Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

According to the history of Sri Bhagavathi temple, the King Mandhatha of Surya dynasty ruled the country for long period. He then gave away the kingdom to his successors and chose to meditate on lord Siva and attain the lord's feet at the end. Lord Shiva was pleased with his penance and appeared before the king Mandhatha and offered him to ask any boon. The king prayed to the lord for an idol to worship till his death then Lord Shiva gave him the holy Shiva linga at Kailas, which was too dear to him and which used to be worshiped by Parvathi Devi. Carrying the Siva linga on head Mandhatha started his downward journey from Kailasa and reached the hill now known as Thirumandhamkunnu. A spring with crystal clear water flowed along the northern slope of the hill. Many beautiful birds chirped in the jungle. Wild animals like lion, tiger and elephant roamed about in the wilderness in full harmony forgetting their traditional enmity. Different kinds of trees and plants grew in the region and gave out the sweet smell into the atmosphere. The surrounding attracted the king feelings of the idol on his head heavy he placed it on the ground at immediately the linga got stuck into the earth.

Lord Siva had gifted the linga to the king when his consort Parvathi was away for her bath. When Parvathi turned up for worship the Siva linga was not there. Then Parvathi Devi got upset on inquiry she knows that the Shiva Linga was presented to the king Mandhatha by her husband (Maha Deva). Being too much attached to it she wanted the Linga back. Siva told her that he had no objection in her trying to get it back. Parvathi offered Bhadrakali and a host of Bhoothas to rush up and get back the Siva lingam from the king. With the army of Bhoothas, Kali reached the northern slope of Thirumandha hill. The brightness emitted by the Linga installed by Mandatha was so great that it dazzled the eyes of Kali and Bhoothas and they were unable to move up the hills. So they started throwing up the weapons from the foot of the hill. The ascetic attending on Mandhatha were unarmed but tried to defend themselves with whatever things they had. These being insufficient to protect them they plucked Attanga nuts from their creeper plants, which were available in plenty and threw them at the enemy. Because of the power of Lord Siva and the mantra power of Mandhatha the nuts got changed into arrows instantly. Kali and her Bhoothas could not resist them the fight lasted for 15 days.

The age-old custom of "Attanga Yeru" on first of Thulam (The Malayalam month) on the new moon day of the same month in the forenoon before Pantheerady pooja refers to the legendary fight between mandhatha and Kali. Expecting defeat Mahamaya took her Viswaroopa. Bhadrakali had an elephant in an ear and a lion in the other as an earring. Seeing this from the ascetics fell down senseless. When Mahamaya in this form reached the hilltop Mandhatha was also helpless. He embraced the Siva linga kali tried to capture it by force. In this struggle that followed the linga got split into two. In the "Jyothis" that arose from it, "Thrimoorthis" (Brahma,Vishnu and Siva) and Parvathy appeared on the spot. Parvathy told Mandhatha this idol was very dear to me. Still, I do not want to take it away from you against the wishes of my husband. Separation from it is also difficult for me. So I will enter that linga and remain here forever. My daughter kali is not different from me. Actually she came here first. Let her also be installed near me facing North and have all poojas and festival performed. So same Parvati disappeared into the idol. This spot is the "Sreemoolasthanam". According to the Legend, the Shivalinga in this temple is said to have revered by Goddess Parvati herself. It is also said that many divine sages have revered the Linga regularly. Hence, the deity is considered to be the one with both Rishi and Human divinity.