Ernakulam Shiva Temple: Online Booking, Timings, And Darshan

Have you ever gone to visit the Ernakulam Shiva Temple? Have you seen the architecture of this Ernakulam? Do you know the history of this temple and which god is worshipped in this temple by the devotee? Ernakulam Shiva temple or Ernakulam Mahadev temple is one of the popular temples known in Kerala. 

The Ernakulam Shiva temple is the major temple for which people have high regard and devotion. This temple is also called Ernakulathappan temple which means the lord of Ernakulam. The deity of this temple is Lord Shiva as the name indicates of the temple and this is located in the Durbar hall ground in the port city of Cochin. 

The people of Cochi believe that Lord shiva is the protector of them and this city. The idol of Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Gauri Shankar form. In the Ernakulam Shiva temple, the name given to the deity in form of shiva linga is Swayambhoo which is the main sanctum. 

On the north side of the temple, there is a little Kirthamoorthy shrine, while on the south, there is a Ganesha shrine. Just behind the main sanctum is placed an idol of Goddess Parvati. The visitors are bestowed with the blessings of Lords Ayappa and Nagaraja, according to Hindu tradition. One of the seven temples built by the regal Kochi Maharajas was the Ernakulam Shiva Temple.

Let’s go to the next section to know about the bookings, darshan timing, and history of this temple. You need to read the complete article in detail so you will get to know how you can book the tickets to visit the Ernakulam Shiva temple.

Ernakulam Shiva Temple

One of the most visited and popular Ernakulam shiva temples referred to by Ernakulathappan temple is located in the centre of Ernakulam, Kerala, India. As per Hindu beliefs and traditions, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is the guardian of this temple and city. 

In Kerala, people consider Lord Shiva as Ernakulathappan, dedicated to the Lord of Ernakulam. You can find the temple dedicated to him on the Durbar Hall Ground. The temple’s history intricately links with the city’s history, as it is one of the seven royal temples built by the Kochi Maharajas. Currently, Cochin Devaswom Board is in charge of overseeing the operation of the temple. 

Diwan Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrier actively supported the construction of the temple in its present shape in 1846, thereby earning it the status of a Royal temple in the Kochi Kingdom. The Ernakulam Shiva Temple is located on a one-acre plot of land (4,000 m2). 

The temple is one of the most important Shiva temples in Kerala, along with the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, and Vadakkunnathan Temple.

 Official Website: https://www.ernakulathappan.com/

Official Booking Procedure

You can go to the official website temple to make the bookings it via call, email, and booking form inquiry as per the timing available for the darshan.

The history of the shrine and the city are intertwined. According to mythology, it was one of the seven royal temples of the Kochi Maharajas, but today the Cochin Devaswom Board is in charge of it. In 1846, Diwan Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrior actively supported another renovation of the temple, and the Cochin Devaswom Board currently manages it.

The Ernakulam Shiva Temple opens at 3:30 AM and closes at 8:00 PM. The Cochin Devaswom board has authority over this temple, and this temple’s land spans over 1 Acre.

Ernakulam Shiva Temple Timings

Nadathurakkal and Nirmalyam	3.30 AM
Abhishekam	4.00 to 4.45 AM
Shankh abhishekam	5.15
Amusha pooja	5.45 AM
Aethirtha Pooja	6.15 AM
Ethirtha Sheeveli	6.30 AM
Jala Dhara	7.00 AM
Pantheeradi Pooja	7.30 to 8.15 AM
Uchcha Pooja, Uchcha Sheeveli, Nada Adakkal	9.30 to 11.00 AM
Vykundam Nadathurakkal	4.00 PM
Deeparadhana	6.30 PM
Athaazha Pooja, Athaazha Sheeveli, Thrippaka, Nada Adakkal	7.15 PM to 8.00 PM

Ernakulam Shiva Temple Darshan Timing For Devotees

Days	Parts of the Day	Temple Darshan Timings/Schedule
Mon to Sun	Temple Opening Time	03:30
Mon to Sun	Morning Darshan Timings	03:30 to 11:00
Mon to Sun	Temple Break Timings	11:00 to 16:00
Mon to Sun	Evening Darshan Timings	16:00 to 20:00
Mon to Sun	Temple Closing Timings	20:00

Note: The timing for the deity darshan in Ernakulam shiva temple might be changed due to festivals and special puja. The dress code for the devotee to darshan in the Temple is for women in traditional dresses like a saree and Suits. For the men, they should not cover the upper torso with clothing. 

History Of Ernakulam Shiva Temple

The Cheranalloor Kartha Family founded the Ernakulam Shiva Temple. The devaprasnam claimed that this temple was connected to Vaishnavism. The samiyar of the Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ernakulam Shiva Temple was Jadavedan Nampoothiri. Hindu epics like the Mahabharata intricately entwine the temple’s past.

It is believed that the temple was initially mentioned as one of the important temples during the Chera Kingdom in Sangam Literature. In reality, the Cheras were Lord Shiva’s disciples, and after their deaths, a small group of Nair lords changed the location’s name to Ernakulam in honour of the temple’s well-known sacred pond. The Kochi Kingdom ruled over this territory for a brief period.

After the Dutch besieged Fort Kochi in the 16th century, the Kochi kings shifted their capital to Ernakulam and built a stunning palace that looks out over the temple’s pond. Because of the king’s patronage, helped the temple become more significant.
The designation of the temple as the guardian of Ernakulam later sparked a major contention between the Kochi Maharajas and the Edappally Nair Lords.

