Legend Of Siva Temple Ettumanur
There is a story behind this lamp. The present temple we see is the one renovated in 1542 A.D Soon after, one evening, some temples servant were standing in front of the west tower and passing their and passing their time chitchatting. At this juncture a bell-smith come and placed reverently a beautiful lamp before them. With folded hands, he requested them to keep it for the temple use and give him something for the nights grub. At this one of the servants admired the beauty and fine workmanship of the lamp. He thought it glittered like gold and wondered who could pay for it. He added that if it was lighted it would be very auspicious for the temple Another among them spoke rather light- heatedly to the bell-smiths request to pay him something. Said he Ettumanurappan only takes from his devotees, he never gives. Yet another remarked : It is alright, we can buy the lamp. Who will fill this up with oil? Surely it wont burn on water. To this, the poor bell-smith replied : Who knows the divinity of the Lord? If He will burn even with out oil or water. In any case if it is hung inside the temple any devotee will pour oil and it will be kept burning. As he said this, some one from inside the temple came running, took the heavy lamp inside and fixed it in the present location. Soon there was thunder and lightning, while a few fled for safety. After the thunder and lighting stopped, everybody was surprised to see the beautiful lamp burning brightly with five wicks and full of oil.
Once Parameswara created a deer (maan in Malayalam) and a huge island for the deer to play. This was near the present Devagiri, a picturesque place about 5 km. north-east of Ettumanur. When Parasurama created Kerala out of the ocean this island became part of the entire land of Kerala. And the place which in Sanskrit was known as Harina dweep (Harina meaning deer) when translated into Malayalam became Manoorthe place (oor) of deer (maan). The Maniman Tirtham described in Vamana Purana and Padma Purana has been at this place. Thus it got the name Mani manoor, which in due course became Manoor. According to another tradition the place where Khara, Vyasa and Siva got mental bliss came to be known as Ettumanoor. Legend has it that it was the Sage Khara who installed Siva at Ettumanur. It was the same Khara who installed the Sivalinga at Vaikom and Kaduthuruthi as described in the chapter on Vaikom temple. it is always held meritorious to have the darshan of these three temples on the same day. Long ago Khara conducted intense penance to propitiate Siva who appeared before him and asked to name any boon he desired. Khara requested that Siva should always be with him. Khara was an expert at assuming various shapes of man and beast. One day he wished to ramble like a deer. Siva who followed him through hills and dales got completely exhausted and finally unable to follow the deer carried it in his hands. So the place where the deer was carried by Siva became in Malayalam Ettiya (carried) -Maan (deer) ooru (place) which came to be known as Ettumanur.
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