Mammiyoor Temple in Guruvayoor Thrissur Kerala

Mammiyoor Temple, also known as Mammiyoor Shiva Temple or Mammiyur Mahadeva Kshetram, is situated about 200 meters north-west to the world famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur District of Kerala.

Mammiyoor Temple in Guruvayoor Thrissur Kerala

Lord Shiva is the presiding deity who is worshipped in the form of Uma Maheswara. The unique feature of Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple is that the temple enshrines the idol of Lord Vishnu in a sanctum sanctorum, next to that of Lord Shiva. Mammiyur Shiva Temple is the only temple where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshipped in equal status. Regarded as one of the biggest temples in Thrissur District, Mammiyoor Shiva Temple is one among the 108 Shiva Temples consecrated by Lord Parasurama, the legendary founder of Kerala. It is believed that the pilgrimage to Guruvayur Temple would be incomplete if the Mammiyur Shiva Temple is not visited.

Other Deities Worshipped in Mammiyoor Temple

Lord Ganesha Shrine

The Ganapathy Shrine is situated at the south western corner in the Nalambalam (a quadrangular building that surrounds the sanctum sanctorum). Ganapathy Homam, Karuka Homam and Pushapanjali are the offerings made to the Lord Ganesh.

Lord Muruga Shrine

A shrine dedicated to Lord Subramanya is installed in the western side of the Nalambalam. This idol resembles the idol of Palani Murugan Temple (Subrahmanya Temple at Palani) in Tamil Nadu. Milk abhishekam is performed here daily.

Lord Ayyappa Shrine

Lord Ayyappan is installed in the north-west corner of the Nalambalam. This idol is similar to the idol installed in Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. Lighting of Elluthiri and the lights made of gingely grains to avoid Shani Dosha are the main offerings here.

Picture of Mammiyoor Siva Temple

Mammiyoor Temple in Guruvayoor Thrissur Kerala

Goddess Bhagavathy

As the presiding deity here is Uma Maheswara, there is no separate shrine for Goddess Parvati. However, she is worshipped on the back side of the main sanctum of Lord Shiva. Pattu Charthal (offering of silk cloth) is the main offering to her. The idol of Goddess Bhagavathy is installed in a separate sanctum at the north-west corner of the temple. Poomoodal (covering the deity with flowers), Muttarukkal (breaking coconuts before the deity by the priest correctly into two exact half pieces for removing the obstacles), and Pattu and thali charthal are the important offerings.

Nagaraja and Nagarani Shrine

There is also a shrine for the Snake Gods, Nagaraja and Nagarani, in a separate enclosure in the Naga Kavu (abode of the Snake God) near the Bhagavathy Temple. Naga pooja and Sarpabali (a ritual done to get rid of Sarpa dosha) are performed here in the asterism Ayilyam in the Malayalam month of Kanni. Also, Sarpabali and Nagapattu also performed during the Athi Rudhra Mahayagam and Maharudhra yagam in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (mid December – mid January) every year.

Other deities worshipped here are Rakshassu and Brahma Rakshassu.

On the northern side of the temple is the sacred tank, Rudhratheertham where devotees take a holy bath.