Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

and

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global popula ...

are the prominent religions in

Kollam district Kollam district (), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an i ...

. As per the Census 2011, out of the total population of 2,635,375 persons, 64.42% follow Hinduism, 19.30% follow Islam and 16.00% follow Christianity. Other religions comprise 0.04%, while 0.25% did not state any religion.

Hindu worship

Hindus form 64.42% of the population of Kollam district.

Oachira Temple

Oachira, located in the northern end of Kollam on National Highway 47, is famous for the Oachira Parabrahma Temple. Oachirakali is a special annual event at the padanilam (

paddy fields A paddy field is a flooded field of arable land used for growing semiaquatic crops, most notably rice and taro. It originates from the Neolithic rice-farming cultures of the Yangtze River basin in southern China, associated with pr ...

) in the month of Vrichikam. Oachira Town Masjid (mosque) and the Oachira temple are situated close to one another and are a proud symbol of communal harmony. This temple is also a Sabarimala edathavalam. Gopuram, East Nada, West Nada, Ondikkavu, Ayyappa Temple, Mahalakshmi Temple and Ganapathi temple are important points of worship in this temple. Oachira temple is very different in the kind of offerings given to the deities. Theerthakkulam(Sacred pond) is another famous location where devotees take the sacred bath(dip).

Kottarakkara Ganesh Temple

The Mahaganapathi(

Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu ...

) Temple at Kottarakara, famous for its Unniappom, is one of the most venerated

temples in Kerala.The major vazhipadu(offerings) of Kottarakkara temple is the famous Udayasthamaya pooja. The main deity of this temple is lord

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...

, but

became famous and is now a

temple.

Asramam Sreekrishna Swamy Temple

Asramam Sreekrishna Swamy TempleOfficial website of Asramam Sreekrishna swamy temple
on the shores of

Ashtamudi Lake Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala, is the most visited backwater and lake in the state. It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) ...

is one of the most prominent temples in Kollam. The main deity is

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

, depicted as a boy with butter in both palms. The annual Kollam Pooram or festival is held at the adjacent Asramam Maidan.

Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple

Paravur Puttingal Temple is situated in Paravur municipal area. Puttingal Meenabharani Maholsavam is a Temple Festival usually held on the 2nd day of the 2nd month(Meenam) of Malayalam Calendar(March–April). This temple is very famous for the fireworks competition (Malsara Kambam) which is usually held on the final day of festival. The 2016 fireworks accident led to the death of over 100 devotees.

Ammachiveedu Temple

Ammachiveedu Temple is situated in the town area. It was established by an aristocratic family called Ammachi Veedu (Ammachi home). The annual festival falls on Dhanu of every year but it is to be done after the Mandala Pooja.

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Kshethram

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Temple (Murugan) is situated at

Umayanalloor Umayanaloor is a village near Mayyanad in the Kollam District, Kerala, located near the western coast of the southern tip of India. Overview Umayanalloor is a village in the Mayyanad panchayat, and is situated in the South Kerala Division. ...

,near the NH-47, about 8 km from Kollam town. One of another name of Lord Subramanyan(Murugan) is Umayan, that's why the land of Umayan(Subramanyan) has been called Umayanalloor. The important feature if this temple is that the Idol faces the western direction. One of the famous name associated with this temple is

Adi Shankara Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...

. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees. Aanavaalpidi or 'Aana Vaal Pidutham Mahotsavam during the Malayalam calendar 'Meenam' id-March attracts hundreds of devotees. Devotees run after an elephant and catch its tail, symbolising the childhood pranks between the deities Subramanyan (another names Murugan,Karthikeyan) and Ganesha. 'Thaipuyyam' is also celebrated in a big way. The lore is that the temple was built by the powerful lady ruler 'Umayammarani' of Venad Kingdom about 500 years ago. Administration of this Temple comes under Travancore Devaswom Board. "Nedumkuthira Eduppu" or Kuthira Eduppu" also performs during the last day of festival time in umayanallor Ela. Chira like water reservoirs of Umayanalloor Ela (paddy field) are Umayanalloor Ambala Chira, Umayanalloor Kovur Chira with too many ponds situating surroundings of Umayanalloor Ela.

Other Temples

The Anchal Agasthyakode Mahadeva Temple is another major Mahadeva temple in the Kollam district. It is situated in Anchal Panchayath. Every year during Sivarathri, people from every caste and religious background comes for the religious festivities.The Temple has been reconstructed recently and right now is having a new traditional look. The Temple is situated at around 2.5 km from Anchal Town, which is the Second Fastest Developing town in Kerala
www.agastyacodemahadevar.org
s. Mukhathala murari temple

The Mukhathala Murari (Sree Krishna Swamy) Temple at

Mukhathala Mukhathala is a small town and block panchayat in Kollam district of Kerala, India. The area is known for the famous Murari Temple which holds a unique position in the cultural history of Travancore. This temple is approximately three thousand ...

is about 10 km from the Kollam city. The Thrikkadavoor Mahadeva Temple is the most famous Siva Temple in Kollam District. It is situated in the Thrikkadavoor Panchayath and on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake. The annual Srattu festival attracts thousands of people, including foreigners. The festival falls in the month of Kumbham (February). The eight artificial horses, which represent the eight areas (karas) around the temple, is a special attraction for tourists. Kolloorvila Bharanikkavu Devi temple is located in madannada is on National Highway 47, annual festival spans for 41 days. The annual festival is on bharani nakshatra of meenam month according to Malayalam calendar, kollavarsham. The Veerabhadra Swamy Temple at Ashtamudi in Kollam is the only temple in the southern part of the country with Veerabhadra as the presiding

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...

