The temple at Taliparamba is among the 108 ancient Kerala temples dedicated to Shiva. It is as famous as the Shiva temples at Vaikom, Ettumanur and Vadakkunnathan temple at Trichur.

In olden days there was an unwritten rule that pregnant women should visit all the three temples. It was believed that the Lord of Taliparamba assured that the child born to the women who worship him will attain a high status; Krishna of Trichambaram endowed the child with good nature and mental qualities and Kanjiragat Vaidyanatha with long life.

Deity of Taliparamba Temple
The Shivalinga here is believed to be thousands of years old. Legend has it that Lord Shiva gave three sacred Shiva-lingas to Parvati for worship. Once sage Maandhata propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers. Shiva was so pleased that he presented one of the Shivalingas to him with the injunction that it should be installed only at a place where there was no cremation ground. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the linga.

After his death the linga however disappeared into the earth. Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second linga which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shivalinga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka (Kolathunad) dynasty who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. On the advice of sage Agastya he prayed to Lord Shiva who granted him the Shivalinga. The king installed it in the present temple built by him.

The Shiva linga of Taliparamba here is only about three feet in height but when decorated with the luminous crescent i.e. with the three eyes which are quite large and prominent and the nose all made in gold the idol looks much taller and bigger and shines like a thousand suns. One remembers the beautiful description of Kailasapati in Thunjath Ezhuthachan`s Adhyatma Ramayana.

Offerings of the Taliparamba Temple
The main offering here is naiamrithu or ghee, made available to devotees in small pots for a rupee each. The custom is that just as kings and emperors are seen only by offering some gifts-kazhchha-the Lord of Taliparamba, who is King of Kings, can be seen only by placing naiamrithu on the sopanam (steps leading to the sanctum). The ghee offered is used for abhisheka and for lighting the lamps in the central shrine.

On auspicious days like Mondays, pradosham etc., hundreds of such small naiamrithu pots can be seen placed before the deity. Mahasivaratri and Vishu (Malayalee New Year`s day) are the two main annual festivals here, each lasting a day, not several days like utsavams in other Kerala temples.

A peculiarity here is that women devotees are not allowed to enter the temple during day time; they can enter and worship only after athazha (night) pooja. At this time the Lord is supposed to be happy in the company of his consort, Parvati, and pleased to grant the desires of His devotees who pray to Him with humility and sincerity.