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Top 10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Kannur, Kerala
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1. Kunnoth Juma Masjid
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Thalassery
2. Kottiyoor Mahadeva Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 20 reviews
3. Chala Bhagavathi Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
4. Oorpazhassi Kavu Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
5. Trichambaram Sree Krishna Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By RajeeshRj - Bengaluru, India
The temple at Taliparamba is among the 108 ancient Kerala temples dedicated to Shiva. It is as famous as the Shiva temples in Vaikom, Ettumanur and Trichur. Taliparamba is also regarded as one of the ancient Shakti Peethams. Legend has it that the head of Sati (Goddess/ wife of Shiva) fell here after Shiva's tandavam following Sati's self-immolation. Sati was the daughter of Daksh, a respected Hindu king who had a disregard for Shiva. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be several thousands of years old. Legend has it that Shiva gave three sacred Shiva Lingas to Parvati/Sati for worship.One sage, Maandhata, propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers. Shiva was so pleased that he presented one of the Shiva Lingas to him with the injunction that it should be installed only at a place where there was no cremation ground. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the Shiva Linga. After his death the Linga disappeared into the earth.Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second Shiva Linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shiva Linga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. On the advice of sage Agastya, he prayed to Lord Siva, who granted him the Shiva Linga. The king installed it in the present temple built by him. However, many legends associated with the Temple, claim Agastya Himself as installing the Shiva Linga (which is believed as per those legends to be a 'Jyothirlingam').It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. In honor of His presence, devotees are not allowed into the namaskara mandapam even today.Lord Shiva, as worshiped in this sacred temple, is known as Sree Rajarajeswara, which means the Emperor of Emperors — the Lord Supreme. The name signifies the supreme transcendental power in the background of mysterious drama of the boundless universe. That power is invoked here as Lord Rajarajeshwara. Devotees address the lord with such royal appellations as Perumthrikovilappan, Perum-chelloorappan and Thampuraan Perumthrikkovilappan. The Jyothirlingam in the shrine in vibrant with spiritual power that exerts an enriching influence both on the material and spiritual levels of the earnest devotees. The celebrated ancient sage Agasthya Maharishi is associated with the installation of the Jyothirlingam in the shrine. The legends of temples are usually symbolic in character and are intended to convey deep messages to the spiritual inquirer and instill faith in the common man. The legends of Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple reveal the antiquity and the special significance of the Spiritual Presence. A major legend about this temple, begins with the visit of the Puranic sage Parashurama, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Seeing there, an ancient shrine of vibrant spiritual power in a dilapidated condition, the sage was grief-stricken and wanted to know its history. Thereupon, sage Narada appeared there and related to him the story of the temple. According to it, sage Sanaka and others, the sons of the creator Lord Brahma, churned the disk of the Sun to lessen its fierce heat. They mixed the dust, which was formed while churning, with the divine nectar of immortality, Amrita, and out of it gave shape to three spiritually to Lord Brahma presented them to Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvathi presented these Shivalingams to three kings who were doing intense austerities to invoke the Goddess, one in the Thretha Yugam and the other two Dwapara Yugam. Maandhatha was the king to whom the Goddess presented the Shivalingam in the Thretha Yugam, and Muchukundam and Shathasoman were the devotees who received the other two lingams in Dwapara Yugam. Goddess Parvathi advised each of them to install the idols in such a place where no death of any creature had taken place or any dead body had fallen. After a long search for such a place, which was very difficult to locate, Maandhatha, the first one to receive the lingam, found out a small place of that description, only that much land which could accommodate a small plate. Thalika in Malayalam means a plate. It is said that the region came to be known as Taliparamba, which means the place large enough to accommodate a Thalika after this legend. Maandhatha installed his Shivalingam at this place. Eventually this Jyothirlingam disappeared in the earth rendering the place spiritually vibrant for ever. Thretha Yugam was over. Then, in Dwapara Yugam, King Muchukundan, after receiving the second Jyothirlingam from Goddess Parvathi as instructed, was also in search for a spot where no death had taken place naturally he also came to the same spot where Maandhatha had installed the first Shivalingam. He installed his Shivalingam at the same spot. This Shivalingam was also eventually dissolved into the earth again reinforcing the spot spiritually. Then came king Shathasoman, the one who received the third Shivalingam. He was also naturally attracted to the same spot and installed his Shivalingam there. While installing, this Lingam also began sinking into the earth. King Shathasoman thereupon prayed for Sage Agasthya's help. The sage appeared and after lighting a ghee lamp prostrated before the Shivalingam twelve times; when he began the thirteenth prostration, the Lingam got firmly fixed on the earth — therefore the number of prostrations the Sage Agasthya performed for his purpose came to be known as twelve and a half. Thus with the installation of the third Shivalingam the sacred spot became spiritually vibrant threefold. Hearing this story from sage Narada, devotion welled up in the heart of