Religion in Kollam District

Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the prominent religions in Kollam district.

Hindu worship

Oachira Temple

Oachira, located in the northern end of Kollam on National Highway 47, is famous for the Oachira Parabrahma Temple.^[1] Oachirakali is a special annual event at the padanilam (paddy fields) in the month of Vrichikam. Oachira Town Masjid (mosque) and the Oachira temple are situated close to one another and are a proud symbol of communal harmony. This temple is also a Sabarimala edathavalam. Gopuram, East Nada, West Nada, Ondikkavu, Ayyappa Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple and Ganapathi temple are important points of worship in this temple. Oachira temple is very different in the kind of offerings given to the deities. Theerthakkulam(Sacred pond) is another famous location where devotes take the sacred bath(dip).

Kottarakkara Ganesh Temple

The Mahaganapathi(Ganesha) Temple at Kottarakara,^[2] famous for its Unniappom, is one of the most venerated Ganesha temples in Kerala.The major vazhipadu(offerings) of Kottarakkara temple is the famous Udayasthamaya pooja.The main deity of this temple is lord Shiva, but Ganesha became famous and is now a Ganesha temple.^[2]

Asramam Sreekrishna Swamy Temple

Asramam Sreekrishna Swamy Temple^[3] on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake is one of the most prominent temples in kollam. Main deity is lord sreekrishna as a boy with butter in both palms. Arattu mahotsavam(Festival) of this temple is very famous and is known as Kollam pooram.^[4] Kollam pooram is annually held in Asramam maidan(Ground).^[5][6]

Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple

Paravur Puttingal Temple is situated in Paravur municipal area. Puttingal Meenabharani Maholsavam is a Temple Festival usually held on the 2nd day of the 2nd month(Meenam) of Malayalam Calendar(March–April). This temple is very famous for the fireworks competition (Malsara Kambam) which is usually held on the final day of festival.

Ammachiveedu Temple

Ammachiveedu Temple^[7] is situated in the town area. It was established by an aristocratic family called Ammachi Veedu (Ammachi home). The annual festival falls on Dhanu of every year but it is to be done after the Mandala Pooja.

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Kshethram

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Temple (Murugan) is situated on the NH-47, about 8 km from Kollam town. One of another name of Lord Subramanyan(Murugan) is Umayan, that’s why the land of Umayan(Subramanyan) has been called Umayanalloor. The important feature if this temple is that the Idol faces the western direction. One of the famous name associated with this temple is Adi Shankara. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees. Aanavaalpidi or 'Aana Vaal Pidutham Mahotsavam during the Malayalam calendar 'Meenam'[mid-March], attracts hundreds of devotees. Devotees run after an elephant and catch its tail, symbolising the childhood pranks between the deities Subramanyan (another names Murugan,Karthikeyan) and Ganesha. 'Thaipuyyam' is also celebrated in a big way. The lore is that the temple was built by the powerful lady ruler 'Umayammarani' of Venad Kingdom about 500 years ago. Administrattion of this Temple comes under Travancore Devaswom Board. "Nedumkuthira Eduppu" or Kuthira Eduppu” also performes during the last day of festival time in umayanallor Ela. Chira like water reservoirs of Umayanalloor Ela (paddy field) are Umayanalloor Ambala Chira, Umayanalloor Kovur Chira^[8][9] with too many ponds situating surroundings of Umayanalloor Ela.

Other Temples

The Anchal Agasthyakode Mahadeva Temple is another major Mahadeva temple in the Kollam district. It is situated in Anchal Panchayath. Every year during Sivarathri, people from every caste and religious background comes for the religious festivities.The Temple has been reconstructed recently and right now is having a new traditional look. The Temple is situated at around 2.5 km from Anchal Town, which is the Second Fastest Developing town in Kerala. www.agastyacodemahadevar.org s.

The Mukhathala Murari (Sree Krishna Swamy) Temple^[10] at Mukhathala is about 10 km from the Kollam city.

The Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple is the most famous Siva Temple in Kollam District. It is situated in the Thrikkadavoor Panchayath and on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake. The annual Srattu festival attracts thousands of people, including foreigners. The festival falls in the month of Kumbham (February). The eight artificial horses, which represent the eight areas (karas) around the temple, is a special attraction for tourists.

Kolloorvila Bharanikkavu Devi temple is located in madannada is on National Highway 47, annual festival spans for 41 days. The annual festival is on bharani nakshatra of meenam month according to Malayalam calendar,kollavarsham.

The Veerabhadra Swamy Temple at Ashtamudi in Kollam is the only temple in the southern part of the country with Veerabhadra as the presiding deity. This belongs to Kuttiyazhikam, Karuva, a two hundred & fifty-year-old Ezhava Family.

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Temple (Murugan) ^[11] is situated on the NH-47, about 8 km from Kollam town. One of another name of Lord Subramanyan(Murugan) is Umayan, that’s why the land of Umayan(Subramanyan) has been called Umayanalloor. The important feature if this temple is that the Idol faces the western direction. One of the famous name associated with this temple is Adi Shankara. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees. Aanavaalpidi or 'Aana Vaal Pidutham^[12]'^[11] Mahotsavam during the Malayalam calendar 'Meenam'[mid-March], attracts hundreds of devotees from all over the state. Devotees run after an elephant and catch its tail, symbolising the childhood pranks between the deities Subramanyan (another names Murugan,Karthikeyan) and Ganesha.“Nedumkuthira Eduppu” or Kuthira Eduppu” also performs during the last day of festival time. 'Thaipuyyam' is also celebrated in a big way. The lore is that the temple was built by the powerful lady ruler 'Umayammarani' of Venad Kingdom about 500 years ago. Administration of this Temple comes under Travancore Devaswom Board.