. This belongs to Kuttiyazhikam, Karuva, a two hundred & fifty-year-old Ezhava Family. Gate way to a temple

Umayanalloor Sri Balasubramanya Swami Temple (

Murugan Kartikeya ( sa, कार्त्तिकेय, Kārttikeya), also known as Skanda, Subrahmanya, Shanmukha (), and Murugan ( ta, முருகன்), is the Hindu god of war. He is the son of Parvati and Shiva, the brother of Ganesha ...

) is situated on the NH-47, about 8 km from Kollam town. One of another name of Lord Subramanyan(Murugan) is Umayan, that's why the land of Umayan(Subramanyan) has been called Umayanalloor. The important feature if this temple is that the Idol faces the western direction. One of the famous name associated with this temple is

. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees. Aanavaalpidi or 'Aana Vaal Pidutham' Mahotsavam during the Malayalam calendar 'Meenam' id-March attracts hundreds of devotees from all over the state. Devotees run after an elephant and catch its tail, symbolising the childhood pranks between the deities Subramanyan (another names

,Karthikeyan) and

Nedumkuthira Eduppu
or Kuthira Eduppu" also performs during the last day of festival time. ' Thaipuyyam' is also celebrated in a big way. The lore is that the temple was built by the powerful lady ruler 'Umayammarani' of Venad Kingdom about 500 years ago. Administration of this Temple comes under Travancore Devaswom Board. Aryankavu in the Western Ghats is the easternmost point in the district on the National Highway. One of the five ancient

Ayyappa Ayyappan an incarnation of dharma sastha, also called Manikandan, is a Hindu deity popular in Southern India, He is considered to be the epitome of dharma, truth, and righteousness and is often called upon to obliterate evil. Although devotion ...

temples is situated here; two others are at Achankovil and Kulathupuzha in the district. Shri Mahadevar Temple, Padinjattinkara,Sree Bhootha Natha Temple,Kulashekharanallor Srikrishnaswami and Devi temple, Kottarakara, Chennamath Temple and chathannoorsree bhoodhanatha temple and Vilappuram Bhagavathy Temple Chathannoor are famous temples. Polachira is a beautiful place near Vilappuram Temple and Anathavalam (elephants shelter) at Chirakkara is also there. Koonambaikulam temple

Thalavoor Thalavoor is a village located in the district of Kollam in the Kerala state of India. It is 77 km to the north of the State Capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and 28 km to the east of District Capital, Kollam. Thalavoor village is bo ...

Sri Durga Devi Temple,Thazhava Pulimukham devi temple, Peroor Karunalloor Bhagavathy Temple,

Pattazhy Pattazhy, also Pattazhiis a village located in Pathanapuram taluk in the eastern part of the Kollam District, Kerala state, India. It is best known as the site of an ancient Bhagavathy temple, Pattazhy Devi Temple. Pattazy is a part of P ...

Devi Temple and Kundara Ilampalloor Devi Temple are among the important Hindu temples in Kollam District. Another important temple is the Kottamkulangara temple near Chavara, where there is a tradition of males participating in 'Vilakkeduppu' wearing women's dresses. Koonambaikulam (വലിയകൂനംബായ്കുളം) temple is very popular. Deity there is a Goddess, named 'Koonambaikulathu Amma'. Other temples in Kollam include Peroor sree meenakshi temple at

Punthalathazham Punthalathazham is a landlocked neighbourhood of the city of Kollam in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located around six kilometres east of the core Kollam (Quilon) city towards Kannanalloor (on Kollam-Kannanalloor- Ayoor road). This pla ...

,Mangalathu temple at

etc.

Mata Amritanandamayi

World famous spiritual Guru

Mata Amritanandamayi Mātā Amritānandamayī Devī (born Sudhamani Idamannel; 27 September 1953), often known as Amma ("Mother"), is an Indian Hindu spiritual leader, guru and humanitarian, who is revered as 'the hugging saint' by her followers. In 2018, she w ...

has her

ashram An ashram ( sa, आश्रम, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions. Etymology The Sanskrit noun is a thematic nominal derivative from the root 'toil' (<

Amritapuri Amritapuri, originally Parayakadavu, is the main Ashram of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, the spiritual master, also called "the hugging saint" or Amma, which means 'mother' in many South Indian languages. This place is also the international headqu ...

in Karunagappalli taluk of Kollam district. Parayakadavu, a coastal village near Karunagapally, is the birthplace of

and is the headquarters of her Math. Thirumullavarom Temple is the most famous temple in Kollam situated near the Arabian Sea where thousands used to come annually for performing Vavu Bali.

