The known Kerala history begins with Cheras. The Siva of Tiruvanchikulam temple is their tutelary deity. History of Kerala is broadly divided into four divisions. First division among them is Vanchi Epoch. In ‘sangam’ period Tiruvanchikulam is known as Vanji.  Dr. S. Krishna Swamy Iyengar, K.G. Sesha Iyer and other historians located Vanchi at Tiruvanchikulam. 27 Sangam poets have sung about Cheras, who are believed to have visited this temple and the nearby Cheraman Palace in ancient days.

Cheraman Perumal, the  legendary king of Kerala, is believed to have visited ‘Kailasa’ with his companion Saiva saint, Sundaramoorthi Nayanar from this temple premises. This event is celebrated by the Tamil community on ‘Swathi’ asterism day of Malayalam month ‘Karkatakam’ in this temple even now. According to Tamil Saiva traditions, Tiruvanchikulam temple is the only Saiva Tirupati temple in Kerala.

For centuries, this temple is an administrative centre of the kingdoms of Kochi and Zamorins of Calicut. It is at present under the administration of Cochin Devaswom Board. The traditional stories says that the sword of Zamorin which is believed to have given to him by Cheraman Perumal was burnt when the Dutch attacked the temple in 1670 CE. Two basements of the temple towers in the western side of the temple informs us that the ‘Gopurams’ was pulled down during the attacks. There are sufficient evidences of invasion to this temple during the period of Tippu Sultan. In the ‘Namskara Mandapa’ of the temple there is an inscription which says that the temple had been smashed by a 'Sasthra Bahya' and was renovated under the leadership of Paliyath Govindan Achan (Paliyath Achans are the traditional chief ministers of Kochi Kingdom). The inscription is a sanskrit sloka written in Malayalam script:

"Yah; kaschid sastra baahyoyam adaha duhithai,

Karayaitwva tathaadha

Kale devadhiramyam dhruvamihanilayam,

Madabhupanjyatham

Govinda Paliyeso Girisamabhinavee

karayan vanjulesam

Nyakshenonnagdha soukhyam kalithakhada

sasrabhikshikthakhya dattha" 

The present temple was built after the attack in1801 CE. The Linga enshrined at that time was brought from Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. The two storied sanctum sanctorium is square in shape and is facing east i.e. to the river.  In ancient period it is said that the river is so close to the temple. The aspect of Siva of this temple is believed to be ‘Sadasiva’. Sadasiva is the highest manifestation of Siva. The Arattu festivel is conducted in the Arabian Sea, which is about 6 kilometres from the temple, even today. The temple has the largest number of sub gods. Worship is done five times in a day here. The peculair feature of this temple is ‘Palliyara’ i.e. sleeping chamber.  It is a chamber with a coat, bed and pillows.  When the worship services of the main temple is completed around 8 PM, the God and Goddess is taken in a procession to the sleeping chamber and next morning taken back to the temple sancum sanctorium . Youngesters, who wish for a good spouse  also participated in the Palliyara procession and worship the God and Goddess in the Palliyara at that time. On full moon days there is a heavy rush for this worship. The ‘Palliyara’ feature is not seen in any other Kerala temples. Therefore the temple worship pattern is known here as ‘Pradesa Sampradaya’. The temple seems to have some relations with the famous Kodungallur Kurumbha Bhagavathy temple from ancient days. During the Bharani festivel of Bhagavathy temple the pilgrims who came to participate that festivel are also visited this temple. It is an age old practice.

Temple timings:

Morning: 5:00 AM to 11:00 Noon

Evening: 5.00 PM to 8:00 PM