Date built 11th Centuary Important festival Maha Shivaratri | ||
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Proper name Anandavalleeswaram Sri Mahadevar Temple Location Anandavalleeshwaram, Kollam city | ||
Anandavalleeswaram Sri Mahadevar Temple in Kollam city is one of the ancient Hindu temples in Kerala, India. Lord Siva and Goddess Anandavally are the deities of this 400-year-old temple. It is located at Anandavalleeswaram, a major neighbourhood of Kollam city, that comes to the west side of Kollam Collectorate.
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Importance
The 400-year-old Sanctum sanctorum of Anandavalleeswaram Mahadeva Temple is finished in teak. This is the only Hindu temple in India which has the deities of Sree Krishnan, Maha Vishnu, Bhoomidevi and Lakshmidevi consecrated as idols under a single structure(Sanctum sanctorum).
Temple festival
The annual festival of Anandavalleeswaram Mahadevar Temple lasts for ten-days and popularly known as 'Thirukodiyettu Festival'. Every year, the festival will begin with the traditional 'Nirmalyadarshanam'. There would be other rituals including Pallivetta ritual, Arattu, Aratu Ethirelpu, Ezhunallathu, Kettukazhcha ritual and other cultural programmes comprising dance, dramas, music programmes and also pyrotechnic display as part of the annual festival. Sivarathri festival is the other important one celebrated by the temple every year.