Nagas, Yakshi, Rakshas, Arukola in the outer-prakara of the temple. A large pond on the south of the temple is also a notable feature here. The festival in the temple is in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (Feb-Mar). Tantram is with Monaad Mana. There are five poojas and three seevelis in the temple. It is believed that performing vazhivadu in this temple is good for sarvadoshaparihara.
The temple is about to get into Astamangalya Prasnam from the next day of our visit. Plastic disposal issue which we found in Pattanakkad is observed in this temple compound as well. Along with it, we noticed few Naga idols lying in an abandoned state around. Could these be a reason for the Prasna? Whatever it may turn out to be, we felt a greater need to protect our temples in their original form for a larger cause. It is not just to preserve our culture, it is also to preserve our Nature. Om Nama Sivayah!
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