Sree Mahadevar Temple (Ettumanoor)

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TVT057 -Sree Mahadhevar temple, Eranoor or Eranur now known as Ettrumanoor is 57th thevara vaippu temple.Temple names which are mentioned in the thevara hymns(tamil) are called as "TVT-thevara vaippu(referred) temples".

This is one of the holy 108 Siva temples across the length & breadth of the country. The temple if famous for the 7 1/2 (Seven and half Golden Elephant) on which the main deity is taken out in procession. Recently in Apr 10, the a gold plated new flag staff(Kodimaram in Malayalam) been installed in an elaborate ceremony.
This is one of the three temples apart from Vaikom and Kaduthuruthi which are believed to have been installed by a rishi with two lingams on two hands and one lingam in the mouth on the same day. So it is considered very sacred to visit all these three temples on a single day.
The presiding deity here is Lord Siva. Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is located 12 km north of Kottayam, at Ettumanoor. It is considered as one of the ancient Shiva temple, believed to be built in the 16th century. Sastha, Ganapathy and Dakshinamurthy are the subdeities of this temple.

The legend associated with this temple is that an asura demon named "Khara" worshipped Lord Siva at Chidambaram and received three shivlingas from siva. He carried those three siva lingas by holding each one in his hand and remaining one in his mouth. At the place Vaikom, he placed one shivlinga on the ground as he got tired. After the he realised that the shivalinga he kept has got fixed here and unable to move. The place becomes Vaikkom Mahadeva temple. Khara therefore installed the other two shivlings at Ettumanoor and Kaduthuruthy. It is believed that visiting these three temples in one day is auspicious.
More photos here:
www.flickr.com/photos/rajushanthi/sets/7215763010240495...