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Lord Shiva, one of the three main gods in the Hindu religion, is worshipped in many forms. One of the forms in which he is worshipped is Kalakandha. He got this name, which means the one who swallowed poison to save the world because he literally took the poison and kept it in his throat. If you are a worshipper of Lord Shiva, you should definitely visit the Thiruvizha Mahadevar Temple, Marari. It is believed that people with mental issues, madness in them, or with poison in their body can be brought here and be healed magically by the blessings of Lord Shiva.
History
The history of the temple goes back to the time of Arakkal Panikkars who lived in a dense forest. It is believed that during those times, a group of hunters from the Ulladaas tribe used to hunt in a pond in the forest. One day, a lady hunter saw blood at the bottom of the pond. On close inspection, they found blood coming out from a stone. A sage was called and he put some ash on the stone which stopped the blood. Thats when a temple was built around the pond and the stone is visible still there.
In fact, there is another story which says that a mad man was healed after he was tied up to a tree overnight and fed the juice of a plant that magically appeared there overnight mixed with cows milk. This helped the mad man become normal once again.
Best Time to Visit
During the month of April, a festival called the Arattu festival is held in this temple complex. You can visit this temple during that part of the year to participate in festivities. This festival takes place for a period of 10 days and you can come here and celebrate.
How to Reach
This temple is located in Keralas Alappuzha district. It is at a distance of seven kilometers from Cherthala. You can get to the Thiruvizha junction and head 1 kilometer west from there to reach this temple. In order to reach here, you need to travel 40 km from Ernakulam on the Cherthalai road. You can reach Ernakulam by any means of transport, even through a public bus. Once you reach here, you can hail a cab or an autorickshaw to reach the temple complex.
Interesting Facts and Trivia About
It is believed that many people who have mental problems that cannot be treated anywhere else can come to this temple, seek blessings from Kalakandha and see the magic unfold. In fact, it is also believed that people who have gotten poison in their body can also come to find a permanent cure in this temple in Marari.
Nearby Attractions
Many of the tourists especially visit the temple for solely for the purpose of seeking blessings from Lord Shiva. However, if you are planning a trip here, you can reserve a full day to visit the Marari Beach and have some fun in the sand. Apart from that, you can also visit the St. Andrews Basilica near the temple. If you are also planning to visit this temple, make sure to plan a day trip by hiring a cab for the day. Visit the temple in the morning and go see the St. Andrews Basilica next. In the evening, enjoy at the beach and some snacks before heading back.
