Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple or Old Sreekanteswaram Temple, located at Puthenchantha in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the ancient Shiva temples in Kerala. According to the renowned historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, this temple existed even in the 9th century AD. This temple is the original abode of the Lord of new Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple. The new temple is situated just outside the "North Fort" in Thiruvananthapuram. As noted by Dr. M. G. Sasibhooshan, the old temple was on the route taken by the King of Travancore and his retinue in connection with the Pallivetta of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Deities
The principal deity Shiva is worshipped as a linga of Sreekanteswara, believed to be installed by Parashurama. According to devotees, the samadhi of Sage Kanwa is in the precincts of the Temple. Chettikulam, a pond nearby that was reclaimed decades ago, is referred to in Syanandura Purana Samuchaya and Anantapura Varnana as Kanvatirtha. This lends credence to the belief that Old Sreekanteswaram and Chettikulangara formed part of Kanwa Tapovana. Krishna was installed later to reduce the ferocity of Shiva. Ganesha and Serpent gods are worshipped in the temple. All the deities here face east.
Mritunjaya Homam, Mrityunjaya archana, Jaladhara, Pinvilakku and Kuvala mala samarpanam are the most popular offerings made to Shiva.
Athiyara Eman and Yadavendran Thampuran
A saintly Brahmin from Vanchiyoor Athiyara Madhom was doing japam in the Old Sreekanteswaram Temple when a good looking young Yadava prince started jala kreeda in the temple pond with a beautiful Sudra girl. Then against her wishes, the prince carried her on his back into the Temple. The prince then forced himself upon the girl and the latter cried out for help. Athiyara Potti rushed to rescue her and cursed the prince that he would turn into half-man half-horse and that he would be enslaved for many years. The prince fell at the feet of the Brahmin and sought forgiveness. The Brahmin said that the royal in his new form would be slave for nine years and that in the tenth year he would earn the grace of Lord Sreekanteswara and attain salvation.
As the girl looked on, the prince was transformed into a handsome creature having a horse's body with the prince's head, arms and torso in place of the head and neck of the horse. He was devastated and swore never to return to his palace. The girl fell head over heels in love with the transformed prince.
The Yadava prince approached the girl's brother and sought her hand in marriage. But her brother who was then a boy told the prince that he would grant permission only if the prince becomes his slave. The prince agreed and the marriage was solemnised. Over the years, the prince had to endure a lot as the girl grew into a domineering wife and the boy into a sadistic master. But the prince never wished ill on his tormentors but turned more and more towards Lord Sreekanteswara. In the tenth year the Sudra master had a change of heart and released the prince from bondage.
The prince then met Athiyara Potti and sought his blessings. Athiyara Potti blessed the Yadava and accepted him as a disciple. The prince started worshipping Lord Sreekanteswara in His Kameswara form. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Kameswara and His consort Sree Lalitha Devi appeared before him and granted him salvation.
The Brahmin and the prince are popularly referred to as Athiyara Eman (Yajamanan) and Yadavendran Thampuran respectively.
Loss of importance
Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram might have lost its importance to the new temple in the 18th century when the mercenaries of Sri Padmanabhan Thampi, son of King Rama Varma and bete noire of Sri Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda Varma, were stationed at Kuthiravattom (a place near Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram).
Sri Anizhom Thirunal ascended the Throne of Travancore in 1729. Once when Anizhom Thirunal left for Kollam, Padmanabhan Thampi took control of the capital Kalkkulam. Padmanabhan Thampi marched to Thiruvananthapuram with his forces to appropriate the wealth of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Thampi stayed at Srivaraham and stationed his cavalry at Kuthiravattom. He tried to amass wealth by collecting from the local people revenue that was due to the Temple. But stiff opposition from Pallichal Pillai and his men ensured that Thampi had to give up his venture.
The Tantri of the temple
Vanchiyoor Athiyara Potti is the Tantri of the temple. The Potti is a hereditary member of the Ettara Yogam which used to be the governing body of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Important days
Maha Shivaratri and Thiruvathira are the days which attract huge crowds to the temple.