Koothambalam or Kuttampalam meaning temple theatre is a closed hall for staging Koothu, Nangiar koothu and Koodiyattam, the ancient ritualistic art forms of Kerala, India. Koothambalams are said to be constructed according to the guide lines given in the chapter 2 of Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni. The stage within the hall is considered to be as sacred as the temple sanctum. It is constructed within the cloister of the Temple; more precisely within the pancaprakaras of the temple. The prescribe location is between the prakaras of bahyahara and maryada. In Kerala tradition it is considered as one among the pancaprasadas of a temple complex. Its dimension vary from temple to temple. A square platform with a separate pyramidal roof supported by pillars in the center called natyamandapam is constructed as s separate structure within the large hall of Koothampalam. The floor of the hall is divided into two equal halves and one part is for performance and other half for seating audience. During the performance, the stage is decorated with fruit-bearing plantains, bunches of coconuts and fronds of the coconut palm. A para filled with rice is placed on the stage. A nilavilakku with three thiri is used for lighting. The mizhavu, a percussion instrument for accompanying Koothu, is placed within a railed enclosure, with a high seat for the drummer( belonging to nampiar community).
Rama Varma Thampuran (1751–1805), or Rama Varma IX, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin. The current southern Indian city of Kochi was part of the erstwhile princely state of Kochi. He resided at Vadakkechira Palace in Thrissur. The city of Thrissur is referred to as the Cultural Capital of Kerala owing to its many traditional festivals and historic temples. Sakthan Thampuran is considered the architect of the city of Thrissur. The festival Thrissur Pooram was started by him.
Mammiyur Mahadeva Temple is a popular Shiva temple situated in Guruvayoor, Thrissur district of Kerala, India. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayur Temple is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as the ritual goes. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple premises. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala and one among the five Shiva temples around Guruvayoor. The main deity is Lord Shiva, who is installed in the concept of 'Uma Maheshwara' - His form with Goddess Parvathi on his left. There is a shrine for Lord Vishnu also here. The sub-deities are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Subrahmanya, Lord Ayyappan, Goddess Kali and Serpent deities. This temple is managed by Malabar Devaswom Board. Daily three poojas are conducted. Puzhakkara Chennas Mana is the hereditary Thanthri of this temple too. Shivaratri and Ashtami Rohini are the major festivals.
Cherpu is a suburb of Thrissur city in the Kerala State of South India. It is 12 kilometres south of Thrissur town and is on the Thriprayar road. It is dotted by a number of temples and has quite a few rivers flowing by its vicinity.
Hinduism is the largest religion in Kerala and Hindu lineages together make up 54.8% of the population of the state according to the 2011 census.
Annamanada Mahadeva Temple is a Hindu temple located at Annamanada in Thrissur District, Kerala. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva. The shivling is almost four feet tall and is considered as the Kiratamoorthy in a pleasing mood while giving Pashupatastra to Arjuna. It is considered to be one of the 108 jyotirlinga. The temple is being administered by the Cochin Devaswom Board.
Varavoor, a residential village in Thrissur district is in the state of Kerala, India. It is widely believed that this village was situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha during prehistoric times. Shrinking of the river over several millennia of human settlements has moved the village more distant from its banks. It is surrounded by small green hills and is 30 mins drive away from the cultural capital of Kerala. Varavoor was declared "litigation-free" village on 7 May 2000. Climatic conditions in and around Varavoor varies around the year. The well-known Palakkal Pooram is usually held in the month of February welcoming tourists from different parts of the country. During the month of February, paddy fields surrounding the Palakkal temple is usually fallow after harvest.
Velappaya is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India. It is famous for the Mahadeva temple, also known as Velappaya Shiva temple.
Trikkur Mahadeva Temple is a rock-cut cave temple in Trikkur village in Thrissur District in Kerala believed to have been built in the 7th or 8th century. Being a cave temple, Buddhist and Jain monks used the site to meditate alongside the Hindu monks. It is a protected monument under the Department of Archaeology, Govt of Kerala since 1966. The temple and its premises are now owned by Paliyam Trust which is managed by Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.
ThiruvanchikulamSivaTemple is a Hindu temple situated in Kodungallur in Thrissur district of Kerala state, India. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Chera period. Shiva is worshipped as Mahadeva and his consort Parvathi as Umadevi. There are 33 sub-deities in this temple, the highest number so in Kerala.
Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple is a Shiva Temple,, is located at Kodungallur in Thrissur District of Kerala. The temple adjoins the Kodungallur Kovilakam Palace. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva.
Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art.
Peruvanam Mahadev Temple is a Shiva Temple situated in Peruvanam of Thrissur District, Kerala, India. The temple is said to be in existence with the origin of Kerala and the advent of Parashurama. It is one among the famous 108 Shiva temples in Kerala, and is the main temple of the old time Peruvanam village. It is surrounded by Bhadrakali and Subramanya temples on the west, a Sastha temple on the north, a Vishnu temple on the east and a Durga temple on the south.
Muthuvara Mahadeva Temple is a Shiv temple located in Muthuvara, Thrissur city of India. Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu has installed the idol. The idol is in rowdrabhavam. The temple have one sreekovil for Shiv and another one for Vishnu.
Mundayur Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva at Anjur of Thrissur District in Kerala state in India. The temple is situated near to SH-69 at Mundayur village. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva, located in main Sanctum Sanctorum, facing East. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. It is the part of the 108 Shiva Temples of Kerala. Kozhikode Zamorin's army meditated on the Lord Shiva of Mundayur Temple and went out to battle. It was because such a practice was presumed that Lord Shiva of Mundayur saved them.
Cheruvathur Sri Mahadeva Temple, located in Kunnamkulam town of Thrissur district of Kerala. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva, located in main sanctum sanatorium facing east. According to folklore, sage Parasurama has installed the idol. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. Most of the ancient temples in Kerala have some mythology narrating its origin. Cheruvathur Sri Mahadeva Temple has numerous legends connecting to its popularity to this day. Most prominent legend is that it is one of the 108 Siva temples of Kerala established by sage Parasurama. Lord Mahadeva in Cheruvathur is worshipped as "Cheruvathurappan" in this temple. The East facing Sanctum sanctorum is placed here in the shape of circular with copper roof.
Avittathur Mahadeva Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated at Avittathur village of Thrissur District in Kerala state in India. Avittathur gramam (village) is one of the 64 original Brahmin settlements in the ancient Kerala. The Avittathur temple as well as Avittathur Gramam is equally famous like Thaliparamb gramam, Sukapuram gramam, Irinjalakuda gramam and Peruvanam gramam. Avittathur Mahadeva Temple is more than 2000 years old and four old inscriptions have been discovered. According to folklore, sage Agastya has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. It is also believed that the temple's shiva lingam was installed by lord Parasurama the sixth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu. The temple is a part of the famous 108 Shiva temples of Kerala.
Perakam Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva situated at Perakam village of Thrissur District in Kerala state in India. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva in Perakam village. The temple is part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala and described in Shivalaya Sothram.
Sringapuram is a village in the Thrissur district of Kerala state, India. It is located about 2 km from the town of Kodungallur.
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