CONTENTS SECTION 1 : GENERAL BACKGROUND 1-52 Geographical setting (3) - History of the district (5) - People and religious composition (7) -Mode of worship (9) - Antiquity of temples (10) - Temple architecture (13) - Carvings and paintings (19) - Administration of temples (20) - Classification of temples (22) - Types of idols (25) -Deities (25) - Sakthi-worship (28) -Vaishnavite-worship(29) -Saivite-worship (29) -Lord Siva (30) - Lord Muththappan (31) - Lord Vettakkorumakan or Kiraathasoonu (31) -Sree Veerabhadran (31) - Lord Ganapathi (31) - Lord Subramanya (32) - Lord Saastha and Ayyappa (32) - Combination of kalpas (32) - Sree Lakshmi-Nrsimhamoorththy (32) Sree Uma-Maheswara/ Siva-Paarvathi (32) - Other varied kalpas (33) - Jain temples (33) -Lord Hanumaan (33) - Navagrahas (33) - Naaga-worship (34) - Spirit-cult (34) -Time of worship and poojas (36) - Offerings (37) - Monthly and annual festivals (39) -Priesthood and temple staff (42) - Priests (42) - Thanthris (42) - Saanthikkaars (43) -Kazhakakkaars (43) - Administrative staff (44) - Remuneration to temple staff (44) -Role of Government and administration (45) - Some unique features (46) - Coverage of temples (46) - Conclusion (47) Diagram 1 : Lay-out of temple 48-49 Diagram 2 : Prathishtha point in thegarbha-grham 50 Diagram3 : Positions of bali-peethas in the anthar-mandalam 51 Annexure : Villages/town falling in physio-geographic regions 52 SECTION 2 : SALIENT FEATURES OF IMPORTANT TEMPLES 53-116 1 Maananthavaati taluk 55-72 1 Sree Maha Vishnu temple, Thirunelli 55 2 Sree Maha Deva temple, Thrssleri 61 3 Sree (Valliyoor kaav) Bhagavathy temple, Aaraattuthara 63 4 Sree (Vateri) JSiva temple, Maananthavaati 66 5 Sree (Kunnom Bhagavathy kaav) &va temple, Niravilpuzha 67 6 Sree Raajaraajeswari temple, Paingaattiri 69 7 Sree Lakshmi-Nrsimhaswaamy temple, Eranalloor 70 2 Sulththaan Baththeri taluk 73-94 1 Sree Maha Siva temple, Poothaati 73 2 Sree (Vattaththaani) Maha Vishnu temple, Vaalavayal 75 3 Sree (Veliyambamkotta) Siva temple, Veliyambam 77 4 Sree Seetha-Lava-Kusa temple, Pulpalli 78 5 Sree Maariyamman temple, Baththeri 81 6 Sree Maha Ganapathi temple, Ganapathivattam(Baththeri) 82 7 Sree Lakshmi-Narasimha temple, Baththeri 84 8 Sree Maha Siva temple, Thiruvannoor 85 9 Sree (Kallunkara) Maha Siva temple, Pulinchaa 87 10 Sree Siva temple, Ambalavayal 88 11 Sree Mathsyamoorththy (Maha Vishnu) temple, Meenaiigaati 90 12 Sree(Thinavarambathth)Sivatemple,Meenangaati 91 13 Sree Maha Siva temple, Maanikaav 92 3 Vaiththiri taluk 95-116 1 Sree (Porigini) Bhadrakaali Paradevatha temple, Chikkalloor 95 2 Sree Maha Vishnu Temple, Muttil 97 3 Sree Maha Vishnu (Maniyankottappan) temple, Kalpetta 99 4 Sree (Matiyoor) Maha Vishnu temple, Kalpetta 101 5 Sree Maariyamman temple, Kalpetta 103 6 Sree Maha Vishnu temple, Vengappalli 104 7 Sree (Pazhoor) Maha Vishnu temple, Kaappuvayal 106 8 Sree (Etaththara) Siva Temple, Thariyot 108 9 Sree Maariyamman temple, Vaiththiri 110 10 Sree Maariyammankovil, Meppaati 111 11 Sree Siva temple, Thrkkaippatta 113 12 Sree (Kunnoththkotta) Porkali Bhagavathy temple, Vatuvanchaal 115 SECTION 3 : TEMPLE DIRECTORY 117-185 1Maananthavaati taluk Key to map showing names of panchaayathths and villages 118-135 Rough map (facing key to map)118 Directory119 2 Sulththaan Baththeri taluk 136-163 Key to map showing names of panchaayathths and villages136 Rough map (facing key to map) Directory 137 3 Vaiththiri taluk164-185 Key to map showing names of panchaayathths, villages and town164 Rough map (facing key to map) Directory 165 PROCEDURE OF TRANSLITERATION 186-190 GLOSSARY 191-220 PHOTOGRAPHS Temples of Maananthavaati taluk Plates 1-16 Temples of Sulththaan Baththeri taluk Plates 17-30 Temples of Vaiththiri taluk Plates 31-40 Between pages 52-53 Front cover: Sree Maha Vishnu temple, Thirunelli Back cover: Wood carving on the ceiling of namaskaara-mandapam with Garuda at the centre (Sree (Maniyankottappan) Maha Vishnu temple, Kalpetta)