Muslim worship

Muslims form 19.3% of the population of Kollam district. The most important mosques include: *Muthirapparambu Palli *Siyarathummodu Palli *Chinnakkada Palli *Valiyapalli *Jonakappuram Juma Masjid * Kollurvila, Pallimukku *Thattamala *Jumma-ath-palli *Jumma-ath_masjid, *Muslim Jumma-Ath-Palli *Karuva Muslim Jumma-ath *Niravil Muslim Jumma-ath *Kalamala Palli, Kalamala *Thrippilazikom pally kundara *Kilikolloor *Kalamala palli

Christian worship

Interior Nave Roof Anthonys Church Kollam Kerala Mar22 A7C 01679

Christians form 16% of the population of Kollam district. The majority of them are

latin catholics , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...

who form 43.7% and Syrian Orthodox/ Syrian Jacobites who form 20.24% of the Christians in the district. The

Latin Catholics , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...

, Dalit Christians and Nadar Christians combined form 36.06% of the Christians in the district. The Apostle Thomas founded one of his seven churches in Kollam. They were family or community churches as neither Holy Bible was codified nor cross was acknowledged as the symbol of Christian faith in the first century AD. The church founded by the Apostle at the ancient Kollam port of Tarsish (thevalakara) was re-constructed three times. The second reorganising of the Tarsish Christian nambuthiri community which was still inside vedic Vaishnavism was in the 4th century when a Persian cross brought from a Red sea port was erected in accordance with the Nicaea sunnahodose the first ecumenical council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea (now İznik, Tur.). It was called by the Emperor Constantine I, an unbaptized catechumen, or neophyte, who presided over the opening session and took part in the discussions declaration making the cross the symbol of Christian faith the World over for the first time. In 825 AD Mar S(abo)r ministered here reconstructing the Tarsi sh-a-palli at Thevalakara for the third time. This was the first church founded by him with Syrian liturgy after receiving the Tarsish-a-palli plates from Kulshekara kings which in reality laid the foundation of Christianity as a religion in Kerala outside Vedic Vaishnavism.

Infant Jesus Cathedral

The Infant Jesus Cathedral (

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...

: ഇൻഫന്റ് ജീസസ് കത്തീഡ്രൽ) ( Portuguese: ''Igreja do Bom Jesú'') is a historic

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

church established by the Portuguese during 1614. It is situated at Tangasseri in the city of

Kollam Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city ...

. The old church was demolished and reconstructed in 2005. It was elevated to a cathedral i.e. the seat of the

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon, the first Catholic diocese of India.

St. Antony's Church, Kollam

Front Wide Antonys Church Kollam Kerala Mar22 A7C 01676

St. Antony's Church, Vaddy,

has a history of about 700 years. In the 1320s, Jordanus Catalani, Dominican friar from Sererac, built the first Vaddy Church. It was named St. George Church. When the Portuguese arrived in Quilon in 1503, the Franciscans took over the church and renamed it St. Antony's Church. The Church was washed away by the sea in 1602. In 1699 Bishop Dom Peters Pachao built a new Church in the

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

style. This Church was also washed away by the sea. The present third Church was built during 1910-13 by a

Goan Goans ( kok, गोंयकार, Romi Konkani: , pt, Goeses) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese, and ...

priest Fr. Ambrose Kompadi. The Church was blessed in November 1913 by the Most Rev. Msgr. Michael Lodislaus Zaleski, the papal Apostolic Delegate. The sanctuary, sacristy and two wings were completed in 1952 by Fr. Alphonse Thundil. The Church was renovated in 2001.

St. Casimir's Church, Kadavoor

Front Casimir Church Kollam Kerala Mar22 R16 05825

The first permanent building of St. Casimir's Church was erected in Kadavoor just north of Quilon in 1873. The Church was reconstructed in 1993 and renovated in 2013. A shrine of St. George was constructed in front of the Church in 1916. The Shrine was reconstructed in 1960.

Dutch Church, Munroe Island

Front Wide Dutch Church Kollam Kerala Mar22 A7C 01539

This Church was built on

Munroe Island Munroe Island (Malayalam : മണ്‍റോത്തുരുത്ത്) or Mundrothuruthu is an inland island group located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala, South India. It is ...

by the Dutch in 1878. Located on the scenic banks of Lake Ashtamudi, the Church is a blend of Dutch-

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...

architecture. Its use has declined of late.

Other Churches

* St. Mary's Cathedral, Kundara * Mount Tabor Monastery, Pathanapuram * Origin of Malankara Church of God Thrikkannamangal * St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur *

St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam is a historic colonial-era Roman Catholic church that is located in the Panmana–Chavara panchayat, Karunagappalli taluk, Kollam district, Kerala, India. Masses are held in English and follow the Roman Rite l ...

* St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode * St. Elijah's Church, Koduvila * St. George's Church, Chathannoor

References

{{Portal, India