Kilimarathukavu Temple

Kilimarathukavu temple compound before renovation

Kilimarathukavu Temple is an ancient temple. It is believed that the old temple was destroyed in the past and only the idols were left behind. In the 21st century, a new temple was constructed. In 2011 the Travancore Devaswom Board took control of the renovated temple with the help of the temple advisory committee.

During the Pandava's exile in the forest, Arjuna traveled as an ascetic of Lord Shiva to seek Pashupatastra. One day during the journey, he came across a bird, which he began to follow. After several days it reached a valley, where it sat on a tree called Kilimaram near to a clean stream. Arjuna approached the bird. The bird plucked three leaves from the nearby Koovalam tree, and Arjuna felt like he was asked to increase his asceticism for Lord Shiva. Arjuna took bath in pond nearby and worshiped the Shiva lingam stone he found there. As time went on, Arjuna's asceticism became severe.

As requested by Parvati, Shiva came to Arjuna as a wild man and Parvati as a wild woman. An Asura (monster) in the form of a pig, was sent by Duryodhana came to kill Arjuna. Arjuna and Shiva, in his disguise, shot the monster with arrows. They began to argue, and Arjuna beat the wild man with his bow. Parvati stopped him and revealed the wild man's true identity. Hearing this, Arjuna did Sashtanga Namaskara and Shiva gifted him Pashupatastra and gave him blessings. Several other deitites, including Ganapathy, Murugan, Shastha, and Anjaneyan came upon the scene as well. Shiva told Arjuna "the place where we are now is very sacred and whoever came here for prayer should be blessed," and then disappeared. A Shivalingam appeared where he had stood.

The temple has two Shiva deities: Shiva and Mahanadan. Other deities worshipped are Parvati, Murugan, Shastha, Hanuman (Murugan), Ganapathi, Nāgathara, and Navagraha.

In the main Garbhagriha there are images of Shiva and Parvati.

The temple for Hanuman is situated in the middle of the temple pond.

The temple for Navagraha finished construction in 2021. Its elliptical shape is meant to invoke the Milky Way galaxy.

Navarathri Pooja

• Maha Shivaratri on kumbham Malayalam calendar.
• Navaratri on kanni Malayalam calendar.
• Skandha Shashti on thulam Malayalam calendar.
• Mandalapooja Makaravilakku on vrischikam Malayalam calendar.
• Hanuman Jayanti on medam Malayalam calendar.

Skandha Shashti

• Guruvayoorappan
• Kadakkal Devi Temple
• Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple
• Sabarimala
• Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple
• Hindu temples of Kerala
• Chottanikara Bhagavathy amman temple

• Sathya Sai Veda Vahini - Inauguration of Veda Patana Kendram -Kadakkal, YouTube video at and showing the temple (not in English language)
• Official site of Kilimarathukavu Temple