Kottiyoor Temple | The Site of a Legendary Sacrifice | The Varanasi of South in Kannur

Kottiyoor Siva temples, an ancient pilgrimage destination in North Kerala, is situated in the peaceful hilly area of the Western Ghats. On the opposite banks of the Bavali River situate two temples, Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor. Akkare Kottiyoor opens only for twenty-eight days during Vaishakhamahotsavam – the annual festival of the temple, which falls in the months of May-June. During that time, Ikkare Kottiyoor remains closed. 

The history of the temple is associated with Daksha Yaga. According to Hindu mythology, Dakshaprajapathi, not pleased with his daughter’s marriage to Lord Shiva, decided to conduct a Yaga [sacrifice] at this place without informing his daughter Sati Devi and Lord Shiva. Sati Devi unaware of his intention, visited the yagabhumi, the site, but was insulted by her father. Hurt and humiliated, she committed suicide with her yogashakti [spiritual power]. Distraught and enraged by this act, Lord Shiva did the Thandavanritham [destructive dance] as Veerabhadra and decapitated Daksha. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and other gods came to pacify Lord Shiva. Later, Shiva replaced Daksha’s head with a goat’s head. Hence this place is said to have the divine presence of the Trinity – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. 

The restoration of the temple took place during the time of Shankaracharya, and rituals of the festival were set out by him. Ikkare Kottiyoor is a formal temple complex like any other temple. On the other hand, the Akkare Kottiyoor temple stands in the middle of a pond and does not have any formal structure. The Swayambhoo Shiva Linga is placed on a platform raised with river stones. The Vaishakamahotsavam starts with Neyyattam [ablution using ghee] and ends with Elaneerattam [ablution using tender coconut water] which are special rituals in the temple. Kottiyoor is said to be a place where Nature, man and God become one. 

Temple Timings: 05.30 am to 08.00 pm 

Mythology 

Kottiyoor temple, situated on sahyaadri mountains, also known ‘Dekshina Kaasi’ belived to be the place where ‘Daksha yaaga’ conducted. Daksha was one of the Prajapathi, son of Brahma Deva. Sati Devi, the youngest daughter of Daksha was in deep love with Lord Siva and she married Siva without Daksha’s wish and permission. 

Once Daksha held a huge yaaga and he did not invite his daughter Sathi and son in low Loard Siva. Sathi went to attend yaaga inspite of warning from Lord Siva. When Devi Sathi reach ‘yaagasala’ (yaaga premises) Daksha started to insult her. The shameless insult and humiliation became too unbearable for Sathi and she immolated herself in the ‘yaagagni’ (yaaga fire) Hearing this tragic incident, Loard Siva infuriated and beat his matted hair on the ground. From that impact two deities called Veerabadra and Badrakali emerged. Lord Siva ordered them to kill Daksha and destroy the yaaga. Veerabadra and Badrakaali reach ‘yaagasaala’ and they disrupted and destroyed yaga surroundings. Veerabdra killed Daksha. 

Loard Brahma and Loard Vishnu approached Loard Siva and prayed to shed his anger. Siva became calm and agreed to restore Daksha’s life for yaaga completion. As his head could not be traced, head of a lamb was fixed on Daksha’s body and he was revived. By the grace of Loard Siva Daksha completed his yaaga. 

The site of this yaaga was subsequently covered with dense forest. Centuries later hill tribes called Kurichyas were hunting deer in this forest area and he was sharpening his arrow on a stone, suddenly blood oozed out. This strange phenomenon confused the hill tribes and they reported this incident to nearby Padingitta Namboothiri’s illam. The Namboothiri well-versed in tantric lore got an intuition that an idol is lying at a particular spot. Namboothiri told Kurichyas to inform four prominent Nair families in Manathana village. Kurichyas reach Manathana and informed Kulangarayath, Aakkal, Karimbanakkal chathoth and Thittayil families. 

All four members of Nair family and Padingitta Namboothiri were went to the spot where the incident happen. Great surprise they found a bleeding stone in the forest. Ablutions with water, ghee and milk could not control the blood flow and finally tender coconut water stopped the blood. 

