Trithala Maha Siva Temple
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Trithala Maha Siva Temple | |
|---|---|
തൃത്താല മഹാ ശിവക്ഷേത്രം | |
 Temple Tower | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Palakkad[1] |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Festivals | Maha Shivaratri |
| Location | |
| Location | Trithala |
| State | Kerala |
| Country |  India |
| Geographic coordinates | 10°48′19″N 76°07′57″E / 10.805172°N 76.132518°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Architecture of Chola or Pandya style |
| Completed | 9th Century[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Temple(s) | 1 |
| Elevation | 37.34 m (123 ft) |
Trithala Maha Siva Temple (Malayalam: തൃത്താല മഹാ ശിവക്ഷേത്രം) is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river at Thrithala of Palakkad District in Kerala state in India.[3] References to this temple are found in Aithihyamala of Kottarathil Sankunni and many classics of Malayalam Literature.[4] The place where the idol is worshiped in the temple resembles the addition of sand. Legend has it that the Shiva Linga was made by Agnihotri by using the sand from Bharathapuzha river. Anointing is not performed because it is a Shivling of sand. The Shivalinga sits slightly oblique, as the mother of Agnihotri held on to the force, there was a slight tilt.[5] The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala.[6] According to historians, the Trithala Siva Temple, built in the 9th or 10th century, marks the transition from Chola to Pandya style architecture.[7]
