Aluva Manappuram Mahadeva Temple

On the banks of the Periyar River sits the Manappuram Shiva Temple, also known as Aluva Shiva Temple. Near the Aluva railway bridge, the Periyar River splits into two parts, one of which is known as Mangalappuzha. The Aluva Mahadeva Temple is situated between the Mangalppuzha and Periyar rivers on a sandbank. The Mahadeva Temple is about a kilometer from the Marthanda Varma bridge on NH-47. Travancore Devaswom Board is in charge of the Aluva Mahadeva Temple. Dakshina Ganga is another name for it. Shivaratri Manappuram is the name of Lord Shiva's main celebration, which takes the temple's name. This pilgrimage place in Kerala's Ernakulam District, also known as Aluva Manapuram from Manal Puram (land with sand), is well-known for providing rites of passage to ancestors.The Shivalinga is not enshrined in a Sreekovil, which is a unique characteristic of Aluva Mahadeva Temple. The Swayambhoo Shivalinga, built by Lord Parasurama and revered by Lord Sree Rama, rises from the Periyar river's sandbanks. The Aluva Manal Puram is the name of this location. 

History of Aluva Mahadeva Temple

This temple is the subject of numerous legends. Parasurama built a temple here after installing the Lingam, but it was destroyed by flood. Lord Shiva informed him that no temple structure will be built there because he does not desire a temple to protect the Lingam. Another legend goes like follows: Every night, Lord Shiva's Bhuthaganas worshipped the Lingam. They decided to build a temple there. However, Lord Shiva instructed them to construct the temple in a single night. Bhuthaganas accepted and began work on the project. 

When the foundation was finished, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a cock and crowed to deceive the Bhuthaganas. Fearing that daylight would arrive, the Bhuthaganas abandoned the project. Sri Rama did tharpana for Jadayu here while searching for Sitha. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar is linked to another mythology. When he came here one day, he sensed the presence of Lord Shiva and recognized the Shiva Linga that Parasurama had erected. When he began worshipping the Linga, Lord Mahadeva came in front of him and instructed him to begin performing poojas there. Vilwamangalam began the puja after Pottayil Ilayathu, Thottathil Nambiar, and Idamana Nampoothiri made suitable arrangements for Shiva Pooja.

 

However, there were no vessels available to offer Nivedyam. So Vilwamangalam presented Nivedyam with a Kavungin Pala (aracanut leaf). Even today, the nivedyam is known as Palanivedyam and is served at Kavungin Pala. A temple was later built by Vilwamangalam and his allies – Ilayathu, Nambiar, and Nampoothiri – but it was destroyed by flood in AD 1343. The entire region is inundated during the monsoon season, and the Shivalinga is submerged in water. As a result, the Ooranma Nampoothiris decided to build a tiny temple on the riverbank to do poojas during the monsoon season. 

Bala Kshetram is the name of this temple. It is a fact that, although being incomplete, this temple has survived numerous floods and continues to be a puzzle to the architects in terms of its foundation and construction. A temple edifice was built here by the Travancore Devaswom Board authorities a few years ago. However, a later Deva Prasna investigation determined that the temple structure's construction is against Lord Shiva’s wish.

Architecture of Aluva Mahadeva Temple

On Aluva's sandbanks, there is no permanent building. During non-rainy seasons, a temporary construction is erected around the granite enclosure of Siva-linga, consisting of wooden poles with wooden doors in front and back and a thatched roof. During the monsoon, the idol is submerged, thus a representation idol or thidambu with transferred abilities of the idol is kept at the shoreline temporarily. 

Temple Rituals

The Shiva Linga is oriented east. In front of the temple, there is a Nandi prathishta. Every day, there is only one puja. Only athazha pooja is performed from Makaram 1 to Medam 1, and only nivedyam is offered on other days. The festivities are Shivarathry in Kumbham, Utsavam in Meenam, Vavu Bali in Tulam, and Karkkidakam in Karkkidakam. The principal offerings are Dhara and Rudrabhishekham.

Special Rituals

The Maha Shivarathri in Kumbham is the most important festival of Aluva temple (February-March). Aluva is the only place in Kerala where Shivarathri is celebrated on such a huge scale. On the third and fourth days, an Ezhunnallippu of the deity atop a caparisoned elephant is performed, followed by a Dikvijayam procession and a pallivetta ceremony. The celebration comes to a close with the Aarattu on Shivarathri's next day. 

Pooja Timings

6 am to 12 pm in the morning

5 pm to 8 pm in the evening

Transportation

The town center is only 15 kilometers from Cochin International Airport. From the airport, regular domestic and international connections are available. 

After Ernakulam South, the Aluva railway station in the town is Kochi UA's second-largest railway station. This station serves as a stopover for all passenger and express trains headed for southern Kerala. Some flyers and websites still refer to the town by its previous name (Alwaye). Kochi Metro starts from Aluva Bypass.

The Rajiv Gandhi Central Bus Station is one of Kochi's busiest bus stations. Mysore, Mangalore, Bangalore, Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem, Palani, Kodaikanal, and other cities are served by regular private, KSRTC, and Karnataka RTC passenger buses, as well as Tamil Nadu's SETC. Privately run interstate buses to Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Mumbai, and other cities make stops at Aluva.