Mammiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple in Guruvayoor

Mammiyoor Temple, also known as Mammiyoor Siva Temple or Mammiyur Mahadeva Kshetram, is situated about 3 km north-west to the world famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur District of Kerala. It is said that Lord Krishna would accept one's prayers here only if he/she worships Mammiyoor Lord Siva also.

The main deity is Shiva and he is facing east and is in rowdra bhava. Here Lord Shiva is the presiding deity who is worshiped 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 rare one of the temple in India where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshiped in equal status.

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

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.

Guruvayoor Sri Krishna temple

It is believed that the worship at the Lord Guruvayurappan is incomplete if one doesn't worship the Lord Shiva at Mammiyoor. Near the Sanctum Sanctorum of Devi Bhagawati (Shree Devi) inside the Guruvayoor Temple complex, one would find a board on the wall asking devotees to look in the direction of the Temple of Lord Siva.

As per rules, only Hindus are allowed inside temple premises. Beautiful sculptors and ancient wall paintings in Mammiyoor Temple had grabbed hearts of visitors.

ETYMOLOGY:

Inside the temple

The legend of Mammiyoor Temple is associated with the consecration of the Guruvayur Temple - It was the final phase of Dwaparayuga. The great Deluge has submerged Sree Krishna's abode Dwaraka and the Lord, as a playful child, was frolicking on a banyan leaf tossed about by the surging waters. Brihaspathi (the planet Jupiter, known as Guru) and the wind god, Lord Vayu, were searching the spot on earth to consecrate the idol of Lord Krishna. They reached the banks of a lake called Rudratheertha, created by Lord Shiva. The Lord was doing penance there for a long time. He understood the purpose of the visit by Guru and Vayu and suggested that the idol could be consecrated on the bank of the Rudratheertha lake.

Hense Lord Shiva willingly moved to the adjacent location, on the other side of the Rudhratheertha.

Thus the place where Guru and Vayu consecrated the idol of Lord Krishna came to be known as Guruvayoor and the place where Lord Shiva preferred for himself and his consort was called Mahimayur which is later called as Mammiyoor (or Mammiyur).

The devotees who visit Sree Guruvayoor Temple for darshan used to pay pranams to Sree Mammiyurappan by nodding towards North West direction at Bhagavathykettu in Temple. It is considered that any pilgrimage to Guruvayoor Temple is complete only after a visit to Mammiyur Temple also.

FESTIVALS:

• Maha Shivrathri in the Malayalam month of Kumbha (mid February - mid March) is celebrated with Sudhi, Laksharchana, Ekadasa Rudrabhisheka, Chuttuvilakku, Niramala and other special poojas.
• Vilakku ezhunnellippu is held at night with the procession of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu on two caparisoned elephants and chenda melam for Sree Bhootha bali. Notable feature is that the idols of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are taken on procession for Sree Bhootha bali. The celebrations are concluded with fireworks and followed with Krishnanattam, the classical performance by the Krishnanattam troop of Guruvayoor Devaswom.
• Pradhishta Day of Lord Vishnu: The consecration of Lord Vishnu is celebrated here on the asterism Revathy in the Malayalam month of Makaram (mid January - mid February). Sudhikalasam, Laksharchana, Chuttuvilakku, Niramala and other special poojas are held during the festival. Here also, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are taken in prVinayaka Chathurthy, Shashti, Ashtami Rohini and Vishu are the some of the other festivals celebrated here.

OTHER DEITIES WORSHIPPED IN MAMMIYOOR TEMPLE:

Lord Ganesha:

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 Subramanya:

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. Abhishekam is performed with Milk here daily.

Lord Ayyappa:

Lord Ayyappa is said to be son of Mohini ( incornation od Lord Vishnu) and Lord Siva. Lord Ayyappa 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.

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.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

• The temple is opened from 4.45 am to 12.30 pm and 4.45 pm to 8.30 pm.

HOW TO GET THERE?

By Road:

• Guruvayoor is well connected by road network with various places ofthe country. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) as well as numerous private bus services runs inter-state bus services which connects the Guruvayur temple town with all major cities in South India.

By Rail:

• Guruvayoor Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach Mammiyoor Temple. However, Thrissur Railway Station is the nearest major railway station which is about 29 km from Guruvayoor.

By Air:

• Nedumbassery Airport (Kochi International Airport) is the nearest airport, situated 80 km from Guruvaoor town. 
• Another nearest airport is the Karipur Airport (Calicut International Airport), which is about 100 km from Guruvayoor.

Mammiyoor Mahadeva Temple is situated about 3 kms north-west to the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple. You can easily access the temple either by auto-richshaw or taxi.