ABOUT

Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is one of the oldest and ancient temple in Kerala. It is located at Vaikom in Kottayam district of Kerala. The temple is dedicated to workship of lord Shiva known as Annadanaprabhu in local language.It is one of the main pilgrim centers of the south. It held in venerate by both Shaivaites and the Vaishnavaites.Vaikom’s Shiva is lovingly called Vaikkathappan.The Shiva Linga here is believed to be from the ‘Treta yuga’and conceived as one of the oldest temples in Kerala where pooja has not been broken since inception.The Lord here is known as Vaikkathappan.The temple at Vaikom was established when the demon Khara of Ramayana a great devotee of Lord Shiva set one shivalingam on the ground which got attached to the ground. According to legends Lord Shiva was worshipped by Parasuram also. The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is locally known as Thekkan Kashi or Dakshina Kasi which means Southern Varanasi. There is an interesting story behind the Vaikom Ashtami Festival.Vaikathashtami is celebrated on the day of Krishna Ashtami. Before many year ago there was saint man who prayed to god siva for year, after many year god shiva and his wife parvathy devi appeared in front of him. It is believed that god Siva appeared in front of him on the day of Krishna Ashtami. Vaikom Shiva Temple is considered as one of the largest and the oldest among all kerala temples. Vaikom Mahadeva Shiva Temple, along with Ettumanoor Shiva Temple and Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple is considered a powerful tri-some.It is believed that the Shiva linga placed by Khara by his right hand is worshipped at Vaikom, the one in left hand at Ettumannoor Temple and the one by neck at Kaduthuruthy Temple. It is believed that if the devotees workship all these three temple at same time on the same day before Ucha pooja then all hopes and wishes of the devotees are fulfilled by Shiva.