Kottiyoor templeKottiyoor or Kottiyur is a famous Hindu pilgrim center devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The proper name of the temple here is Sri Kottiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram. Kottiyoor temple is located near Kelakam in Kannur district of the southern state Kerala. Sri Kottiyoor temple is also known as the "Dakshina Kashi" or "Varanasi of the South" and attracts lakhs of devotees every year during the "Vaisakha Maholsavam" celebrations.
Kottiyoor Mahadeva Temple in Kerala is one of the oldest temples of the state. This temple is also known as Vadakkeshwaram Temple. Locals also call it Ikkare Kottiyoor Temple as the temple is located on the western river bank of Bavali river that is close to the Kottiyoor village. Another Kottiyoor Temple is Akkare Kottiyoor Temple or Kizhakkeshwaram Temple that is on the eastern side of the river. A pilgrimage trip to Kottiyoor Temple is considered auspicious by Keralites. Kottiyoor, famous for its two Shiva temples, is also known as 'Varanasi of the South', a title shared by several other temples in the Southern part of India.

The temple consists of a shiva linga that is believed to be swayambhu. In other terms, it was not manmade. This linga is worshipped here and is placed on a heap that is called 'Manithara'. Abhishekams are done for the shiva linga with milk, ghee and tender coconut water. Not too far from here, there is another heap that is known as the 'amarakkallu' which is where Goddess Parvati is worshipped. This is one of the few temples in India where Lord Shiva and Parvati are worshipped together. Mythology has it that the place where 'amarakkallu' is placed is where Sati Devi (an incarnation of Goddess Parvati) committed suicide after being humiliated by her father's acts of insulting her husband, Lord Shiva. Hence, this is also the place that is the origin of Shakti Peethas.

In the southern end of the Bhajan Hall is a small room. This small room was the ANANDASHRAM started by Beloved Papa in 1931. It was here that Swami Ramdas and Pujya Mataji lived with a handful of devotees in those early days of the Ashram, and it was the launch pad for their unique mission of Universal Love and Service. This room is now called the shrine.

Located on the tranquil hilly area of the Western Ghats, Kottiyoor is a village in Kannur District. The festival at the Kottiyoor temple is unique as it takes place in a dense forest where the ambience is enhanced by tall trees and the gorgeous Bavali River. The festival involves two temples which are situated on the opposite banks of River Bavali - Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor. The annual Kottiyoor festival is celebrated for twenty-eight days during the months of May and June.

MRIDANGA SAILESWARI TEMPLE Apart from the history, there is a fascinating story about the temple. For a long period of time. The temple was in ruins. Eventually, it gained prominence due to the story narrated by Alexander Jacob, a retired police officer. According to the story, thieves attempted to steal the temple idol 3 times but failed each time. Each time they failed, it was due to a different reason. Apparently each time the thieves stole the idol, they returned it due to strange paranormal activity
Once word got out, the temple became famous nationwide and the restoration of the temple started.Above all, it attracted the attention of devotees from all over the country who thronged the temple every day.

Mridanga Saileswari is the main deity of this temple. She is a four-armed goddess Durga who holds a conch and discus in the hands that point upwards. She blesses her devotees with the front right hand while her front left-hand remains on her waist You can also notice the same from the Mridanga Saileswari temple images. Mizhavil Bhagavati is another name of this deity. There is a separate sanctum where the public is not allowed.

There is a belief that Mridanga Saileswari showers her blessings to those who earnestly pray before her and light a lamp. Devotees worship her as the demolisher of evil, omnipotent and above all, as the one who grants all the wishes. Mridanga is considered as the mother of all musical instruments, originating in heaven. In fact, there is a belief that the Devi herself originated from the Mridanga Similarly, the reverberations in her voice gave rise to the hill that echoes, Muzhakkannu. Mridanga Sailasam stands for drum hill where history narrates that the goddess herself appeared. There is a belief that Parasurama captured the essence of the Devi in an idol after which he built the Mridanga Saileswari temple.