Temples in kerala

Temple architecture in Kerala is quite simple compared to the magnificent temples elsewhere in India. There were no great empires and large enough kingdoms to finance the construction of very large temples in Kerala and so almost all temples are comparatively small and simple structures.

Structure of a Typical Kerala Temple

Major parts of a typical Kerala style temple are as described below:

1. Sanctum Sanctorum (Sree Kovil and Garbha Gruha)
   The most important part of the temple where the idol of the Deity is situated is the Sree Kovil. It may be of different forms- square rectangular, elliptical, circular etc. Front part of the sanctum sanctorum (holiest of the holy part) is called ‘Sopana‘ where stone idols of guards called ‘Dwarapaalakas‘ may be found in some temples. Top of the sanctum has a pointed bronze structure called ‘Thaazhikakudam‘ (dome) or ‘Stoopika‘ (Pyramid).
2. Inner Circum ambulation area (Pradaksshina Vattom)
   It is located just outside the sanctum. Statues of guards of the main deity such as Indra, Agni, Yama, Nithi, Varuna, Vaayu, Soma, Isaana etc are found in this part in some big temples.
3. Prayer Hall (Namaskara Mandapom)
   In front of the sopana facing the sanctum it is generally square shaped and has a roof supported by 4 pillars. Some temples have domes over it.
4. Well
   A well is a must in a temple. Its water is to be used exclusively for abhisheka and preparation of nivedya.
5. Surrounding Structures (Chuttambalom &Valiyambalam)
   These cover the temple on all sides and their function is to protect the temple. The one facing the sanctum is very broad and so is called ‘Valiyambalam‘. They are narrower on the other three sides and are called ‘Chuttambalam‘. The kitchen of the temple called ‘Thidappalli‘ is in this area. Passage for devotees to enter and exist is through the ‘Valiyambalam‘.
6. Outer – Circumbulation Area
   It is located outside Chuttambalam. There are stands for lamps called ‘Vilakkumaadam‘ on the outside wall. There may also be many stones called ‘Balikallu‘.
7. Altar (Balikallu Pura)
   Facing the sanctum there may be an extended portion of the passage in between the Valiyambalams for offerings. The main ‘Balikallu‘ is large and is located here.
8. Flag –post (Kodimaram or Dwaja)
   It is for hoisting the flag and is located outside the balikalupura. It is a tall pillar and is made of teak wood covered with copper or gold and bears the emblem of the deity. During festivals the flag of the temple is hoisted which is visible from distant places.
9. Auditorium (Koothambalam)
   It is for the performance of temple arts during festivals and is on the right side of the principal deity in front of the temple.
10. Outer Walls and Tower (Gopuram)
    Outer walls are called ‘Praakaara‘ and are the outermost protective coverings of the temple. The entrance tower called ‘gopuram‘ may be single storeyed or multi storeyed.

Usually only Hindus are allowed to enter the temples. There are dress codes for men and women to wear when they enter the temple. Some temples have very stringent dress code where men need to enter bare-chested and in loin cloth (mundu). Women cannot enter in trousers and are allowed only occasionally in salwar-kammeez. A sari is mandatory in most temples.

Major Temples In Kerala

There must be a few thousand Hindu temples in Kerala. Most of them are minor. A few are major ones in each district. Some of the more famous temples are the following, district wise.
• TRIVANDRUM

SHIVA TEMPLES – Sreekandeswaram / Aruvipuram / Ottasekharamanagalam / Kazhakoottam / Koyikal / Parasala / Ardanareshwara / Kanthallur / Valiyasala.
VISHNU TEMPLES – Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple / Thiruvananthapuram city / Sree Varaham Temple / Varkala/Janardhana Temple / Neyyattinkara Krishna Temple.
DEVI TEMPLES – Trivandrum Shangumukham / Aniyur / Attukal / Thiruvarattukaavu / Nedumangadu / Mutharamman / Vellayani / Vellanad / Sarkara.
OTHERS – Ullor Balasubrhamanya Temple / Navayikulam Shankaranarayana Temple / Pazhavangadi Ganapathi Temple / Thrippadapuram Siva &Vishnu Temple.

• KOLLAM (QUILON)

SHIVA – Sri Rameswaram / Ochira Parabrahma / Thrikkadavoor / Vettikkavala
VISHNU -Thirumullavaaram / Vaikundapuram / Asramam Krishna Temple / Anayadi Narasimha / Thevakkara South Guruvayur / Mukhathala / Vellnallur Rama Temple/
DEVI – Chavara Kottikulangara / Sree ANandavalliswaram / Kadakkal / Pattazhi.
SASTHA – Sastamkotta / Kulathupuzha / Aryankavu / Achankovil.
OTHERS – Asramam Sri Narayanapuram Subrahmanya Temple / Duryodhana Temple.

• PATHANAMTHITTA

SHIVA – Omallur Rakhtha kanda Swamy temple / Kalanjur
VISHNU – Aranmula Pathasarathy temple / Thiruvalla Sree Vallabha temple.
DEVI – Parumala Panayannarkaavu / Malayalapuzha / Mannadi PAzhayakaavu.
OTHERS – Sabarimala Sastha Tample / Kodumon Palliyara Devi Temple (Spider temple) / Thrikavyur Hanuman Temple.

