1

Puthankulangara was a calm, quiet and beautiful land with lush green grass, coconut and paddy fields surrounded by back waters where farmers, fishermen, different animals and birds lived together freely.

2

After escaping from the burnt wax house (Arakkillam), the pandavas along with mother Kunthidevi reached this place. As they were suffering from the burns, Kunti Devi prayed to Lord Krishna and he suggested to worship God Sun (Aditya).

3

Lord Aditya himself installed the idol of Lord Siva and asked Kunti Devi to go for hard meditation (tapas) for getting solace.

4

Kunti Devi started her tapas at the place where the temple is situated now, surrounded by back waters. Lord Siva was pleased by her tapas and appeared in front of her with Sree Parvathy. Then, Kunti Devi couldn’t find anything to offer them. She saw the salt crystals lying around formed by sunrays. Collecting the same with both hands, she offered it to the Lords. They were greatly pleased by the devotion and blessed Pandavas and Kunti Devi to relieve of all burns and sufferings.

The dhyanam of Lord Siva and Sree Parvathy as appeared to Kunti Devi is narrated in the following hymn (Sloka).

Vamamganyastha Vamethara Karakamala Yasthadha Vamabahu-
Nyastha Raktholpalaya: Sthanavidhruthalasa Dwamabahu: Priyaya:
Sarvakalpabhiramo Dhruthaparasumrugeshta: Karai: Kanchanabho
Dhyeya: Padmasanastha: Smaralalithavapu: Sampade Parvatheesa:

As a support to the above legend, the dhyanam of Lord was found engraved on the metal mask (Golaka) and the wooden frontage (Mukhapp) of old Balikkalpura of the temple

5

The legend of the Lord Maha Vishnu of the temple is as old as that of Lord Siva which is connected with the Lord Krishna in the above story of Kunthidevi. After the relief from miseries, Kunthidevi herself made arrangements to install a temple of Lord Maha Vishnu, near to the Siva idol.

6

The renovation of Siva temple as engraved in the foundation stone of the old Sanctum Santorum (sreekovil) of the Siva temple was carried out during AD 1492. The renovation of Vishnu temple was also carried out during this period. The administration of the temple was done by the family of Mambattu Bhattathiri who were also one of the trustees (Bhattathiri) of Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple, Tripunithura

7

Bhadrakali, another upadevatha of the temple was installed by a member of the family of Mambat Bhattathiri, who was a loyal worshipper of Kodungalloor Bhagavathy and used to visit Kodungalloor temple regularly. When aged, he was physically unable to visit the temple. On his last visit to the temple, he prayed to Bhagavathy that he was extremely sad that he may not be able for further visit to the temple. On that night, he dreamt Bhagavathy Herself telling him that She has also accompanied him to his house and he may arrange to install Bhagavathy in the nearby temple as per rituals.

8

Mampattu Bhattathiri installed Bhagavathy in the Puthankulangara Temple during 1675.

9

Dharma Sasthavu, another upadevatha was also believed to be of historical importance. It was believed that during 1790, one of the temples of North Malabar region was attacked by the soldiers of Tipu Sulthan. One devotee of that Sastha temple of that area fled with the idol (vigraham) of Sasthavu which was partly destroyed during the attack, for protecting from further damage.

10

When the devotee reached Kochi, he handed over the same to Puthankulangara temple and it was installed in this temple near to Siva prathishta.

11

It was told that the skin disease appeared on shoulder of the King Sakthan Thampuran of Kochi State was completely cured after praying to Lord Siva of this temple.

12

In 1800, Sakthan Thampuran, reconstructed the temple. An Oottupura was also constructed by the King for serving meals to Brahmins.