sage Parashurama, and he decided to renovate the temple for the welfare of mankind. As desired by the sage, the celestial architect Ari Vishwakarma performed the renovation work. During the final stage of the renovation, sage Agasthya appeared on the scene and, after making abhishekam (ablution) on the idol, lighted a ghee lamp. This lamp has shone continuously ever since, with a regular supply of ghee. Offering of ghee in gold, silver and copper pitchers with intense devotion, is an important offering for the lord. Temple legends are highly symbolic representations of the subtle spiritual principles and highlight the nature and intensity of the spiritual presence at a particular place. They instill devotion and convey their deeper message to the spiritual seeker. The above-mentioned legend highlights the fact that at this unique centre of spiritual power discovered and maintained by the great sages of yore, one can receive profound Divine grace for material progress and spiritual un-foldment. According to the traditional system of visiting this temple, the devotee first worships Lord Krishna at the shrine of Vasudevapuram on the southern bank of the vast temple tank known as Aashraamath-chira, where there is a beautiful idol of Krishna playing the flute. The sweet melody from Krishna's flute symbolizes the supreme spiritual harmony that prevails in the background of the universe of diversities, which one can experience by spiritually elevating oneself. Worship of Krishna before entering the great temple of Shiva symbolizes the essential unity of lords Vishnu and Shiva as two aspects of the supreme reality. There are other special features in this temple that highlight this unity. It is believed that there was an ashram of sage Agasthya on the bank of this temple tank. The tank was reconstructed in the present stage. It is said about 460 years ago by a devotee, Chittoor Namboodiripad. Then, proceeding towards Sree Rajarajeswara temple one worships at the shrine of Sree Bhoothanatha (Kumbhodhara), who is the chief lieutenant of lord Shiva. Kumbhodhara is also known as Aravathappan. Sri Krishna and Sri Bhoothanatha are considered the accompanying deities of lord Rajarajeswara. The temple covers a spacious compound of about eight acres surrounded by a compound wall with two gopurams on the eastern and western sides. The ancient compound wall is a wondrous architectural marvel built of huge cut stones placed one above the other without any cementing mortar, broad at the base and tapering towards the top. The main gate is on the east before one enters the temple; one turns eastwards and offers prayers to Lord Vaidyanatha (kanhirangaatt-appan), an aspect of lord Shiva worshiped as the lord of physicians, enshrined in temple about 6 km from Rajarajeswara temple.
6. Peralassery Sri Subramanya Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
The Peralassery Sri Subrahmanya Temple is considered as an ancient temple, it is popularly believed that this place of worship was built by Lord Rama himself. The presiding deity of the temple is the serpent form of Lord Subrahmanya.
Reviewed By RajeeshRj - Bengaluru, India
Peralassery Subrahmanya Temple is one of the beautiful holy shrines of Kannur district, situated around 16 kms from Kannur city on the Kannur-Kuthuparamba road. An ancient temple, it is popularly believed that this place of worship was built by Lord Rama himself. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Subrahmanya. This temple is also well – known for its stepped temple pond that has countless steps laid in unique and intricate geometrical proportions. The story of this temple is connected to the epic Ramayana. It is believed that During Lord Ramas Vanavasam (the 14-year-long exile in forests), Lord Rama along with his brother Lakshmana and Hanuman, reach the south in search of his wife Sita, who was abducted by Ravana. And during their journey, they reach Peralassery where Lord Rama felt the presence of Lord Subrahmanya there. Lord Ram wanted to install an idol of Subrahmanya. But Hanuman, for some reasons, fails to turn up in time with the idol for the consecration. Upset by the delay, Sri Ram is said to have removed his bangle and placed it on the pedestal where the idol was supposed to have been placed. When Hanuman arrives with the idol, Sri Rama places it on top of the bangle he had already consecrated. Thus, the place where a huge bangle is placed came to be known as Peruvalasserry, (Peru-Vala; Means Huge Bangle in Malayalam) and with the passage of time it became Peralassery. It is also believed that before Lord Sri Ram consecrated the Subrahmanya idol in the temple in Tretha Yuga, this was an Ayyappa temple. Now there are two temples in the same compound, one for Ayyappa, and another for Subrahmanya. The other deities in the temple include Ganapati, Naga,and Bhagavathi. The Naga deity attracts devotees in large numbers who come to this temple to get rid of Naga Kopam or Dosham. Every month, on Ayilyam day, as per the local Malayalam calendar, this temple bustles with ardent devotees who come to make offerings to snake gods. The main offerings made in this temple are that of Subrahmanya Pooja and Mutta Oppikkal which is the offering of eggs to the snake. An important annual attraction is the eight day Kodiyettam festival that is celebrated in the month of December. Thousands of devotees from all across Kerala and also from neighbouring states visit this temple during this festival season.. A dip or wash in the impressive Chira or Pond followed by a visit to this temple leaves a soothing impact on the devotees.
7. Sundareswara Temple
8. Holy Trinity Cathedral Church
9. Mridangashyleswari Temple
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Ananth727499 - Tiruppur, India
The temple is one of the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. The route to reach this temple is as below - KANNUR - Mattannur - Thillankeri - Muzhakunnu ( around 42 KMS) Another route is Kottiyoor - Peravoor - Kayankkad - Muzhakunnu temple.. From KANNUR - around 45 MS From thalassery - around 33 kms.. Don't forget to visit this temple and have a Darshan - if you ever happen to pass through this route.
10. Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 4 reviews
