Kottukal cave temple
Encyclopedia
Kottukkal cave temple, also known as Kaltrikkovil in Malayalam, is an existing example of rock cut architecture
in the age of 6-8th century AD. It is situated in village named Kottukkal
, near Anchal
, Kollam district
, Kerala, India. even the name Kottukkal (which means Kottiya Kallu- carved rock) is the reference to rock cut shrine. Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha are the deities in the temple.
According to the ancient belief in the area, the big rock was brought to the area by the incarnations of Shiva
including Nandi to the area, and another small rock near to it called 'chummaadu para' is believed to be the support to relieve the pain when the bigger hard rock kept in head. Historians read its origin back to the 7th century AD when 'Nedila Paranthaka Nedumchadayan' who ruled Chadayamangalam
the nearby place, made the rock cut temple.
It is now situated in the centre of a large extent of paddy fields and daily rituals are done under Travancore Devaswom Board. The calmness and tranquility of the area attracts the travellers, and one can reach the spot travelling 45 kilometers from Kollam.
Rock cut architecture
Rock-cut architecture is the practice of creating buildings and other physical structures by carving natural rock. In India the term 'cave' is often applied, and in China 'cavern,' but one must differentiate natural caves from rock-cut architecture which is man-made and designed along the...
in the age of 6-8th century AD. It is situated in village named Kottukkal
Kottukkal
-Demographics: India census, Kottukkal had a population of 18227 with 8669 males and 9558 females....
, near Anchal
Anchal
Anchal is a very fast developing town in the east central part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is the second fastest developing town in Kerala after Chalakudi. The name Anchal means the land of five proverbs. What characterizes this town is its quick pace of development...
, Kollam district
Kollam district
-Climate:Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around...
, Kerala, India. even the name Kottukkal (which means Kottiya Kallu- carved rock) is the reference to rock cut shrine. Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha are the deities in the temple.
According to the ancient belief in the area, the big rock was brought to the area by the incarnations of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
including Nandi to the area, and another small rock near to it called 'chummaadu para' is believed to be the support to relieve the pain when the bigger hard rock kept in head. Historians read its origin back to the 7th century AD when 'Nedila Paranthaka Nedumchadayan' who ruled Chadayamangalam
Chadayamangalam
Chadayamangalam is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. The place has mythological importance as having connections to the stories in the Hindu epic of Ramayana. The place is believed to have derived its current name from its old name of Jatayumangalam...
the nearby place, made the rock cut temple.
It is now situated in the centre of a large extent of paddy fields and daily rituals are done under Travancore Devaswom Board. The calmness and tranquility of the area attracts the travellers, and one can reach the spot travelling 45 kilometers from Kollam.