Kharasura went to Chidambaram on obtaining the Shaiva Vidya Upadesh from Malyavan, and performed extreme penance and Tapasya for Moksha 's achievement. Lord Siva, pleased with his penance, granted all the boons he asked for, and presented him with three great Siva Lingas drawn from him. Assuring He will always be present in them, Lord Siva has disappeared, asking Khara to worship the Lingas in order to attain Moksha. When Khara returned south with the three Lingas from the Himalayas, one in his right hand, one in his left hand and the other by his neck, he felt tired and rested for a while.After rest they wouldn't budge when he tried to pick up the lingas. He knew it was the maya of Shiva, and when called to it, the heavens spoke like this, "I must live here to offer Moksha to whom I will ever take refuge." Having attained Moksha, Khara entrusted the holy Lingas to the custody of Maharshi Vyaghrapada who had invisibly accompanied him and asked the sage to protect and worship them.
For some time, Vyaghrapada Maharshi continued the Pooja in greatest esteem and devotion, and went on pilgrimage. Sri Parasurama – one day the Chiramjeevi went out into the sky. Seeing good omens alighted here and seeing a Santa Siva Linga emerge in water emitting celestial rays. He could understand that Khara had placed it as the Siva Linga. Sri Parasurama himself thought that the most holy and noblest Siva Chaitanya could be a great refuge for the devotee who desires to attain Moksha. With His earnest Prayers and Siva Manthras recitation, He consecrated the auspicious Linga here.
For some time, Vyaghrapada Maharshi continued the Pooja in greatest respect and devotion, and went on pilgrimage. One day Sri Parasurama the Chiramjeevi went up the sky. Seeing good omens alighted here and seeing a Santa Siva Linga emerge in water emitting celestial rays. He could understand that Khara had placed it as the Siva Linga. Sri Parasurama himself thought that the most holy and noblest Siva Chaitanya could be a great refuge for the devotee who wishes to attain Moksha. With His earnest Prayers and Siva Manthras recitation, He consecrated the auspicious Linga here.
The most benevolent Lord Siva appeared at once before Parasurama, with his consort Parvati Devi. He was so pleased that Parasurama consecrated the Linga with the Manthras-Vishnu 's avatar, his greatest devotee.There for a few days Parasurama performed Siva Linga pooja full of joy and gratitude. He then built a temple here himself and entrusted it to a noble Taruna village brahmin whom he taught Pooja Manthras. All the 28 Sivagama had been learned by the Brahmin and wore rudraksha and bhasma. Parasurama gave Brahmins the entire temple with Linga, and disappeared. It is the assumption that Parasurama himself is preparing and repairing the temple, and all rituals and customs.
Architecture
One of Kerala 's largest temples, the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple has a roughly eight-acre courtyard. River sand levelled premises are protected on all four sides by compound walls with four Gopuras or towers. Eventhough temples usually built near perfect East-West direction Vaikom temple shows a North-South tilt of 5 degrees. Apparently the Sreekovil is rounded in shape, with copper sheets and two chambers. In addition, this is the only temple in Kerala with an oval Sreekovil shape, although it appears externally as a circular temple. This oval shape is evident when measuring antharaala distance.Such wonderful architectural structures can only be executed by Silpis with exceptional skill. The Mukha Mandapa-the first chamber is built in shaped stone and single piece wood. The pillars and walls are very robust. The Garbha Griha (Sanctum Santorium) – the second chamber is built entirely in stone, including the square-shaped roof. It is a very curious and peculiar fact that we are unable to obtain from this Sreekovil the Darsana of the Supreme Saiva Chaitanya without going through a 'six steps' either from the Gopura or the Nada.It may remind us of the Shad (six) vikaras (emotions) like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Mathsarya, or the Kalpana Thanthrik chakras. This is well portrayed in the famous Malayalam Kriti, Naranayingane Janichu Bhoomiyil, written about this temple's deity.
The Vaikom temple is famous for one of its main festivals, the Vaikom Ashtami (Vaikathashtami), which is held in November – December. Vaikathashtami is celebrated on Krishna Ashtami Day. The legend behind this festival is that years ago after many years God siva and his wife Parvathy Devi appeared before him a saint man named Vyaghrapada prayed to God siva. It is believed that on the day of Krishna Ashtami the god Siva appeared before him. So it is remembered as a celebration of the Vaikathashtami. It is the 12-day extension of the event.