ETTAMANUR - SIVA AMBALAM

This famous ancient Siva Ambalam enshrines one of the very three Sivalingas given to the demon bhakta Khara by Bhaktavasankar. Its legends are as awe-inspiring as the sports of the Lord imbued with inexplicable mystery. The awe-inspiring history of the ambalam dates back to the Treta yuga; and its glory originates from the inexhaustible devotional springs of Khara - a great demon, though served that indomitable and wicked Ravanabrahma, he is a Sivabhakta of an exceptional type. Being a domineering military general with unprecedented commandership, he was entrusted with the rulership of a large territory in Dandakaranya and was related to Ravana through his father. His ardent devotion reached the point of consummation with obtaining several boons from Lord Siva, propitiated at Chidambaram at the instance of his Preceptor Malayavan.

Among the boons blessed with, three Sivalingas take precedence over others. They were big in size and grand in appearance. For taking them home, he adopted an odd method - carried one in each hand and the third in the mouth. When felt tired on the way, he alighted at the spot, where the Vaikatappan Ambalam stands now. He placed the linga, he was carrying in mouth here and after a while, he lifted it, but failed. He found Vyagrapada Maharshi passing that way, while repenting over the predicament. Realising his spiritual wealth, he entrusted to him the holy work of installing the sacred Sivalinga. Comprehending the divinity of the soil and its environs, he decided to instal one Sivalinga at Ettamanur and the other at Kaduthuruthi. As planned, he did, and made the three places great Siva kshetras of eternal spiritual significance. It has many legends and they raised the eminence of the 'temple to the pinnacle of glory.

It lies about 15 km of Kottayam, one of the premier cultural centres of Kerala enjoying all transport facilities.

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