Kaduthuruthi Mahadeva Thali Temple
This is a place between Vaikom and Ethumanur and is very near to the Vemba Nadu back waters of Kerala. The name might have derived from “Kadal thuruthi (intrusion from sea). But it is believed that as asura called Khara got three holy Lingas from Lord Shiva. He took one each in his hand and the third one by biting by his mouth. He consecrated all these three Lingas in Kerala. The Linga which carried in mouth by biting is supposed to be consecrated in this temple .Kadichu iruthi (he consecrated them after biting) must have been the original name. The present temple is on a hill top and faces east. The temple is under the administration of Travancore Devaswam board. The other two lingams which are smaller are believed to be consecrated by Khara in Vaikom and Ethumanur. It seems once this temple caught fire.
The priest simply embraced the idol and died in the fire rather than allow it to be spoiled. His statue is also consecrated in the temple. Apart from his statue, the idols of Yakshi, Durga and Ganapathi are also found inside the temple. There is a belief that if one can prostrate in the three idols at Kaduthurthi, Ethumanur and Vaikom on the same day, it would lead to fulfillment of all our wishes. One Vadakkum koor King who was a devotee used to do that till he became very old. Later when he was not able to do that , he consecrated God of Ethumanur is the southern gate and Lord of Vaikom in the northern gate. It is believed that if we visit Kaduthuruthi we will get the benefit of visiting all the three shrines. There is a festival of ten days in this temple. It does not have the grandeur of the festivals of Vaikom and Ethumanur. Since several Namboodiri villages were surrounding this temple, this temple was classified as a Thali temple.
By
P.R.Ramachander
