The Madvoorpara Rock Temple is a historic site located approximately 11 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram city, within the Kattayikonam division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. This ancient temple, dating back to the 9th century, is situated midway up a massive rock formation. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is believed to have originally served as a Buddhist shrine before its conversion to a Hindu place of worship.
This cave temple, maintained and protected by the Kerala Department of Archaeology and the Sri Ramadasa Ashram Mission, is a two-story structure carved from limestone rock. The outer surface is shallowly carved, allowing devotees to stand outside.Access to the temple is through 33 small steps directly cut into the rock. Additional steps from the road below lead to the base of the rock that houses the temple.
Inside the temple’s inner chamber, there is a 3-foot-high Swayambhu Lingam. The outer chamber, resembling a corridor, features carvings of Subrahmanya and Ganapati facing each other on the left and right walls. These murtis are intricately sculpted directly into the rock.
The worship at this site centers around Parameshwara, accompanied by Parvati and their two sons. According to legend and local belief, the Shastavattam Sridharmashastakshetra Temple is situated within 500 meters of the Srimahadeva Temple.While there are no visible Naga shrines or symbols, Nagas are still regarded with significant religious reverence in Madavoorpara.
Scholars say that some inscriptions in ancient scripts can be seen carved on the walls of the temple, but it is still not possible to read them completely.
According to legend, the areas surrounding Madavoorpara were once thriving settlements inhabited by numerous Brahmin families who resided there during ancient times. It is believed that the region held cultural and spiritual significance, contributing to the flourishing of Brahmin communities in the vicinity.One compelling theory suggests that the name Madavoorpara may have originated from the presence of Brahmin monasteries or hermitages established in the area. This hypothesis, grounded in linguistic and historical interpretations, cannot be dismissed outright. The term ‘oor’ is an archaic word that refers to the countryside or a rural settlement, indicating the region’s longstanding connection to agricultural and pastoral life.Furthermore, during the period of royal governance, the expansive paddy fields in the area were known as Madapad. The blending of ‘oor’ with Madapad could have naturally evolved into the name Madavoor, signifying a landscape shaped by both agrarian practices and spiritual dwellings. This etymological connection reflects the deep interweaving of local geography, societal structure, and cultural heritage that continues to define the identity of Madavoorpara to this day.
In any case, it is unlikely that the name Mavdavoorpara is more than four hundred years old. So if the writings carved on the walls can be read in full, there may be clarity in this regard.It has been stated by somany remains have been found in the surrounding area, which gives evidence that the area was once inhabited, when the earth was dug up for house building and so on.It is also said that the former generations saw the remains of a large pond right next to Maravoorpara.The surrounding areas of Mavoorpara, which was a residential area, became deserted and became forested with canes and trees and started to become isolated.
Mecheri Math was the last remaining monastery in Madavoorpara. Over time, nearly all traces of the once-thriving community vanished, leaving behind only Mecheri Math and a few nearby houses belonging to its caretakers. This enduring presence may be attributed to the Shiva temple, which was historically managed, protected, and worshipped under the authority of Mecheri Math. Even after other families had long departed, the members of Mecheri Math, known as Mecherimakars, continued to reside in the area, preserving the temple’s sanctity and rituals.
However, as time passed and the monastery itself fell into disrepair, the inhabitants of Mecheri Math also eventually abandoned the region. Access to the site became limited, with visits occurring only during emergencies or special occasions. During this period of neglect, temple rituals and poojas ceased for an extended time, and the site gradually fell into disuse. This period of inactivity led to the temple becoming vulnerable to intrusion by anti-social elements, further accelerating its decline.
With the absence of regular devotees and caretakers, the sanctum of the temple became a tranquil but desolate place, frequented mainly by wandering ascetics who sought solitude for meditation and spiritual practice. Wild animals and monkeys roamed freely across the grounds, reinforcing the temple’s isolation.
By 1960s Mecheri Math also left that place .Temple was about to collapse .It was at that time Brahmasri Neelakantagurupada , Sriramadasa asrama brought back members of Mechari Math and Renovated the Temple and restarted worship.
Reference
1.S Jayasankar, Temples of Thiruvanthapuram district, 2020
2.Kerala Tourism Official site-
3.Archaeological survey of India official site
Amarnath KP, from Kannur, Kerala, is a Research Supporter currently working at RPG Foundation, Mumbai. He holds a postgraduate degree in History and a PG Diploma in Archaeology.
Dr Janki Thaker