Sree Kulathoor Kolathukara Shiva Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala, in[citation needed] 1893. The temple was built at the request of Narayana Guru in 1915.This is the temple where Sree Narayana Guru performed Shiva Pratishtha for the second time. Before that, Bhadrakali was the deity there. It was at this temple that Sri Narayana Guru composed the Kolatireshastavam in praise of Kolathukara Mahadeva.[1]
Kolothu tharavad or kulathoor family, later with the house name velivilakam, was a rich land owning family having established weaving industry and textile commercial establishment, in the present Kulathoor region. This region is near the parvathy puthanar lake, built for transportation. Velivilakam family was influential to such extent that the Travancore raja had bestowed special privileges and status to the family. They were one of the key industrialists and hence had also given special preferences in the textile trade and commerce. Travancore state was then having a lucrative trade with European countries such as France and England with textiles and later with a treaty signed with British East India company, Travancore was bound to supply textiles each year. The family was influential and had vast areas of land. They invited and settled labours or weavers in and around the Kulathoor area giving land and houses to live. They also established a Devi temple near their tharavad. The family members were well educated in Sanskrit, Tamil and Malayalam. For conducting commercial activities it was necessary to learn English and other languages such as Hindustani. Some members were revered medical practitioners and astrologers.
Later as family became larger, members began to establish other houses near and around this area. Majority of the people living around this area are some how related to this family. During the period of Sree Narayana Guru, the wealthy influencial cheif of the velivilakam family visited and invited the Guru to come and live in Kulathoor. Guru's mother was closely related to this family and hence Guru knew this place and family from childhood itself. Velivilakom family constructed a house for the Guru, photos of it are still preserved, including the bed, stick, chair and other items used by the Guru while living there. Sree Narayana Guru was soon surrounded by the people of Kulathoor and later a suggestion was raised that as the people were very afraid of the Devi temple and was fearful to walk through the pathway near the temple on Fridays and Tuesdays, it was decided to remove the Devi idol and convert the temple to Siva temple. Family made all arrangements for this function.
Part of the Renaissance Period
It was a period of renaissance and a Sanskrit school was also established by the family in another building which was on the present higher secondary school area(North East side of the present dining building of the temple) . At that time the house was located in front of this Sanskrit school building. Due to unknown reasons, still now no building has been constructed on the exact place of the old house which was there at the time of Guru's installation of Siva Idol during 1893. Later new house was constructed which was near the entrance of the present school gate. Later the temple management was transferred to a public trust. Some income from six acres of land was also set aside by the family to the temple, mainly paddy fields, its income was to be used for the maintenance and expenses of the temple. These paddy fields were later acquired for Technopark. After independence the earlier school was donated to the Kerala Government along with other lands for the development of school. Government later acquired the remaining whole land of the family for school.
Early History
From very old days, Travancore family and Kolathiri Royal family had deep connections. Child adoptions in Travancore family were from Kolathiri Family. During later half of 18th century somewhat during 1780s, for establishing a textile factory in Travancore, a treaty was signed with Kolathiri king. At that time Kolathunad had a vast textile industry(Travancore was also having good textile factory but they need to enhance and adopt new technology. As per the treaty a royal member and a group came to Travancore for establishing a textile factory and commerce center. They set up a factory at kulathoor and settled in there. The royal place they build there was call kolothu(Royal Houses were called kolothu, kovilakam, kottaram etc) and the area came to be called kolothukara(kara means place) or kolathukara. Kolathukara temple was build near this house. The deity was Kali or sree Porkali. Later during the period of 1880s it was opinioned by the forward thing elders of the family that as it was not necessary to worship such ferocious war deity and instead concentrate on learning and study and hence was decided to install Siva idol. These details are still available in the temple and is kept secured in there. These are written in palm leaf documents. During the demolition of the house for the school by the Government, ancient relics were taken out from the house in front of the public but is not sure all that is preserved now.
Palace records or mathilakam records also indicates that the family and temple was there well before the 1780s period. Kolathu uru (later spoken as kulathoor) and the kolathukara were names mentioned in some records. Some records are mainly related to the military activities. This region had a strategic importance as it lies north of Akkulam lake and high hills boarders the lake. So generally for supply movements and army marching towards north, then that can be done through Ulloor. The presence of lake and hilly regions acted as a natural barrier. But if a troop located in kulathoor can across Akkulam lake then it can straightly marched to Thiruvananthapuram. After the lake there exists a marshy land, crossing which was difficult but through akkulam lake if moved about one kilometer or so towards veli lake, then the troops can land very well near the western entrance of the Trivandrum fort. So any expeditionary troop through sea can be well challenged from this location. Further there was small pathway adjacent to the akkulam lake to reach ulloor and this can be used for harassing or guerilla attacks to the troop moving through Ulloor.
