Category:Thrikkur Mahadeva Temple

Thrikkur Mahadeva Temple 

A pre-9th century Hindu rock-cut cave temple in Kerala
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Thrissur district, Kerala, India
10° 27′ 42″ N, 76° 16′ 15″ E
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The Trikur Mahadeva Temple (തൃക്കൂർ മഹാദേവക്ഷേത്രം) is a rock-cut Hindu temple in central Kerala from the Chera dynasty era. It is a single cell excavated facing northwards with dvarapalas flanking the sanctum. The Shiva linga pitha, like almost all of India faces east. The cave has two columns of pre-9th century design similar to one we find in Kaviyur, but modern era additions and modern colorful structures obscure these columns. From a distance the contemporary temple complex appears to be sticking out from the rocks.

The Trikkur Mahadeva temple is considerably older. Archaeological excavations about 200 meters to the southwest of the temple in 2006 yielded 25 empty urns that are pre-4th century. These were probably ashes or offerings that were buried long ago. Similar pit burials of urns and vases have been discovered near Shiva temples in many parts of Kerala, and elsewhere on the Indian subcontinent – some of these urns include semi-precious beads and small iron tools or artifacts.