The Ancient Vishnu Temple at Trikodithanam, Kerala, India

This is the official website for Chozikkara Mahadeva Temple. The fact that temples played a major role in moulding Hindu culture and devotion to God, is undeniable. Kerala is having a large number of ancient temples. One such temple is Sree Chozhikkara Mahadeva temple at Kallara, an interior village in Kottayam district. This very rare west facing temple, where the diety is usually powerful and benedictory, is believed to be more than 1400 years old according astrological calculation based on 'Deva Prasnas' conducted here. This temple was originally situated on a nearby small hill called "Neelimala" which is harldy 400 metres just east of the present structure. Legend says that due to power struggle and ownership fight among the chieftains or land lords, the temple was destroyed, the Sivalinga was damaged. Another is that the Tippu Sultan, in one of his annexations, plundered and destroyed the temple. It is evident from the old documents that those people who had leased the temple properties, parted with a portion their income for the temple festivals which was celebrated 10 days with all splendour starting from 'Kodiyettu'. In ancient times, the temple was known as ' Mozhikkulangara Mahadeva Temple' as also 'Yakshiambalam'. After ancient temple was destroyed, a new structure was built in the property of Chozhikkara Mossath, a Kerala Brahmin sect closely associated with Siva Temples, but without paying much attention to conventional Kerala temple architecture and thanthric rites. Later the temple administration was come under the control of Ezhumavil Nampoothiri, Chozhikkara Moosath and five Ilayath families namely Kochillam, Kolathillam, Edamanaillam, Marangattuillam, Theeyathillam. During the past 70 years, the temple is administered by Kallara Vadakkekkara NSS Karayogam and now plans to form a trust for the temple administration with active participation of the public; Formation of the trust is on the way. Renovation and resurraction work estimating one crore Rupees is going on.

Sevashram is a charitable society registered in March 1995. The objectives of the society, articulated in the Memorandum of Association, are: (1) To evolve an alternate 'SANYASA', rooted in Indian culture, by a group of people committed fully to the service of fellow human beings, belonging to different religions, sexes, walks of life and regions. (2) To empower the marginalized unorganized masses to become aware of their rights and duties as citizens and contribute their share towards the building up of a just society, drawing inspiration from the 'Grama Swaraj' of Gandhiji's dreams and the 'Kshema Rashtra' envisaged in the Constitution of India, tapping locally available resources to the maximum.Hindus believe that the well-being of the universe depends on the proper turning of the wheel of sacrifice (yajna chakra pravarthanam) and that each creature has to contribute its share towards this end. Those humans who fulfill this duty without desiring the fruits of their labour (nish kama karma) get liberated from the chain of birth and death (janana marana chakra) and attain eternal bliss (moksha or ananda). The Bhagavad Gita calls such human beings 'sthitha prajna' or 'jivanmukta' (those who acquired equanimity and saved themselvesDetachment (anasakthi) is a prerequisite for reaching the state of Stitha Prajna, and it has to be the personality trait of true 'sanyasins' (those who have renounced everything).Christian tradition also stipulates total renunciation - true detachment- as a necessary pre- condition for discipleship. Love becoming fruitful in service alone is to be the distinguishing mark of Christians. Jesus is the role- model for genuine Christian sanyasa. He had no home, work, food or money; and yet, he was enjoying heavenly peace and joy (samatvam) which were the fruits of His union (yoga) with the 'Abba' (Father). By giving sight to the blind, cure to the sick, empowerment to the weak and by "announcing that the time has come when the Lord will his save his people" - Lk. 4:19 - Jesus showed his disciples the path to integrated liberation.'Being ' is more valuable than 'Having'. While the former indicates the state of life, the latter relates to what each form of life has acquired, in the process of living. Of course, 'living' is prior to and more important than 'Possessing'. It is not by virtue of mere 'existence' that some are able to 'acquire'; it is thanks to the grace of the Almighty and the wise and skillful use of the physical and psychic faculties, favorable circumstances and opportunities that they are able to make strides of progress towards achieving their full potential. Hence, they have the obligation to share what they apparently have with those who are deprived of these fortunes in right measure, for no fault of theirs. If this is not done, the demands of dharma will not be met. Deprivation and exploitation will, then, be the natural fall-out. They will, no doubt, provoke revolt and retaliation, which would assume disastrous forms of violence, sooner or later.