On consultation with astrologer they come to know that it is a holy land where Daksha conducted his yaaga and bleeding stone was a ‘swayambu idol’. It is belived that Lord Siva took form of ‘swayambu ’ next to where Devi Sathi immolated herself in the ‘yaagagni’. 

The place where swayambu idol was found is known as ‘Akkare Kottyoor’. “Akkare Kottiyoor” is opened only during the Vyskha Mahotsavam. ‘Ikkare Kottiyoor’ is nalukettu temple complex where regular poojas happening. Regular poojas and other rituals were to be conducted and it is believed that Sri Shankaracharya who set out present day rituals with his spiritual vision. 

Akkare Kottiyoor 

Kottiyoor Temple is one of the oldest hindu pilgrimage spot in the planet. The temple is located in southern India, north part of Kerala state. Kottiyoor Temple situated on the beautiful Sahya mountain range valley and is blessed with abundant natural beauty. 

At Kottiyoor, there are two temples – Akkare Kottiyur and Ikkare Kottiyur, located on the opposite banks of Bavali river. Akkare Kottiyur is open during the Kottiyoor Vaisakha Maholsavam festival only. 

As per calculations the, area needed for construction of a temple was so vast that it would be impossible to construct an edifice of this magnitude. Hence, even today the temple exists in the form of several small temples, almost 72 numbers. Every person connected with temple activities resides within this boundary. In the middle of the circular water pond, is a semicircular raised “Thara” – the Manithara. 

The site of “Swayambhoo” has water surrounding it, called ‘Thiruvanchira’ ; A devotee standing east and facing west, while praying at the Manithara , the circular ‘thara’, seen to the left is ‘Ammarakal Thara’, the place of Sati’s suicide. It is believed, Thiruvanchira is the blood scattered during Virabhadran’s destruction of the Yaga. 

The shelter created for the Yaga, has given place to the thatched hutments seen today. Priests as well as temple authorities stay in such huts. More over “Koothambalam, Kalavara, Ocher, Ullattu manushyar, Kudipathikal, Kanakkapilla, Aashari, Mooshari, Kollen, Kurichiyan”, have different sheds today. 

Places in this area are named reflecting the mental and physical conditions; Sati Devi went through on her passage to the “Yagashala”. The place where she felt the pangs of separation from her beloved is “Manathana”, when tears poured out, the place became “kanneer char”, Feeling tired, she rested- at “Aayothumchal”. An ox provided for the tired Devi to ride on became “Kelakam”. Noise emanating from ‘Yagashala’ made her stretch out to have a glimpse is now “Neendunokki”. The place of taxation – “Chungakunnu”. Where she walked slowly became “Mandhemcheri”. The place where she fell down ,tired ,is “Murchilakadu”. 

The sword which decapitated Dakshan, thrown on the ground is “Mutherikavu”. Stone hearths used for boiling milk came to be known as “palukachiyamala”.Anyway “Kottiyoor” remains as the place where Sati Devi, Shiva and other holy men once came together. 

Ikkare Kottiyoor 

Ikkare Kottiyoor’ is nalukettu temple complex where regular poojas happening. Regular poojas and other rituals were to be conducted and it is believed that Sri Shankaracharya who set out present day rituals with his spiritual vision. 

Rituals 

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held. 

Present day rituals of Kottiyoor were set out by Sri Shankaracharya. With his spiritual vision, he felt the presence of Shiva at ‘Akkare Kottiyoor’ and not willing to pollute the holy ground with the touch of his feet, prayed from ‘Ekkare Kottiyoor’ and left. 

The Vaisakha Maholsavam festival is held every year during the months of May – June. The twenty eight day festival commences with the ‘Neyyattam’ ritual on the ‘chodi’ Day in Edavam and concludes with the Thrikkalashaattu. 

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held. Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor. 

An important ritual during the festival is the ‘Elaneer Vayppu’ or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga. On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple, pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as ‘Elaneeraattam’. 

Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual. The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati. 

As a part of the festival, a procession (Ezhunnallippu) is held with two elephants carrying the idols of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. After the procession, the elephants are fed well (Aanayootu) and given a formal farewell. 

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