Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya and Nātyaśāstra.
Bharatha People also known as Bharatakula and Paravar, is an ethnicity in the island of Sri Lanka. Earlier considered a caste of the Sri Lankan Tamils, they got classified as separate ethnic group in the 2001 census. They are descendant of Tamil speaking Paravar of Southern India who migrated to Sri Lanka under Portuguese rule. They live mainly on the western coast of Sri Lanka and mainly found in the cities of Mannar, Negombo and Colombo.
Mannar is a census town in Chengannur Taluk in Alappuzha District of Kerala state, India, on State Highway 6. It is also known as the Bell Metal Town.
The Moothan are a community in Palakkad district of Kerala, India, who primarily engage in trade. They believe themselves to have migrated to Kerala in the 10th century and they live in Majorly in Katampazhipuram, Sreekrishnapuram, Mannarkad and Ottapalam and refer to themselves as Arya Vaishya.
Madampi(equivalent to Lord in English) is an aristocratic title given to the uppermost subdivisions of Nairs in Kerala, by the Maharajahs of Travancore and Cochin. Usually, it was given in addition to the Pillai title. Madampis served as Jenmis or landlords during the pre-independence era. Their power was severely reduced after the Communist government passed the Land Reforms Ordinance. The title Madampi was also used in Cochin, to denote the 71 Nayar chiefs who ruled under the Maharajah of Cochin. A few Nambuthiri landlord families, most notable of whom being those in Vanjipuzha and Makilanjeri, were also given the Madampi title. In Cochin, the Madampis had their own armies, but seldom numbered more than 100. Their power was only a little bit higher than that of the Desavazhis. Madampis supplied chieftains along with soldiers in times of war to the King.
Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple is a Hindu temple located in Vazhappally near Changanassery in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The temple is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple is believed to be constructed by the first Chera king of Kodungallur. The legends suggest that the installation of the idol of god Mahadeva (Shiva) was performed by Parasurama himself. This temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples established by Parasurama. It is one of the few temples in Kerala where two nalambalams and two flag-masts are dedicated. The temple, a Grama Kshetra, also contains some seventeenth century wood carvings depicting figurines from epics. A Vattezhuttu inscription on the northern part of the base of the cultural shrine indicates that the repairs were completed in Kollam Era 840 (1665 AD).
Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Shiva temple situated in Kandiyoor near Mavelikkara on the banks of Achankovil river. Kandiyoor was once the capital of the Odanadu kingdom. The temple and region are related to the history of ancient Buddhism in Kerala. Mattom Sree Mahadeva Temple also known as is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of Mavelikara town north of State Highway 6. It is spread across an area of 7.5 acres (3.0 ha).
St. Mary's Church is a church in Vechoor, that was consecrated in 1463. It stands on the Eastern bank of Vembanad Lake. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. It is a centre of pilgrimage because the Church has a painted image of St. Mary believed to be a true copy of St. Luke's portrait of Mary. The image is believed to have the power to make miracles.
This is a list of the 108 Shiva Temples mentioned in the Shivalaya Stothram.
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.
Puramundekkadu Shri Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva is situated at Edappal of Malappuram District in Kerala state in India. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva, located in main Sanctum Sanctorum, facing East. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala and one among the five Shiva temples around Guruvayoor.
Kollam Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple is located in the city of Kollam City in Kollam district, in Kerala, India. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Rameswara facing west. It is believed that Kollam Rameswaram Mahadeva Temple is one of the 108 Shiva temples of Kerala and is installed by sage Parasurama dedicated to Shiva It is one of the two Rameswaram temples in 108 Shivalaya Sothram. The Amaravila Rameshwaram Sri Mahadeva Temple is the second Rameshwaram Temple. The temple is located in the village of Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram District.
Niranam Thrikkapaleeswaram Dakshinamurthy Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated on the banks of the Pampa river at Niranam of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala state in India. This temple is a classic example of the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple is the abode of Dakshinamurthy. The deity of Thrikkapaleeswaram is located in main Sanctum Sanctorum facing east. According to folklore, sage Parasurama has installed the idol. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. This is one of the three Thrikkapaleeswaram temples mentioned in 108 Shiva temples. Two other temples situated in Peralassery in Kannur district and Nadapuram in Kozhikode district.
Avittathur Mahadeva Temple is 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 settlement 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.
Veeranimangalam Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Narasimha is situated at Enkakkad of Thrissur District in Kerala state in India. The Lord Shiva of the temple is swayambhoo Shiva Lingam facing west. The temple structure is made kerala-dravidian architecture style and is more than 1000 years old. According to folklore, sage Parasurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. The sage Parasurama is the sixth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu. The temple is a part of the famous 108 Shiva temples of Kerala and references to this temple (Ambilikkad) is found in 108 Shivalaya sothram.
Talikotta Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva is located on the banks of Meenachil River on Kottayam - Kumarakom Road in Kottayam District in Kerala state in India. The Keezhtali Mahadeva Temple is one of the important temples in Thekkumkur Kingdom. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Shiva. The temple is a part of the 108 Shiva Temples in Kerala. The temple is one of the four thali temples mentioned in the 108 Shiva temple sothram The temple houses Lord Shiva in his most angry form. There are sub-shrines for Ganapathi, Ayyappan and Bhadrakali in the temple.
Thrippalur Mahadeva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Krishna and Narasimha is situated on the banks of the Gayatri river at Alathur of Palakkad District in Kerala state in India. References to this temple are found in many of the classics of Malayalam Literature. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva in the Treta Yuga. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha and Lord Krishna in addition to Lord Shiva. Therefore, the Saiva-Vaishnava glow is a holy abode.
The Maniyani is a nair sub-caste and Malayalam speaking Yadava community, native to Kerala state of South India. They are mainly distributed in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad districts. Their traditional occupation is tending cattle and cultivation.
Palayur Mahadeva Temple was a legendary temple located in Palayoor near Chavakkad in the Thrissur district in ancient Kerala. This Shiva temple was later converted into a Christian church with the arrival of St. Thomas in Malabar, Kerala. Palayoor Mahadeva (Siva) Temple does not exist today. The temple is believed to be constructed by the first Chera king of Kodungallur. This temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples established by Parasurama. The legends suggest that the installation of the idol of god Mahadeva (Shiva) was performed by Parasurama himself.
T Madhava Menon is a former civil servant in the Indian Administrative Service who has held various posts including that of District Collector, Palakkad, Director of Administration, Central PWD, New Delhi, Custodian, Vested (Nationalised) Forests, Kerala, Director of Tribal Welfare, Kerala and Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University. After retirement, he was associated with the People of India Project and was the Co-Editor of the volumes related to Kerala. He is a Senior Fellow of International School of Dravidian Linguistics where he edited a three volume Encyclopaedia on Dravidian Tribes. He also edited a two-volume Handbook of Kerala. He is also a member of the Governing Council of Attappady Hill Areas Development Society.
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