Ernakulathappan Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Cochin International Airport is about 27 km from Ernakulam, and it is the air gateway to Kochi.

• By train

  Ernakulam Junction railway station is close to the city's main shopping area on Mahatma Gandhi Road, and Kochi also has Ernakulam Town, Aluva and Tripunithura stations.

• By road

  Ernakulam is on National Highways 66 and 544, part of the North-South Corridor. KSRTC buses run mainly from the Ernakulam KSRTC bus stand.

Why devotees come here

Ernakulathappan Temple is one of the major temples of Kerala, in the heart of Ernakulam, Kochi. It was one of the seven royal temples of the Kochi Maharajas, and Shiva is worshipped here in Gourisankara form.

Ernakulathappan is seen as the protector of the city, and the temple is considered the city temple of Ernakulam. Shiva is worshipped here in the main sanctum. Legend says Arjuna, the third Pandava, did severe penance to win the favour of Shiva, and Shiva came to him disguised as Kiratha, a tribal hunter.

The temple is mentioned in Sangam literature as one of the major temples under the Chera dynasty. Its present form was built in 1846 under the patronage of Diwan Edakkunni Sankara Warrier. Two new entrance towers, called gopuras, were added in traditional Kerala style.

The sanctum complex is circular, with finely sculpted walls, and its roof is covered with copper tiles. The lingam in the main sanctum is considered Swayambhu, meaning divinely derived.

Festivals

• Normally in Makaram monthUthsavom (temple festival)

  Kodiyettam, the hoisting of the temple flag, opens the festival. On the seventh day, Pakalpooram takes the deity in procession on caparisoned elephants, with Panchavadyam, to Durbar Hall Ground. On the final day the flag is lowered, and the deity has an Arattu, a holy bath, in the nearby temple tank. Annadanam is also arranged. Sheeveli is held inside the temple with the best available Chendamelam artists.

• Kumbham monthMaha Shivratri

  Celebrated in a grand manner, along with Pradosham and Mondays.

• Dhanu monthThiruvathira

  Also celebrated in a grand manner at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• In the grounds, a Murugan shrine in Tamil style stands on the north side, and a Hanuman temple in Kannadiga Udupi style on the east.
• Mahatma Gandhi Road and Sahodaran Ayyappan Road are the main arterial roads of Ernakulam.

Questions people ask