Valiyasala Mahadeva Temple

Kanthaloor Mahadeva Temple at Valiyasala is one of the old Trimurti temples of Thiruvananthapuram, with shrines to Brahma, Sri Venkata Perumal and Sri Mahadeva. Centuries ago the area was home to Kanthaloor Sala, a renowned seat of learning. Legend says Chera, Chola and Pandya kings died fighting one another here, their queens committed sati, and the three temples rose where the pyres had burned.

The temple is tied to the struggle for the throne of Venad. Kudamon Pillai, one of the Ettuveetil Pillamar who backed the Thampi brothers against Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, is said to have charged the idol now known as Brahma with Smasaana Siva power to destroy him. The king later reconsecrated Sri Venkita Perumal using a kadusarkara idol and held rituals to counter it. His successors stayed away for centuries, until Maharaja Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma and Maharani Karthika Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi visited in 2000.