The second phase of the temple then began in 1842 when Sri Edakkunni Sankara, the diwan of Kochi, decided to reconstruct the destroyed temple. The two Gopura Mandapams were exquisitely designed in traditional Kerala architectural style, just like Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, when construction on them began in the year 1843. (Tripunithura). 

The new temple complex was made accessible to the public in 1846. The Devaswom Board of the Cochin Government raised the temple to the status of a royal temple and took over its direct management. After Kochi joined the Indian Union in 1949, this board was placed under the administration of the new government.

Origination Of Ernakulam Shiva Temple

The origin of Ernakulam Shiva temple Arjuna built this temple. He had offered true adoration to the Goddess Parvathy here. To come before Arjuna, Lord Shiva disguised himself as Kiratha, a hunter from a tribal group. A wild bear that was approaching Arjuna at the moment sought to attack him. 

Both of them then shot an arrow at it. Indeed, it was a bear-looking fiend by the name of Mookasura. Arjuna and Lord Siva eventually got into a quarrel over who killed the other. Finally, Lord Siva triumphs in it. Arjuna then fashioned a Shiva Lingam out of the mud and began to worship the statue. The flowers he had given to Lingam then fell on the Kiratha. 

Then he understood that Lord Siva had only just appeared. When Lord Siva and Parvathy saw him, they gave Arjuna the Pashupatha arrow. A child named Devala is cursed by his mentor and has his body transformed into a snake a few centuries later. Then he went to the location of Arjuna’s Shiva lingam prayer. 

He then began to worship the god and was released from his curse. The god then commanded him to bathe in the pond inside the temple, which is now where the current pond is. The curse was then lifted from him. Subsequently, that location became the well-known Ernakulam Siva temple.

Way To Reach To Ernakulam Shiva Temple

Reach Ernakulam Shiva Temple By Air	Reach Ernakulam Shiva Temple By Train	Reach Ernakulam Shiva Temple By Road/Bus
Kochi International Airport is the one closest to Ernakulathappan Temple. The distance between the airport and this temple is 35 kilometres. There are frequent daily flights to Kochi Airport from all major Indian cities.	Ernakulam Train Station is the one closest to the Ernakulathappan Temple. There is a separation of 1.1 kilometers between Ernakulam Railway Station and Ernakulathappan Temple.	KSRTC Bus Station, located 2 km from the Ernakulathappan Temple, is the closest bus stop. All major towns in Kerala, including Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, Salem, Coimbatore, and Madurai, have frequent bus services to Ernakulam.

Festivals Celebrated In Ernakulam Shiva Temple

One of the biggest festivals celebrated at the Ernakulam Shiva temple is “Utsavam,” which organizers hold with great devotion and splendor in the months of December-January. The festival starts with kodiyettam on the first day of the celebration. On the seventh day, the celebration includes pakalpooram, during which the deity showcases dressed-up elephants and panchavadyam. This finishes with colourful fireworks at durbar hall after the popular pandimelam.

On the last day of the festival, in the evening, organizers hold a solemn ceremony where they take the deity for a holy bath in a nearby temple tank and lower the flag. Later on, the famous arattu procession starts with the panchavadyam. 

During these joyful days of the festival, organizers also arrange the top Chenda Melam artists, and they set up Sheeveli inside the temple. Also, during this event, well-known priests from Puliyannoor Mana and Chennose do special poojas each day. Throughout the festival, organizers hold numerous cultural events, focusing on temple-related arts such as Paatakam, Thayambaka, Ottamthullal, classical dances, Kathakali, classical music concerts, Bhajans, etc.

Conclusion

These are the details you can have if you are planning to visit the Ernakulam Shiva temple. There are the darshan timings, the website of the temple, and how you can reach the temple. You need to read the complete article to understand. In case you face any difficulty, you can contact to 99Pandit. 

You can go by different ways to the temple or if you have your vehicle you can go by road following the map. 

We will guide you with your bookings. 

Frequently Asked Question

Q. How did Ernakulam Shiva temple originate?

A.The origination of Ernakulam Shiva temple Arjuna built this temple. He had offered true adoration to the Goddess Parvathy here. He shivered in the mud to express his devotion and later on Lord Shiva blessed him with the Pashupatha arrow. The child named Devala worshipped the god and was released from his curse.

Q. What is the opening time of Ernakulam Shiva temple?

A.The Ernakulam Shiva Temple opens at 3:30 AM and closes at 8:00 PM. The Cochin Devaswom Board holds the authority of this temple, and this temple’s land spans over 1 acre.

Q.
Who is the main deity of Ernakulam Shiva temple?

A.The idol of Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Gauri Shankar form. In the Ernakulam Shiva temple, the name given to the deity in form of shiva linga is Swayambhoo which is the main sanctum.

 

Q. Which are the other temples of Lord Shiva in Kerala?

A.The temple is one of the most important Shiva temples in Kerala, along with the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, and Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Q. What is the dress code for Ernakulam Shiva temple darshan?

A.The dress code for the devotee to darshan in the Temple is for women in traditional dresses like saree and Suits. For the men, they should not cover the upper torso with clothing.

 

Q. Which festival is celebrated in Ernakulam Shiva temple?

A.In the Ernakulam Shiva temple, one of the biggest festivals celebrated is “Utsavam” which is organized in December-January month with great devotion and splendour.