During the 12th century, fighting were happening between Cholas and Kerala kings. There is a Devi temple some one kilometer away from this place at attinkuzhi. It is identified as a military area or barrack where troops were stationed or gathered. East of this place was paddy fields and another Devi temple is also there named Kushamuttom. There was a misterious land area in these paddy fields about one and a half meter above the surrounding paddy field, with very large rocks with various markings and symbols carved and nobody from the area dare to step into that due to fear. It was believed to be part of the military actions. Later during 1998 these paddy fields were acquired for Technopark and everything including rivers and canals were destroyed. Kolothu or Kolothukara (Later Velivilakam) family had vast areas of land owned in Attinkuzhi and kallingal area around these two temples. Some where during the end of 1940s, some 24 acres were granted to a lady related to the family. It is being said she was the second wife of the prominent person. It should also be noted that system of family lineage and partioning system also may played a major role. It is found that more than 200 acres were there in both areas early and at the beginning of the 20th century only some 40 acres were left in kallingal area and after three generation, it became 4 acres. which was also partitioned to the secondary line of lineage. The family lineage followed was through the female members. The eldest or youngest or any one of the daughter of the main person shall be given the main house. In practice it may be the eldest son of the daughter of the ruling person. The main lineage included sons and daughters of the daughters of the karanavar and daughters of the sons of these female members. This has been some what different from other matriarchal system in which only sons and daughters of the female members are ever considered. Here all grand daughters of the female descends were also taken into the main lineage. Hence the Kolathu house and Kolathukara Temple was there even earlier than 1780s may be traced back to 12th century. Temple had connections with the Thampuran temple some 500 meters north and earlier some ceremonies were conducted jointly. Later all this were discarded along with the lands around that temple which was given for its maintenance.
Other Historical Incidents
During the reign of Uma Amma thampuratti, a Mugal army(Mongol) attacked Travancore. They camped at Manakkad just outside the Travancore fort and began looting and pillaging in the country. For confrounting with these forces, Rani invited a prince from Kolathunad. On invitation Sri Veerakerala varma along with army, mainly consisting of thiyyas, arrived at Travancore. They stationed at Nedumangad Palace and Kilimanoor Kovil. Later when the mugal army was far away looting at Varkala, the Travancore forces attached the mugal camp and defeated the mugals. Withdrawed mugals were chased and was defeated fully near nagarcovil. For attacking the mugal camp two pronged charge was devised. one was from Kulathoor area, crossing the Akkulam lake and attacking from west and other from the north marched from Nedumandag itself. Returning mugal forces from Varkala were ambushed and attacked near kazhakuttom and was destroyed at kallingal area. These forces were commanded by the cheiftain from Koluthu (at Kulathoor). Before commencing the attack, worships were conducted at Kolathukara Bhagavathi temple and also at Attinkuzhi Bhagavathi temple. Mathilakam records indicates these events. It is also believed that the Alavaran Mahadevan idol is installed at Trippadapuram temple, is in memorial of the a famous monk from this family.
Installation of Siva Idol
As said earlier, during the time of Sree Narayana Guru, the elders of the Velivilakam family was way much forward in social views. At that time the most wealthy and influential families at these region were Velivilakam house (earlier Koluthu) and Sasthan vilakam. Due to wide spread colera, small pox and other diseases, people in these area were became very fearful about the Bagavathi temple. At that time the way to the paddy fields and other houses near there were through the path way adjacent to the temple. For removing these fears, it was decided by the elders and Guru to remove the idol and install Siva in the temple. An auspicious date was decided and Guru asked to remove the Bhagavathi idol but none present there was able to move the idol. At last Guru himself came forward and with his left hand moved the Bhagavathi idol and installed Siva linga. Guru ordered that no worship should be conducted to the Bhagavathi idol thenceforth. Years later some time near 1916s another temple was constructed near Kazhakuttom, Meenamkulam and they requested Guru for permission and guidance for installing the same Bhagavathi Idol in the new temple. Guru didnt object and said if it resides there, then they can take. Grand Processions were conducted for moving the idol to that place on the installation day. But due to some reasons installation was not able to be completed as the idol couldnt be fixed using ashtabandam as part of the tantric rituals. Because of these, they brough back the idol and returned it to the Kolathukara Temple. This idol is still there and can be seen.
Later the management of the temple was fully handed over to the public committee as per the direction of the Guru. The family possessions including the land along with the temple were willingly relinquished and also some six acres of land including income generating paddy fields. The income from these lands were to be used for the daily expenses of the temple but the title of these lands resided with family itself. Inorder to avoid the wrath of the Bhagavathi and Siva, it was decided that the family members shall be well revered and honored in all the temple ceremonies and activities. Guru had specifically directed to conduct certain conducts in the temple ceremonies.
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