Maheswaram Temple

Maheswaram Temple
Maheswaram Temple Location in India
Name
Proper name	Maheswaram sri Sivaparvathi Temple
Geography
Coordinates	8°22′4.5588″N 77°5′51.9540″E / 8.367933000°N 77.097765000°E / 8.367933000; 77.097765000Coordinates: 8°22′4.5588″N 77°5′51.9540″E / 8.367933000°N 77.097765000°E / 8.367933000; 77.097765000
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Thiruvananthapuram
Locale	chenkal, Neyyattinkara
Culture
Primary deity	siva and parvathi (shiv Parivar)
Important festivals	Maha Shivaratri, Maheswaram Pooram, Vinayaka Chathurthi, Vishu, Mandala Chirap
Architecture
Architectural styles	Ancient Temple Architecture of Kerala

Maheswaram Temple also known as Maheswaram sri Sivaparvathi Temple (Malayalam: മഹേശ്വരം ശ്രീ ശിവപാർവതി ക്ഷേത്രം, Mahēśvaraṁ Śṟī Śivapāṟvati Kṣētraṁ) is located at Maheswaram (Chenkal), 26 km away from Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala, South india.^[1] Maha Shivaratri^[2] is celebrated with great pomp in this temple. The temple is constructed entirely out of Krishna Stone and wood in the Traditional Architecture of Kerala in temple construction. This temple is constructed in accordance with Vastu Shastra. Maheswram Sri sivaparvathi temple is the cradle of ancient Kerala Culture of Temple construction. This place is the culmination of service to humanity and service to God by Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathi. In this temple swamy welcomes people irrespective of their caste,creed and religion. Swamy believes in "Manavaseva is Madhavaseva".

History

A miraculous boy was born on 16 November 1954(Tulam, 30 1130 ME) in pooyam star as the eighth son of Chellamma and Jnanaprakasam of Chenkal village, Neyyattinkara Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram district. He had many peculiarities right from birth. The most characteristic among them was his matted hair on the head. When he was around five, he used to meditate sitting in the southwest corner of his house. At the age of ten, he renamed himself as krishnan and began to known as Krishanankutty. Later a termitary came up at that place resembling Sri Sivaparvati. One day a person at that village ridiculed that the termitary has no miraculous power and trampled it. A serpent appeared from that and that person ran for his life. With this, the fame of the termitary spread among the people of that locality and devotees started arriving in large numbers . Later he built a Sivaparvathi temple at the place where termitary sprang up. After getting divine darshan in dream swamiji constructed Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya temples.This brought the concept of Shivaparivar at the temple.It was the astroller and temple priest Mukkolakkal Krishnan who first gave him initiation of sacred text of manthras. Then he became a desciple of Keezhperur Madom K.S. Madhavan Namboodiri, from there he learned puja rituals and procedures of worship. He commenced sacrificial fire (Ganapathihomam) with one cocanut and now with 10008 cocanuts on Vinayakachathurthi day. Hearing about this rare event at Sri Sivaparvathi Temple head of Kanchikamakodi Madam^[3] Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi swamigal visited temple in 2010 and blessed Krishnankutty Swamy. Appreciating the spiritual activities of Krishnankutty Swamy, Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi swamigal gave Diksha to Krishnankutty swamy. Since then Chenkal Krishnankutty Swamy became known as Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathi and temple trust was renamed as Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple Trust.^[4] On 20th Februvary 2011( 9th Kumbha, 1186 ME) Lord Mahadeva gave him divine darshan and commaded Swamiji to construct a temple as designed by ancient saints. Accordingly, Perumthachan award winner and famous vasthu expert Kodungalloor Devadasn was invited and as per his plan and swamiji’s instructions Temple reconstruction using Krishna stone and wood in accordance with Ancient Temple Architecture of Kerala^[5] commenced on 21st of Kumbha, 1187ME.

Temple Architecture

Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple is the cradle of Ancient Kerala Culture.^[6] This temple is an exhibition of traditional Kerala Architecture of Temple Construction.Temple is built completely out of Krishnastone and wood in traditional Architecture of Kerala in accordance with vastu shastra.^[7] Entire Rashichakra^[8] symbols are at the sanctum(Sreekovil)^[9] entrance which symbolizes Sri Sivaparvathi is the controller of entire universe. Chuttambalam also constructed out of krishna stone and wood. Temple has four entances. On top of each entrance there exist Gopuram in Kerala Architecture .Gopuram iin front of East Nada( main entrance) there is kodimaram. Inside the east nada there is valiya balikkallu pura. On the roof bottom of Valiya balikkallu pura there exist Navagraha Sculptures carved on wood. Dome shaped structure in a single piece Krishnashila could be seen on top of the Namaskaramandapam.^[10] There exist 70 pillars which is the exhibition of excellency in sculpture. Sculptures of different characters in Hindu mythology could be seen at the temple which are produced by carving stone and wood. There exist Ganga Theerdha Kinar (well) at North East corner inside the Chuttambalam. There exist Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya temples inside the chuttambalam.

