Country’s tallest Lord Shiva statue in Thiruvanandapuram

Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram): In the backdrop of rocks and the sea, a giant sculpture of Lord Shiva in Gangadhareshwara figure has been constructed at Azhimala Temple. This sculpture of Gangadhareswara Shiva signifies prosperity. While most statues of the Lord depict a face-frontal view, Devadathan’s Shiva faces angularly at the sky. “Statues of Lord Shiva are aplenty. Lord Shiva sits proudly upon a rock facing the East, his matted locks flowing in the wind. 

The 58 feet tall sculpture is the tallest Gangadhareshwara figure in the Shiva temples in the state. Facing east, the concrete sculpture visualizes Shiva with his hair flowing in the wind and holding Ganga Devi on his head.

Azhimala native P S Devadathan completed the sculpture after 6 years-long effort. Beneath the rock where the sculpture is located, there is a Dhyana Mandapam in a cave-like chamber spanning 35000squarefeet.The meditation hall is located below the statue. One needs to climb down a flight of stairs to reach the hall, which is said to be able to seat close to 300 people. There are 27 steps leading to the chamber. Many sculptures related to the tales of Shiva are located here. The history of the Azhimala temple also is carved inside the chamber.
It was priest Jyothish Potti who initiated the construction of Shiva sculpture in Gangadhareshwara figure in the temple. Sree Narayana Guru had reached Azhimala after placing the Shiva idol at Aruvippuram. It was his wish to build a Shiva temple here. Thus locals managed to construct the temple.
Sculptor Devadathan graduated in sculpture from Fine Arts College in Thiruvananthapuram. He completed the Shiva sculpture while pursuing post-graduation.
The sculpture was made in a way that does not affect the natural beauty of the sea. The sculpture was erected on a rock situated at an altitude of 20 feet from the sea to resist the wind and salty air from the sea.
Kerala’s tallest statue of Lord Shiva has gone viral as people share photographs of the Gangadhareshwara figure across social media platforms.
Now,the capital city of Kerala known for the iconic Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, the backwaters of Poovar and Anchuthengu, and its Western Ghats tracts of Ponmudi and Agastya Mala, the Shiva statue is yet another addition to the list of beautiful attractions.