Thrikkalayoor Sree Mahadeva Temple initially housed the deity in the form of Shiva (as a Shivling). Vilwamangalam Swamiyar later added a salagramam atop the Shivling, leading to the merging of the salagrama with the Shivling and the deity being revered as Shankaranarayana. During ancient times, the temple boasted immense wealth and stood among the wealthiest temples in Kerala. According to the 1887 Malabar Manual, a publication commissioned by the Government of Madras and authored by William Logan, the temple gained historical significance as dynamite was first employed in India on its premises. In December 1884, dynamite was used to destroy the Gopurams of the temple. The temple
more fell into the hands of 12 Muslim soldiers, and when conventional methods failed to capture them, dynamite was resorted to. Unfortunately, due to the lack of proper expertise, the use of dynamite destroyed the shrine. Subsequently, the temple's wealth was looted and taken away. Presently, the temple occupies 20 acres of land.
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