Deities

The main idol of this temple is the full sculpture of Lord Shiva and Parvati sitting together and giving blessings to entire creation. Existence of Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya as sub deities along with the main Deity Sri Sivaarvathi completes the concept of Sivaparivar.For the wllfare of their family, devotees come to this temple for Sivaparivar darshan. By getting sivaparivar blessings devotees believe to get peace, wealth, prosperity, auspiciousness, love and success in their family. Devotees of Sri sivaparvathi^[11] come to this temple to worship the ultimate source of completeness to get better job, suitable life partners and for success in business. Sri sivaparvathi^[12] is believed to be the moving force behind the entire creation. Sri Sivaparvathi shrine is the deity of auspiciousness.

Lord Siva is regarded limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless. Lord Siva has many benevolent and fearsome forms. In benevolent aspects, Lord Siva is depicted as an omniscient yogi who lives an aesthetic life on Mount Kailash as well as a house holder with wife Sri Parvathi and their two children Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Sri Prvathi is the ideal wife, mother and householder. The vision of ideal couple is derived from Lord Siva and Sri Parvathi as one being the better half of other. There is no separate existence for Lord Shiva or Sri Parvati. They are inseparable. The composite form of Lord Siva and Sri Parvathi conveys the unity of opposites in the universe. Lord Siva stands for Purusha and Sri Parvathi stands for Prakriti. Purusha is the male principle and passive force of the universe, while Prakriti is the female active force. The union of Purusha(Shiva) and Prakriti(Siva’s energy, Shakthi) is behind the entire creation in the universe. Hence devotees come at Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvati Temple to pray to Sri Sivaparvati for the auspiciousness of their family in all aspects.

Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathy

Every humanbeing pray to god only for him or her. But a person who will pray for others to God, for the welfare of all mankind is the real worshipper. This is repeatedly pronounced by Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathy. Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathy is the chief priest of Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple. He prays and works for “Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu”^[13] which means Let everybody live peacefully- Let us share and care for each other. Swamiji organize Vedic and Moral classes for children at different places of Kerala. To promote Arts Swamiji run a School of Arts and Music where Music, Indian classical dance, Violin, Keyboard, Tabala are being taught. Swamiji also lead some charitable activities for giving assistance to Poor and miserable. At Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple Swamiji welcomes devotees irrespective of their caste, creed or religion.

Charitable Activities

Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathy lead many charitable activities in connection with Maheswaram sri Sivaparvathi temple trust. Charitable activities include digging well for poor and miserable, Providing toilet facility to improve sanitary facilities to poor, Providing study materials to children in each academic year, Distribution of food;dress and shelter  to poor and miserable, Financial assistance for the treatment of diseases of miserable and conducting group marriage.

Festivals

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri^[14] is the main festival at Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple. Maha Shivaratri festival starts with Karpoora Jyothi Prayanam through the surrounding Village of the temple. This jyothi (sacred fire) will be kept at the temple without extinguishing for next 11 days until the Avabhritha Snana Ghoshayathra( Procession) is over. Aghora Rudra Maha Yajnjam is a very important form of worship of Lord Siva which will be extended over a period of 11 days to ensure universal peace and prosperity. Avabhritha Snana Ghoshayathra( Procession) is associated with majestic elephant pageantry^[15] with frenzied playing of drums and cymbals and rounded off with variety of various temple arts, cultural exhibitions and dances.

Maheswaram Pooram

Avabhritha Snana Ghoshayathra( Procession) is culminated by Maheswaram Pooram. The golden elephant caparison(Nettippattam), Elephant Accoutrements(Chamayam), Ornamental fan made of peacock feathers(Alavattom), Royal fan(Venchamaram), sacred bells and decorative umbrellas are prepared to decorate elephants for Kudamattom (Exchange of decorated umbrellas by sitting on decorated elephants). Plenty of elephants will stand in front of the most captivating elephant which is carrying Thidambu(God’s idol). Then kudamattom beging in front of the God’s idol. Display of fireworks (Vedikettu) begins after the kudamattom is over.

Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam

On the day of Vinayaka Chaturthi(Ganesh Chaturthi) Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam^[16] is conducted at the temple by using 10008 dry cocanut(Kottathenga).

Vijayadashami

Vidyarambham^[17] is a Hindu tradition observed on Vijayadashami day mainly in Kerala, where children formally start their Education by writing "Om hari sri ganapataye namah"(ഓം ഹരിഃ ശ്രീ ഗണപതയേ നമഃ).On vijayadashami^[18] day in each year Plenty of Children do their Vidyarambham at Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple.

Vishu

The most important event in Vishu^[19] is the Vishukkani, which literally means "the first thing seen on the day of Vishu after waking up". The Vishukkani consists of a ritual arrangement of auspicious articles intended to signify prosperity, including rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, yellow flowers called konna (Cassia fistula), holy texts and coins. On Vishu day Vishukkani is maintained at Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple.On the same day tradition of giving money called Vishukkaineetam to devotees is carried out by Swamy Maheswarananda Saraswathy.

Another important Days associated with Maheswaram Sri Sivaparvathi Temple are Mandalapooja,^[20] First Day of month Chingam(New year of Malayalees).

References