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Ettumanor

Ettumanor (Ettumanur, Ettumanoor) is a Hindu Temple situated 11 km North of Kottayam, State of Kerala, India. At November 28, 1987, together with our guide through the Hindu culture during two journeys, high school teacher O M Mathew, we made a visit to this temple.

The deity of this temple is Shiva.

The age of the temple is unknown, its origin is obscure. It is said to be rebuilt as well as some item, like the large oil lamp, was made in the 1540s. Some teak buildings in the state is known to be 500 years, so, the temple may be much older.

The architecture is, to our knowledge (we made visits to a couple of simlar temples), typical for the area. The mural paintings in the main entrance gate are, however, unique and said to be the oldest known dravidian murals. The basic motive is Shiva as Nataraja (Shiva occur in a number of incarnations) dancing a kosmic dance on a symbol of the evil. Personally we were more fascinated by all the animals figured. We also saw another painting with a good (Shiva?) in a bed floating on water filled with crocodiles, fish, elephants etc. During our research now, more than ten years later, we could not succed to obtain any information about this painting.

This is a link to S*Poo Nai's Ettumanor.

The Shiva Temple in Ettumanor: "main building" and the golden flagstaff (kodimaram), to the left part of the platform used for eg. weddings. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
The Shiva Temple in Ettumanor: "main building" and the golden flagstaff (kodimaram), to the left part of the platform used for eg. weddings. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
Two pilgrims coming out of the main gate (western gopuram) of the temple in Ettumanor. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
Two pilgrims coming out of the main gate (western gopuram) of the temple in Ettumanor. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
The temple in Ettumanor, western gopuram (gate), part of mural painting with Shiva in the incarnation as Nataraja, dancing and steps down evil. Photo: Erik Åhlander.
The temple in Ettumanor, western gopuram (gate), part of mural painting with Shiva in the incarnation as Nataraja, dancing and steps down evil. Photo: Erik Åhlander.
The temple in Ettumanor, western gopuram (gate), part of mural painting with different animals (elephant, leopard, tiger, boar etc.). Photo: Erik Åhlander.
The temple in Ettumanor, western gopuram (gate), part of mural painting with different animals (elephant, leopard, tiger, boar etc.). Photo: Erik Åhlander.
The temple in Ettumanor, painting. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
The temple in Ettumanor, painting. Photo: Suzanne Wejland.
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Updated May 26, 2001

Text: Suzanne Wejland (suzanne.wejland@telia.com)
Technical support: Erik Åhlander (erik.ahlander@nrm.se)

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