Trikkur Mahadeva Temple

Set in a cave on a hillock in Trikkur village, Thrissur district, the Trikkur Mahadeva Temple is a rock-cut shrine believed to date from the 7th or 8th century. Buddhist and Jain monks are said to have meditated in the cave alongside Hindu ascetics. It has been protected by the Kerala archaeology department since 1966, and the Paliyam Trust owns it.

The natural cave is about 30 feet long, and a large Shiva linga, believed to have been consecrated by Agni, stands at its southern end below a water hole that does not run dry even in summer. The linga faces east but the sanctum door opens north, so worshippers see only its side. In front is a hall carved from the rock, a figure of Ganapathi is cut into the cave wall, and a sixteen-pillared stone mandapa carries many sculptures. Because Agni is thought to accompany Shiva, the idol is not taken out in processions on rainy days.