Kottarakkara Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple

Long time ago, the usual early morning work was in progress at Padinjattinkara Shiva temple under the supervision of Uliyannoor Perumthachan, a great carpenter of that time. Incidentally, Perumthachan took a small piece of wood from the root portion of a jack fruit tree. He did some work on the wood piece and created an idol of lord Ganapathy. He was very happy with that idol and took it inside the temple. Perumthachan requested the priest to erect the idol there but the priest denied it. Disappointed Perumthachan left the temple with a heavy heart and reached Kizhakkekara temple and approached the main priest there.

The priest was busy in making ‘Unniappam’ there. Perumthachan requested the priest and he was asked to identify a place to install the idol. Perumthachan was so happy and noticed that idols of the temple that lord Shiva facing East, Goddess Parvati facing Shiva towards west, lord Murugan and Sasthavu facing South west and North west respectively. Perumthachan took the direction and placed this Ganapathy idol towards the Southeast. Perumthachan was so happy because it changed into Kailasa (Lord Shiva’s family abode).

Perumthachan lended the unniappam and offered Ganapathy for the first time and told ‘Though father is the main idol, son would become more famous here’. From that time, Kizhakkekara Shiva temple is recognized as Kottarakkara Ganapathy temple. It has then become famous for Lord Ganapathy along with the ‘Unniappam’. The temple is beautiful and magnificent. Different schedules are followed to worship and to perform the rituals. The pure and holy ambiance of the temple is a source of positive energy that revives the senses.