Ayiloor

Overview

A beautiful village located at the base of the Nelliyampathy hills, Ayiloor apparently gets its name from the 'Akil' (cup-calyxed white cedar) trees that once grew in abundance in the area. And therefore the village's presiding deity, Lord Shiva came to be called 'Akileswaran'. Others think it's 'Akhileswaran', for Lord of the Universe. Etymology aside, the ancient Ayiloor Siva Temple is one of the most pristine shrines of its scale in the region. Legend has it that the idol was one of three consecrated by Kharasura, the great Shiva devotee. The other two are at Trippalur and Pallavur; all three in a line, and an equal distance apart (an identical legend, incidentally, accounts for the placement of the Vaikom, Ettumanur and Kaduthuruthy temples) - From INTACH

Location

Location: The Ayiloor village is located about 38 Kms south from the Palakkad railway station and 3 kms south of the Pollachi highway.

Address: HHF9+V4Q, Ayalur, Kerala 678510

Temple Timings: 

5.30AM TO 9.00AM

5.00PM TO 7.30PM


History

Etymology aside, the ancient Ayiloor Siva Temple is one of the most pristine shrines of its scale in the region. Legend has it that the idol was one of three consecrated by Kharasura, the great Shiva devotee. The other two are at Trippalur and Pallavur; all three in a line, and an equal distance apart (an identical legend, incidentally, accounts for the placement of the Vaikom, Ettumanur and Kaduthuruthy temples). Talking of legends there are a few interesting ones on why the Nandi idol at Ayiloor is located to the south of the Sreekovil, and not in front of the deity at the NamaskaraMandapam as is seen everywhere else. The contrasting geometry of the roofs of the circular Sreekovil, the square Namaskara Mandapam, and the rectangular (double-storeyed) Vaathil Maatam is very pleasing. There is a particularly large Thitappally. The other feature to look out for are the carved wooden figures of the Lord Brahma, the Ashtadikpalakas, Devas, Rishis and Apsaras on the Greeva of the Sreekovil. There are smaller, albeit finer carvings on the cieling of the Namaskara Mandapa. The temple complex, the houses of the Agraharam, the lush canopy of trees, and the hills in the backdrop, as seen from the northern gate is a view of remarkable perfection.

Deities

Other Temples

1) KURUMBA BHAGAVATHY – PADINAJARE THARA

2) Lord Ayyappa-Thekkethra

3) Mariyamman Temple

Videos

Photo Gallery

Utsavams

Vahanas

No Vahanam

No Dwaja Sthambam/No Kodimaram ,So no Utsavam

Adimakkavu

Cherunetturi Bhagavathi Chittilanchery

Other Agraharam Information

Contact Information

A K BALASUBRAMANIAN - PRESIDENT - 7907224661

A G VENKATACHALESWARA SHARMA – SECRETARY - 8592892877

K SREENIVASAN –TREASURER - 8547402731

PARAMESWARAN - 9446152831

Well Known Elders from the Agraharam

Food and Catering

Hall for functions and Lodging

Bank Accounts for sending Kanikkai, donation or vazhipadu

A/c name: 

ayalurgrama0594@dlb

AYALUR GRAMA BRAHMANA SANGHAM

DHANALAKSHMI BANK –NENMARA BRANCH

A/c 005000100000594

IFSC: DLXB 0000050

Author's Notes

Ayiloor - 100 Agraharams Project

The place Ayilur derived its name from the abundance of the Cedar trees. In Tamil அகில் means a fragrant Agar tree which is used in incense.

Thirugnana sambandhar says

"கலையுடை விரிதுகில் கமழ்குழல் அகில்புகை

மலையுடை மடமகள் தனையிடம் உடையோன்.."

Sambandha peruman mentions the fragrant tresses of Parvati devi which smells like Akhil incense. So I wonder which Akil helped the place with its name.

The structure reminds me of the great Shiva temples in Kerala.

"Datable to very ancient period, the temple has an idol believed to have been consecrated by Sree Khara, along with the other temples at Pallävoor and Trppaloor. As in the case of Pallavoor it is also believed that the jurisdiction of Pallava kingdom extended over this region also. The place got the name Akiloor as it had a large number of Akil (Cedar) trees and the temple got the name Akileswaran which was later corrupted as Akhileswaran meaning God of the Universe."

"The temple has some peculiarity with regard to the position of the Pratishtha of Sree Nandikeswaran. Generally Sree Nandikeswaran, the vähana of the Lord is installed at the namaskära-mandapam facing the deity. But in this temple Sree Nandikeswaran is installed at the southern side. 

For the last few centuries the temple was owned by the Cochin Royal family. When the Cochin Dēvaswam Board was formed in 1951 the temple was taken over by the Board. Earlier the temple had paddy fields which fetched 20,000 paras of paddy and four acres of dry land which constitute the temple complex. 

The structures thereon are sreekovil, namaskara-mandapam, chuttambalam with attached mandapams, balikkal-pura, pradakshina-vazhi, sub-shrines, deepa-stambham, valiya-balikkall, naga-tara, chariot-shed, well and tank. The square garbha-gha has thick circular walls. In addition there are two pradakshina pathas within the sreekovil, a feature of great architectural importance."

Radhe Krishna

Sriram(Hari)

100-Agraharams Project

Rama Bhagavathar Charitable Trust

August 7, 2024