Category:Keezhthali Siva Temple, Kodungallur

Kilatali Siva Temple, Tiruvancikulam Kodungallur 

9th-century Hindu temple from Chera dynasty era
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Thrissur district, Kerala, India
10° 12′ 29.6″ N, 76° 12′ 09.8″ E
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The Keezhthali Siva Temple of Kodungallur, also referred to as the Kilatali Siva temple of Tiruvancikulam (Kodungallur), is one of the oldest surviving Hindu temple site from ancient seaport and capital called Mahodayapuram of the Chera dynasty. Also known as Muchiri or Muyirikkodu, this capital along river Periyar served as a seaport that welcomed the oldest known neighborhood for trading Jews. This is where the Hindu kings in the 1st millennium built major temple complexes of Shiva, Vishnu and Devi traditions. In the Kerala Hindu traditions, much like other parts of India, the major Hindu temples were not only a religious hub of the community, they were one of the economic, educational, performance arts and social centers. Of particular importance were the "sthali" temples of Kerala – often called Thali temples – where public projects and issues were discussed, planned and approved. Historically, there were eighteen such Thali temples and one of these was the Keezhthali Shiva temple of Kodungallur.

The temple stands as a mere tower with foundational ruins of mandapa and other structures. The temple site has been a source of number of mutilated temple parts and statues. The Keezhthali Siva Temple was repeatedly attacked and damaged by colonial powers, then rebuilt. The last major attack and desecration is attributed to the army of Tipu Sultan. This history has left damaged Hindu artwork at the site. The original temple had a square garbhagriya and a narrow mukhamandapa. The adhisthana had five bays on each of three entrance sides. The ruins as they survive now are from the 9th-century. The local tradition dates the temple site to pre-4th century.