# Kilimarathukavu Temple

Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple is a Hindu temple located in Kadakkal, Kollam, Kerala, India. The deities include one of the cult images of 'Dharma Sastha', an epithet of Ayyappan is also present within the temple.

## History

Kilimarathukavu Temple is an ancient temple. It is believed that the old temple was destroyed in the past and only the idols were left behind. In the 21st century, a new temple was constructed. In 2011, the Travancore Devaswom Board oversaw the renovation with the help of the temple advisory committee.

## Temple legend

During the Pandavas' exile in the forest, Arjuna traveled as an ascetic of Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, he came across a bird, which he began to follow. After several days it reached a valley, where it sat on a tree called Kilimaram near a clean stream. Arjuna approached the bird. The bird plucked three leaves from the nearby Koovalam tree, and Arjuna felt like he was asked to increase his asceticism for Lord Shiva. Arjuna bathed in a pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva lingam stone he found there. As time went on, Arjuna's asceticism became severe.
As requested by Parvati, Shiva came to Arjuna as a tribal man and Parvati also came, as a tribal woman. An Asura (monster) in the form of a pig, was sent by Duryodhana to kill Arjuna. Arjuna and Shiva in his disguise, shot the monster with arrows. During the ensuing argument, Arjuna beat the tribal man with his bow. Parvati stopped him and revealed the man's true identity. Hearing this, Arjuna did Sashtanga Namaskara and Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave him blessings. Several other deities, including Ganapathy, Murugan, Shastha, and Anjaneyan burst into the scene as well. Shiva told Arjuna "The place where we are now is very sacred and whoever comes here for prayer should be blessed", and then disappeared. Upon saying this a Shivalingam appeared in his place. Even today the two Shivalingam are worshipped.

## Deities

The temple has two Shiva deities: Shiva and Mahanadan. Other deities worshipped are Parvati, Murugan, Shastha, Hanuman (Anjaneya), Ganapathi, Nāgathara, and Navagraha.

### Shiva

In the main Garbhagriha there are deities of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva, the creator of earth and supreme of all God. Shiva is one of the supreme beings who creates, protects and transforms the universe. Shiva is also called as Bhrahman which can also be said as Parabhrahman. Shiva means nothingness. The word shivoham means the consciousness of one individual, the lord says that he is omnipotent, omnipresent, as he is present in the form of one's consciousness. In Tamil, he was called by different names other than Sivan. Nataraja (Dancing form of Shiva), Rudra (Enraged form of Shiva), and Dhakshinamoorthy (Yoga form of Shiva). Nataraja is the only form of Shiva worshipped in a human figure format. Elsewhere he is worshipped in Lingam figure. In Kilimarathukavu temple Shiva who is in the form of “Ardhanarishvaran” is one of the main deities in the east side and Sree Parvathi Devi in the west side is also there in the same temple. Maybe it is very rare that in a temple there are two Lord Shiva deities. Devotees worship the Shiva Lingam for sovereignty and prosperity in life.

### Parvati Devi

Sree Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva in temple is having a specialty that the deity is facing towards west which is in the same sreekovil of Lord Shiva. She is the daughter of the Mountain King, Himavan and Queen Mena. Parvati is the mother of Hindu deities Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashokasundari. The Puranas also referenced her to be the sister of the preserver god Vishnu. She is the divine energy between a man and a woman, like the energy of Shiva and Shakti. Parvati is a central deity in the Shaiva sect. In Hindu belief, she is the recreative energy and power of Shiva, and she is the cause of a bond that connects all beings and a means of their spiritual release. “Kunkumam” pooja is special for Parvathy Devi. Navarathri is the main festival for Sree Parvathy Devi. As a part of Navarathri, Devi will be dressed up on different forms of Devi on each day and on vijayadhasami it is Lord Sree Saraswathi Devi. On the same day is Vidhyarambhan when hundreds of kids will start their first writing lessons which will be led by Temple Thandhri ” Sree Kokkalathu Madathil Madhavar Shambhu”.

### Ganapati

Ganapati is located near the main Sreekovil.

### Mahanadan

Mahanadan is one of Lord Shiva's form who is very powerful. He is usually worshipped in the aniconic form of lingam. The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent around his neck. Mahanadan deity is very special since the lingam has serpent embossed on the surface. He is very special in the geography of the deity's location where shrine is facing the temple pond and the construction the temple is with open roof which makes the deity exposed to rain and sun light. The temple for Hanuman is situated in the middle of the temple pond. Also known as Visa Temple of Kerala.

### Murugan

As in Kailasam Murugan is the son of Parvati and Shiva, brother of Ganesha, and a god whose life story has many versions in Hinduism. The iconography of Kartikeya varies significantly; he is typically represented as an ever-youthful man, riding or near a peacock, dressed in weapons sometimes near a rooster. Murugan is known by numerous names in ancient and medieval texts of the Indian culture. Most common among these are Kartikeya, Kumara, Skanda, and Subrahmanya.

### Sastha

This deity is the largest Sastha (Lord Ayyappa) deity in India is in temple. It was proved in Devaprashnam that it was the largest deity of Lord Sastha and during temple construction the old deity was found as the supporting evidence for the proof. It is believed that for Sanidhosham devotees can pray to Lord Sastha. The Sastha deity is special here that wife of Sastha calla Prabha is also beside the deity.

