Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

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Early medieval · Hindu · India

Thiruvatta Mahadeva Temple

Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Kerala · 9.3707°, 76.5709°

Shiva as Thiruvatta ThevarCheraKerala
Sacred since
800 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
Second Chera (9th–11th c.)
Chera

History & significance

One of the earliest temples in Kerala and among its 108 famous Shiva shrines, built under the Kulasekhara Perumals of the second Chera dynasty. The Vazhappally copper-plate inscription issued in the reign of the Chera king Rama Rajasekhara refers to this Shiva temple.

Sthala katha — the legend

Folklore holds that the sage Parashurama installed the Shiva idol here in the Treta Yuga.

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Related sites

Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple
Palani · India
attributed to Chera kings, early centuries CE; renewed since
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Thrissur · India
classic Kerala-style complex, medieval
Thrichittatt Mahavishnu Temple
Chengannur · India
Second Chera period (800-1102)
Thripuliyoor Mahavishnu Temple (Thiruppuliyur)
Puliyoor, Chengannur · India
Second Chera period (800-1102)
Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple
Thiruvanvandoor · India
Second Chera period (800-1102)
Thiruvazhmarban Temple (Thiruvanparisaram)
Thiruppathisaram · India
by 1139 (trad. Kulasekara Alvar)

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Chera