Aryankavu in the Western Ghats is the easternmost point in the district on the National Highway. One of the five ancient Ayyappa temples is situated here; two others are at Achankovil and Kulathupuzha in the district.

Shri Mahadevar Temple, Padinjattinkara,Sree Bhootha Natha Temple,Kulashekharanallor Srikrishnaswami and Devi temple, Kottarakara, Chennamath Temple and Vilappuram Bhagavathy Temple at Chathannoor are famous temples. Polachira is a beautiful place near Vilappuram Temple and Anathavalam (elephants shelter) at Chirakkara is also there.

Thalavoor Sri Durga Devi Temple,Thazhava Pulimukham devi temple, Peroor Karunalloor Bhagavathy Temple, Pattazhy Devi Temple and Kundara Ilampalloor Devi Temple are among the important Hindu temples in Kollam District.

Another important temple is the Kottamkulangara temple near Chavara,^[13] where there is a tradition of males participating in 'Vilakkeduppu' wearing women's dresses.

Koonambaikulam(വലിയകൂനംബായ്കുളം) temple is very popular. Deity there is a Goddess,named 'Koonambaikulathu Amma'.

Other temples in Kollam include Peroor sree meenakshi temple at Punthalathazham,Mangalathu temple^[14] at Punthalathazham etc.

Christian Worship

Kundara St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral^[15] is located about 200 meters from Arumurikkada junction (NH - 208) on Arumurikkada - Kuzhimathikadu - Nallila Road. The church in Malankara is an integral part of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church with the Patriarch of Antioch^[16] as its supreme head. The local head of the church in Malankara is the Catholicose of India^[17] Baselios Thomas I, ordained by and accountable to the Patriarch of Antioch. The Feast of Virgin Mary's birth is celebrated from September 1 to 8 every year.On September 7 evening a Rasa (Procession) is conducted from Church to Cheerankavu Junction (East) and Mukkada Junction (West), and back to Church.^[18]

Apostle Thomas founded one of his "seven and a half churches" in Kollam. They were family or community churches as neither Holy Bible was codified nor cross was acknowledged as the symbol of Christian faith in the first century AD. The church founded by the Apostle at the ancient Kollam port of Tarsish (thevalakara) was re-constructed three times. The second re organising of the Tarsish Christian nambuthiri community which was still inside vedic Vaishnavism was in the 4th century when a Persian cross brought from a Red sea port was erected in accordance with the Nicaea sunnahodose the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea (now İznik, Tur.). It was called by the emperor Constantine I, an unbaptized catechumen, or neophyte, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions declaration making the cross the symbol of Christian faith the World over for the first time. In 825 AD Mar S(abo)r ministered here reconstructing the Tarsi sh-a -palli at Thevalakara for the third time as the first church founded by him with Syrian liturgy after receiving the Tarsish-a-palli plates from Kulshekara kings which in reality laid the foundation of Christianity as a religion in Kerala outside Vedic Vaishnavism.

List of churches

• St. George Orthodox Church, Ambalathinnirappu
• Palakkuzhi Marthoma Church Ambalathinnirappu
• Mar Semavoon Destooni Orthodox Church, Manjakkala
• Trinity Marthoma Church, Manjakkala
• St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Manjakkala
• St. George Orthodox Church, Kulamudy
• St. Jude Chapel, Santhi Bhavan, Nadutheri
• St. George Orthodox Church, Nadutheri
• Bethel AG Church, Nadutheri
• Marthoma Church, Nadutheri
• St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Pandithitta
• Tabor Marthoma Church, Pandithitta
• Divya Rekshaka Latin Catholic Church (Romapally), Pandithitta
• Brethren Church, Pandithitta
• St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Pandithitta
• Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Pullichira
• C.S.I. Church, Randalummoodu
• St. Mary's Orthodox Valiya Palli, Randalummoodu
• St. John's Orthodox Church, Vadacodu
• St. John's Malankara Catholic Church, Vadacodu
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church West Kallada (Kalladavaliyapally)^[19]

Muslim worship

Valiyapalli, Janakappuram, Juma-Atrh-Palli, Kolluvila, Jumma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala, NMuslim Jumma-Ath-Palli, Karuva: Kalamala Palli, Kalamala: Muthirapparambu Palli, Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli, Kilikolloor are the most important mosques.

Ashram

World famous spiritual Guru Mata Amritanandamayi has her spiritual abode set on the beautiful shores of the Arabian sea at Amritapuri^[20] in Karunagappalli taluk of kollam district. Parayakadavu, a coastal village near Karunagapally, is the birthplace of Mata Amritanandamayi and is the headquarters of her Math. Thirumullavarom Temple is the most famous temple in Kollam situated near the Arabian Sea where thousands used to come annually for performing Vavu Bali.

Notes