### Hanuman

Hanuman also known as Anjaneyan is one of the main deities and is construction in the middle of temple pond. The construction of the temple is very rare according to Vasthu Shasthra. From the devotee's experience Hanuman temple is known as visa temple of Kerala.

### Navagraham

Kilimarathukavu temple is situated in Kadakkal, a village in Kollam district in Kerala, India. Kilimarathukavu temple encompasses the main shrine Shiva Parvati temple, MahaShiva temple, Shastha temple, Subramanyan temple, Hanuman temple, Navagraha temple, Ganesha temple and Nagas. Releasing an unmistakable and all-encompassing divine presence, Kilimarathukavu Temple is a serene place of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakthi. The presence of two MahaSivalingas in the sanctum and the visual feast of all these Gods of the Hindu pantheon in one compound makes the temple a rarity in South Kerala.
Out of all the temples in the premise, the Navagraha temple with an elliptical ornament is a rare and unique construction of its kind. The temple is constructed by craving krishnashila(blackstone) from adisthana the base to pillars. The roof is fully forged on wooden cross-beams which are arranged in a deep ellipse obtained by combining two semicircles on either side of a square and placing the axial on the frame with wooden planks paved with copper sheets on the top which gives the temple rare and unique structure. The mandapa had been built according to the rules of precision, symmetry and proportion of Vastu Sastra that render its beauty and structure stability. Such mandapas are best combined with a deep elliptical unique construction. Navagraha temple mandapa is the first elliptical shaped temple of its kind which was built with the concept to combine the energy of the Milky Way with delicacy- the principles of the universe where the planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical shape along with the 12 zodiac signs and 27 stars. The Navagraha spirit is acquired according to the standards of Vastu to provide the life force energy. The Navagrahas which includes nine major celestial bodies in Hindu astronomy is portrayed into deities deployed creatively as a wedded pair in the temple. The nine deities named Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Mangala (the mars), Budha (the mercury), Brihaspathi (the Jupiter), Shukra (the Venus), Shani (the Saturn), Rahu (the north lunar pole) and Ketu (the south lunar pole) combines to form the navagraha temple. Another uniqueness of the temple are the AshtadikPalas (Guardians of the Eight Directions) and Ashtadiggagas (Elephants of the eight directions) which are carved on the eight stone pillars. AshtadikPalas are deities named Kubera in the north, Yama in the south, Indra in the east, Varuna in the west, Isana in the northeast, Agni in the southeast, Vayu in the northwest and Nirrti in the southwest are the guardians of eight directions. Ashttadiggajas which means eight elephants in eight directions which refers to the Hindu belief that eight elephants hold the earth in eight directions. The 27 stars are also chipped around pachavargam of the temple signifies the lunar mansions called nakshatras. Also, the 12 zodiac signs Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces are crafted on wooden planks on the roof with lotus in the middle which denotes brahma who is the god of creation, knowledge, Vedas and the creator of universe as per Hinduism.
The Navagraha temple was designed by Travancore Devaswom Board architect A.B Sivan (Sthapathi, Aranmula Vasthu Vidhya Gurukulam) the pioneer in vasthu architects. The Navagraha temple foundation stone was laid on 2nd December 2020, started with the basement filling, started setting up the carved stone sculptures including panchavargam and pillars on 28th December 2020 and completed by 5th January 2021, started fixing the carved wooden beams, rafter and board on 8th January 2021 and completed on 29th January 2021, Copper plates were paved on top of the roof wooden board on 30th January 2021. Finally, the temple main t handri (priest) Kokkalathumadathil Bhramasree. Madhavar Sambhu Pootty will do the prathishtta poojas after fixing the stone deities in the temple.

### Nagas

Nagas are believed to be nature spirits, guarding water bodies like lakes, rivers, springs, seas and wells. If sincerely revered, they can help in producing rain, and with it comes prosperity, money and fertility. However, they are also assumed to play a role in bringing catastrophes like floods, famine and drought if they feel insulted by mankind's insolent actions in connection to the environment since such activities encroach on their natural homes. Worshipping of the Nagas is believed to have risen from the aboriginal inhabitants of the Ganges valley. In South India, they are considered to stand for fertility and wealth and grand rituals.

## Festivals

* Maha Shivaratri on kumbham Malayalam calendar.
* Navaratri on kanni Malayalam calendar.
* Skandha Shashti on thulam Malayalam calendar.
* Mandalapooja Makaravilakku on vrischikam Malayalam calendar.
* Hanuman Jayanti on medam Malayalam calendar.

## Pujas
### Mathru Puja

Mathru puja is performed on Mother's Day to pay respects to mothers as representation of Devi. Mothers attend the temple with their children. The children do puja to their mother with milk, rose water and water, and chant mantras. At the end of the puja, the mothers bless their children and then give them sweets.

### Aushadha Kanji

Aushadha kanji occurs during the month of Karkidakam. For the entire month rice soup with Ayurvedic ingredients is prepared at the temple. Special pujas are done, and the soup is then distributed to the devotees. The soup is believed to be good for one's health and to help cure diseases.

### Veda and yoga

The temple holds weekly Veda classes and daily yoga classes.