Sree Madiyan Koolom Temple

Sri Madiyan Koolom Temple is located at latitude 12 ° 21′0 and longitude 12 ° 21′0, 5 kilometers from Kanhangad and 69 km from Kannur.

Madiyan Koolom

Kshethrapalakan Eeshwaran who is the main deity of Madiyan Kovilakam and Udinur Kovilakam is the head of Alladadesham which stretches from Chittari to Olavara. Legend has it that he decides to 'sit' when he found his niche once he reached Madiyan on the midway of his journey from Udinur along with Vairajathan; after he was attracted by the smell of the Appam (which is still an offering in the temple renowned as 'Kooloth Appam') that was being prepared for Nadayil Bhagavathi who was the main deity of Koolom at the time. Seeing this "Sastha" and other disciples who were accompanying him called Thampuran as "Madiya" which means lazy in Malayalam which later came to be known as "Madiyan" Kshethra palakan.

Vairajathan Theyyam

Thampuran or Kshethrapalakan later sat on the lap of Kaalarathriamma, a goddess who was in her 'furious form' and enjoyed a Mother's love and affection eventually positioning himself facing towards the west of the temple. There is another popular belief that the word "Madiyan" was originated since he sat on the lap (Madi in Malayalam) of Kalarathriyamma. It was also an end to the "Shaktheya puja" which was performed there before. In the memory of Shakteya pooja, kallu (palm toddy) and fish are still brought inside the temple on the day of Kalasham.

The origins of the Sri Madiyan Kovilakam has very devotional stories. It's also famous in a way as a temple which also had entry for lower castes people even before the Temple Entry Proclamation in Kerala.

Eshwaran is the main deity of the Madiyan Kovilakam who is a symbol of religious unity. The Paattu festival in the month of Dhanu and Kalasham festival in the month of Edavam are held together with unity and harmony irrespective of castes. The temple exists as a link for the Hindu-Muslim unity in the region. The devotion of the Muslims in this area and their respect of other religions was the reason why the site where an Athiyal temple was located was granted to build the first mosque. The friendship between Muslims and Hindus is inevitable for the rituals.

The Kshethrapalakan came to the earth under the command of Mahadeva to conquer that "Allada swaroopam". Alladaswarupam was a town stretching from Chittari river in the north to the "Olavara" River in the south.

It was a customary for the kings to name their country as "Swaroopam" in the olden times. The region was ruled by a bad and ruthless lord known as Allohalan. At this time Kerala Varma, son of Kolathiri falls in love with "Pankipillayathiri Thamburatti" of Nediyirippu Swaroopam. In the aftermath protests, they both married. They had a desire to have their own country for their children. So they decided to conquer the kingdom of Allohalan. The guards kill him when he came to wash on the northern pond of the temple. Kerala Verma opened the fortress and owned it. The Kerala Varma later worshiped Kshethrapalakan and Kalarathri who helped him in his conquest. But most of the people around him were the people of Allohalan. For this reason, "Moolchary Nairachan" was appointed in the temple and he builds a palace in Nileshwaram and continued ruling from there along with the queen.

Earlier outer Kalasham was held during the 2nd of Edavam to worship Nadayil Bagavathi by performing Theyyam, apart from Kshethrapalakan and Kaalarathriamma. It's believed to be complete only if all the inhabitants of the country will join it; which continues to this day. Madiyan Koolom still proudly exists as the headquarters of the Alladanadu or the town famed as the shrine of Lord Kshethrapalakan, son of Kaalarathriamma.

The temple follows a particular order to offer prayers or having darshan.

1. Naagam

2. Perattur Baghavathi

3. Maanjali Amma

4. Kshethrapalakan Eeshwaran

5. Kaalarathriamma

The temple sprawls in a 6 acres of land out of which 3 acres consists of monuments built in traditional Kerala style architecture and is also famous for its sculptures and astonishing wooden carvings which depicts the ancient stories from Ramayana and other epics. Most of the carvings are found in Thekkini, western Gopuram and the Mandapa near the pond. The 'Thekkini Mandapam' near the temple kitchen has the etchings of Dakshayagam, Seethaswayamvaram and the Vanayathra of Rama and Lakshmana. All the wooden etchings in this portion of temple is partially or mostly destroyed as it's turned black due to the continuous exposure of smoke from the kitchen. This was reported even in the medias and there wasn't any response or action by the concerned authorities. Similarly the wooden carvings of 12 Raashis and Navagraha devatas in the pond Gopuram is completely destroyed by painting it with silver colour.

Daru sculpture at Madiyan Koolom Temple, Kasargode, Kerala, India

Daru sculpture at Madiyan Koolom Temple, Kasargode, Kerala, India

The western gopuram shows instances of Amruthamadhanam, Kaliyamardhanam and Ananthashayanam. The etchings showing the premier of churning ocean of "Palazhi" using Vasuki to make Amrut (Kshir Sagar) looks extraordinarily beautiful. The carvings also includes erotic wooden etchings similar to those of the world-famous Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh. A number of tourists visit here to see the marvel etchings and wooden carvings. It also has depiction of many mythical characters like those of the 'elephants with feathers'. The use and combination of natural colours obtained from unique plants and trees enhances the aesthetics of the carvings. A mural painting of the Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu is another attraction. The temple houses two ponds. There is a small sculpture of a 'bowing' elephant near the entrance which is believed to be a curse to an elephant who was about to enter the temple as elephants are not permitted inside the temple premises. Similarly there is another sculpture of a snake in one of the ponds which is again believed to be a curse as legend has it that the snake was send to spew venom in the pond.

Now the temple paintings and carvings are in the stage of complete deterioration due to recklessness and negligence of the Malabar Devaswom board. The question of existence of marvellous works of this ancient temple is what remains at the end.

• Kanhangad
• Nileshwaram
• Madhur Temple
• Ananthapura Lake Temple
• Temples of Kerala

• http://travelkannur.com/theyyam-kavu/kasaragod-kanhangad-madiyan-koolom-temple/
• https://www.justkerala.in/tourism/pilgrimage/temples/madiyan-kooloom-temple
• http://www.keralaculture.org/kerala-festivals/pattu-utsavam/72/3