KATTIL MADAM

There remains a myth still remains  woven around the construction of Kaithali temple. The myth holds that Pattambi kaithali temple was built by globins or Bhooothathans. It is a monolithic structure.

its really an unfinished construction. The legend runs like this. Kattilmadam was the roof of kaithali temple at Pattambi. The globins built the structure  at a distant place and were carrying the same to pattambi. When they reached  Koottupatha they spotted the first  rays of the hatching sun  and they left the granite roof there by the roadside,as we know the suns rays can tame the spell of the globins!

Kattilmadam is a pyramidal structure with a rectangular base. The upper part of the temple or the dome like granite structure is embellished with enormous ornamental works such as kudus or chaitya windows niches and thoranas arches.

The rectangular base of kattil madam is significant in the sense that Kattilmadam was the first archeological artifact that revealed the influence of earliest Pallava and Pandya styles in temple construction.

Niches  with carved images, pillars and pilasters are decorated with ornamental works. Kudus or Chaithya windows  and pavilions are excellence in craftman ship.

The structural similarities between  kattilmadam and earliest Jainbastis of south Canara suggest that kattil madam  sold have been  a Jainbasti.

Kerala govt had declared it as a protected monument on 6. 1 .1976.