Mahadeva Temple, Ettumanoor, Kottayam

Ettumanoor Siva Temple is one of the major temples under Travacore Devaswom Board and famous god Siva temple in south India. Ettumanoor is located 12 Kms north-east of Kottayam town. It is on the Ernakulam - Thiruvananthapuram railroad south of Kottayam.

The present temple building, with its gopuram and the fortress around it was reconstructed in 1542 AD. It is believed that the great philosopher Sankaracharya wrote the 'Soundaraya Lahari' staying in the temple.

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple has a ten-day annual festival which falls in February / March and concludes on the day of Thiruvathira. On the eighth day of the festival, there is a processional image of the deity called 'Ezharaponnaana Ezhunallathu', in which a unique treasure of the temple - the seven and a half golden elephants (ezhara ponnaana) representing the eight dik paalakas or the guardians of the cardinal directions are displayed.

At the entrance to the temple is a large metal lamp; visitors make offerings of oil and the soot that collects from the burning of the oil is believed to have medicinal value.

Ettumanoor is an important pilgrim Centre of Hindus, it is on the highway between Kottayam and Kochi.

Web : http://www.ettumanoortemple.com/