• ALAPPUZHA

SHIVA – Chengannur / Kalarkod / Mavelikkara / Kandiyur / Thrikuathi / Mararikulam / Tripunithara / Thirumagarkulangara / Thrichttukulam / Vellavattom
VISHNU – Mavelikkara / Ambalappuzha / Thuravoor / Narasimha & Sudarsana / Evur / Thiruchittattu.
DEVI – Mullakkal / Chettikulangara / Chakkulathukavu / Cherthala / Monkompu / Kanichukulangara / Thycattussery / Pattamana Panayannarkaavu / Varanadu / Kidangamparambu Bhuvaneswari.
OTHERS – Sastha temples at Thakazhi / Thrikkunnapuzha / Chalinarayanapuram / Thannermukkam / Mannarassala Nagaraja / Vettikottu Nagaraja temple / Marottor vattom Dhanvanthari temple.

• KOTTAYAM

SHIVA – Kottayam Thirunakkara / Ettumanur / Vaikom / Kaduthuruthy / Vazhappally / Kadappattor / Thrippakkudam.
DEVI – Kottayam Pallippurathukaavu / Kumaranallur Madura Meenakshi / Thalayolaparambu Karthiyayani / Panachikad Saraswathy / Kiliroorkunnu Bhagawathy / Anakkulangara / Cheruvalli / Manarkad / Velluruthy / Thiruvanchoor / Ponkunnam Devi temple
OTHERS – Aadithyapuram Sun Temple / Erumeli Sastha temple / Ayarkkunnam Sree Krishna &Siva Temple / Pakkil Sastha temple.
SUBRAHMANIYA – Udayanapuram / Vaikom / Changanacherry Perunna / Kidangoor.

• IDUKKI

SHIVA – Karikodu Annamalai temple
VISHNU – Thodupuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple / Peerumedu Krishna Temple / Mundakkayam Sree Parthasarathy.
DEVI – Karikodu Bhagawathy temple.
OTHERS – Munnar Sree Murugan Kovil / Vazhathoppu Sree Dharama Sastha / Ayyappan kovil.

• ERNAKULAM

SHIVA-Ernakulam Shiva temple / Aluva Manalpuram Siva temple / ThiruIranikulam / Pazhur Perum Thrikkovil / Thiruvaloor / Thrikkariyur.
VISHNU-Tripunithara Poornathrayeeswara Temple / Thrikkakkara Vamana / South Chittor Krishna / Ramamangalam Narasimha Swamy Perum Thrikkovil / Dakshina Kaashi Chelamattom Temple / Kalady.
OTHERS-Ilamkunnapuzha Subrahmanya Swamy temple / Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana temple.

• THRISSUR

SHIVA – Thrissur Vadakkumnatha Temple / Thiruvanchikulam / Airanikulam / Annamanada / Peruvanam.
VISHNU – Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple / Thripayar Rama Temple / Thiruvilwamala Vilwadrinatha Temple / Kadavallur / Nelluvai Dhanwanthari.
DEVI – Kodungallur Kurumba Devi / Paramekkavu / Urakam / Pazhayannur / Cherpu.
OTHERS – Aarattupuzha / Irinjalakkuda Koodalmanikyam Bharatha temple / Thiruvallukkavu Sastha Temple / Kaanadi Madom / Peringottukara.

• PALAKKAD

SHIVA – Kalpathi / Thrippallavur / Thrithala
VISHNU – Panniyur Varahamoorhty temple / Kaachamkurichi.
DEVI – Chittorkaavu / Nenmaara Nellikulangara / Pallasana / Chinakkathur / Thiruvalathur / Pariyampatta / Manupullikkavu.
OTHERS – Cherpulassery Sastha / Kodumbu Subrahmanya Swamy temple / Thiruvilgopuram.

• MALAPPURAM

SHIVA – Sukapuram Dakshinamurthy Temple / Thrikandiyur / Thrippangodu.
VISHNU – Thirunavaya Navamukanda Temple.
DEVI – Kaadampuzha Bhagawathy Temple / Thirumandamkunnu Angadippuram.
OTHERS – Thriprangodu Garuda Temple / Kottakkal Venkatathevar Temple / Chamravattom Sastha Temple / Keraladesapuram Temple Tanur.

• KOZHIKODE

SHIVA – Thali Kozhikode
DEVI – Kollam near Koyilandi Pisharikaavu / Vadakara Lokanarkaavu Durga temple / Valayanad Devi temple Mankaav.
OTHERS – Chennamangalam Saastha temple / Balussery Vettakkorumakan Swamy.

• WAYANAD

SHIVA – Thrissileri
VISHNU – Thirunelly
OTHERS – Pulpalli Sita Lava Kusa Temple / Pootadi Siva & Narasimha Swamy temple.

• KANNUR

SHIVA – Kottiyur Siva Temple / Thodikkalam Siva temple / Thalipparambu Rajarajeshwara temple / Kanjirangadu Vaidyanatha Temple.
VISHNU – Thrichambaram / Thiruvangod Sri Rama Temple / Kadalai.
DEVI – Cherukunnu Anna Poorneshwary Temple / Mattaikkavu / Kalarivaathukal.
OTHERS – Surya Narayana Temple,Kadiroor,Thalassery / Peralassery Subrahmanya / Payyannur Subramanaya Tepmle / Parassini Muthappan Temple.

• KASARGOD

SHIVA – Neeleswaram Mallikarjuna Temple / Adur Mahalingeswara Temple / Thrikkannattu Thriambekshwara Temple.
VISHNU – Ananthapuram Anantha Padamanabha Swamy Lake temple / Munjankaavu Parthasarthy / Sreemad Anantheswara Temple Manjeswaram.
DEVI – Malla Durga Parameshwari Temple.
OTHERS-Madhur Sreemad Anantheswara Siddhi Vinayaka Tmeple/Madiyamkulam Kshethra Paalaka Swamy Temple.
Note:-Most of the major temples in Kerala have been listed above. In between the major temples with centuries of history there are several thousand minor temples and shrines in Kerala, where local people worship. Travelers across the state can see hundreds of them on the way.