Kallil Temple Jain temple in Kerala
Kallil Temple, is located atop a small hill, 23 km away from Kalady. It is a 9th century Jain Temple in Kerala is cut from a huge rock and a climb of 120 steps leads to the temple. Kallil is malayalam for ‘in stone’.
Kallil temple may be the lone rock temple in the country with the Deity of goddess Durga.
Believed to be 1500 years old, Durga is the main deity and Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are also worshipped.
A single rock acts as the roof of the temple and only an edge of the rock has touched the ground. The sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil) of the temple is under this rock. The interesting feature of this temple is that it is also a Jain temple with a statue of Mahavira.
There is also a rock carving or shallow etching of an elephant image at the back of the shrine, which again is a confirmed Jain icon or Mudra. There are also ancient ponds and tanks that offer clear drinking water nearby. The mineral water springs also confirm the fact that this was an ancient Jain Thirtha or forest cave shrine with a mineral spring that attracted devotees from far and near. In the temple, the figure of Parswanatha with the famous ‘Three layered umbrella’ is seen to the left of Mahaveera.
The temple was owned by the Kallil Pisharody family.
The temple closes after Poojas at noon every day and poojas are not being done at night.
The annual festival of the temple is conducted eight days starting from the ‘Karthika day’ in Vrischikam (November-December). The procession is being conducted by carrying the idol of thedeity on a female elephant.
Related posts:
