Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple

Peruvanam Mahadeva Temple is the chief temple of the old village of Peruvanam in Thrissur district and one of Kerala's 108 Shiva temples; tradition dates it to the very creation of Kerala and the coming of Parashurama. The name is said to come from a sage called Puru who did penance here when the area was forest, or vanam. It is ringed by other shrines: Bhadrakali and Subramanya to the west, Sastha to the north, Vishnu to the east and Durga to the south.

The temple occupies 7 acres inside a compound wall, and its main shrine is square. The deity is Shiva as Erattayappan, named for the two lingas, one bigger than the other, set on a single pedestal, with Parvati worshipped behind him in the same sanctum. A separate shrine to Madathilappan rises 120 feet. The temple is the setting for the ancient Peruvanam Pooram, when deities from 19 other temples arrive to honour Erattayappan.