Aazhimala Shiva Temple

The Aazhimala Shiva Temple is a Hindu temple located on the coast of the Arabian Sea near Vizhinjam in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple is known for the 18 m (58 ft) tall Gangadhareshwara sculpture, which is the tallest Shiva sculpture in Kerala.[1] The temple is built in a style resembling the architecture of Tamil Nadu. It is governed by the Aazhimala Shiva Temple Devaswom Trust.[2]

Aazhimala Shiva Temple
The temple in 2012
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThiruvananthapuram
DeityShiva
Festivals
Governing bodyAazhimala Shiva Temple Devaswom Trust
Location
LocationPulinkudi, Vizhinjam
StateKerala
CountryIndia
Aazhimala Shiva Temple is located in Kerala
Aazhimala Shiva Temple
Location in Kerala
Aazhimala Shiva Temple is located in India
Aazhimala Shiva Temple
Aazhimala Shiva Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates8°21′25″N 77°00′40″E
Architecture
TypeDravidian architecture
StyleSimilar to the architecture of Tamil Nadu
Specifications
Direction of façadeEast
Elevation22 m (72 ft)
Website
Official website

Location

The temple is located in Pulinkudi in the panchayat of Kottukal in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. It is situated 0.8 km (0.50 mi) off Vizhinjam–Poovar road near a cliff adjacent to the beach.[3][4]

Administration

The temple is governed by the Aazhimala Shiva Temple Devaswom Trust. The trust organizes the annual festival and makes important decisions regarding temple affairs.[2]

Architecture
The outer wall of the temple decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities

The architectural style of the temple is similar to the temples of Tamil Nadu. The outer wall and gopuram are decorated and adorned by colorful sculptures of different Hindu deities like Ganesha, Ayyappan, Vishnu, Kartikeya and Hanuman. The shrines of the principal deity and other subordinate deities are also vibrant, with carvings, murals and decorations.[5]

Gangadhareshwara sculpture
Sculpture of Shiva in the form of Gangadhareshwara against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea

Inside the temple, there is an 18 m (58 ft) tall concrete sculpture of Shiva in Gangadhareshwara figure.[6] It was sculpted by P. S. Devadathan, a native of Aazhimala.[7] Construction of the sculpture started on 2 April 2014 and was completed and opened to the public on 31 December 2020.[8] It is currently the tallest Gangadhareshwara sculpture in India and the tallest Shiva sculpture in Kerala.[9]

The sculpture depicts a four-armed Shiva in a seated posture. The back right hand holds a damaru, the front right hand rests in the right thigh, the back left hand holds a trishula and the front left hand is in a raised position within the jaṭā (dreadlocks), which holds Ganga.[1] The sculpture is mounted on a rock at a height of 6.1 m (20 ft).[7]

Deities

The principal deity of the temple is Shiva. Ganesha and Parvati are the subordinate deities.[10] There is also a small shrine for Yogeshvara.

Festivals

Utsavam, the annual festival, is conducted during the Malayalam month of Makaram (January–February). Shivaratri is another special occasion.[11] Tuesdays are usually the busiest day with many devotees coming from faraway places.[12]

See also

References
  1. ലേഖകൻ, മനോരമ (29 December 2020). "കേരളത്തിലെ വലിപ്പമേറിയ ശിവ രൂപം,അല തല്ലുന്ന കടലിനു മേലെ തല ഉയർത്തി ഗംഗാധരേശ്വരൻ; വിസ്മയം". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  2. S., Gautham (20 January 2021). "Azhimala Shiva Temple to get upgraded facilities". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. Babu George, Sarath (19 September 2023). "Azhimala turns a death trap for visitors". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  4. Desk, TFIGLOBAL News (31 December 2022). "Azhimala Shiva Temple, Timings, History, Travel Guide and How to reach". TFIGlobal. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  5. "Aazhimala Siva Temple Thiruvananthapuram". www.hitvm.in. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  6. Johnson, George (24 February 2023). "Aazhimala Shiva Temple: Where divinity blends with heritage". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  7. Theresa, Deena (5 January 2021). "58-ft-tall statue of Lord Shiva in Azhimala attracts many tourists". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. Editorial Desk, Janmabhumi (31 December 2020). "ആറുവര്‍ഷത്തെ കാത്തിരിപ്പിനു വിരാമം; ദൃശ്യവിസ്മയം തീര്‍ത്ത് 58 അടി ഉയരമുള്ള പിനാകധാരി; സോഷ്യല്‍ മീഡിയയില്‍ തരംഗമായി ആഴിമല ഗംഗാധരേശ്വര രൂപം". Janmabhumi. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  9. ഡെസ്ക്, വെബ് (11 January 2021). "കടൽ തീരത്തെ ശിവരൂപ വിസ്മയം; തീർഥാടന ടൂറിസത്തിന്റെ ഭാഗമാകാൻ ആഴിമല ക്ഷേത്രം". Madhyamam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  10. SINGH, RAJNIKANT. "Azhimala Temple Blog". Tripoto. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  11. "Aazhimala Shiva Temple | History, Timings, Statue, Beach, Festivals and more | Holidify". www.holidify.com. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  12. "കേരളത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ശിവപ്രതിമ ഉയര്‍ന്ന ആഴിമല ക്ഷേത്ര വിശേഷങ്ങൾ". malayalam.nativeplanet.com (in Malayalam). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
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