89. Palayoor Mahadeva Temple
Palayur Mahadeva Temple was a legendary temple located in Palayoor near Chavakkad in the Thrissur district in ancient Kerala.This Shiva temple was later converted into a Christian church with the arrival of St. Thomas in Malabar, Kerala.Palayoor Mahadeva (Siva) Temple does not exist today. The temple is believed to be constructed by the first Chera king of Kodungallur.
This temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples established by Parasurama.The legends suggest that the installation of the idol of god Mahadeva (Shiva) was performed by Parasurama himself.
The Palayoor church authorities until the day of the collapse of the disputed structure at Ayodhya, kept a board in front of the church that read “the church is constructed by St. Thomas after demolishing a temple”(Now the board has been removed).
Even Vatican(Papacy) is not ready to believe the story of the arrival of St. Thomas in Kerala; it is true that the demolition of the temple might have taken place only after the European occupation of this land.It is believed that the temple destruction was inaugurated by St. Francis Xavier in AD 1545. Broken pieces of idols, sculptures and remenants of the old temple were lying around the church till a short time ago.
Two large tanks on the west and east gates of the church tells the ancient glory of the Mahadeva temple. The well and compound wall of the temple existed were destroyed recently. There is not a single Brahmin house, at present, in the Palayoor village. According to Kerala Brahmins Palayoor is the place where an elephant became a goat(Aana aadaakum idam). Here elephent points to the great Mahadeva temple and goat points to the church.