Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, Kerala, Hindu temple in Pathanamthitta, India

Kaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, also called Thrikkaviyoor Mahadeva Temple, stands on a small hillock reached by 21 wide steps leading to the east gopuram. Inside, a lengthy Anakkottil opens onto a courtyard with a golden flagmast and two tall lamp-masts. The circular main sanctum has 44 rafters, a gold finial and walls carved with wooden figures; the Hanuman shrine occupies a six-foot square sanctum in the north-western corner of the nalambalam.

The sanctum's basement dates to the early 10th century or older, and two inscriptions on it record the years Kali Era 4051 and 4052 (AD 951 and 952). The first records Makilancheri Thevan Chennan's donation of land to Lord Shiva of Kaviyoor; the second records a gift by Magalathu Narayanan Keyavan and Mangalathu Narayanan Kittiran. Together the grants are believed to have covered about 202 acres in Kidangara, Kottenkari, Kumarankari and Eera.

The name Kaviyoor is said to derive from Kapiyoor, "the village of the monkey" — a reference to Hanuman, who stayed here after failing to move the lingam Rama had consecrated. The Hanuman shrine in the north-western corner of the inner courtyard draws more devotees than the main Shiva sanctum, and the sage Vilwamangalam is credited with installing it on his japa-kindika.

The temple stands 200 m west of Kaviyoor Junction on the Changanassery–Kaviyoor road, about 5 km from SCS Junction in Tiruvalla. From the road, 21 wide steps climb to the two-storey east gopuram and the long Anakkottil beyond it. The Polachira lake lies west of the outer wall, past the Keezhthrikkovil Maha Vishnu Temple.

The main Shivalinga is believed to be made of earth and darbha grass, not stone. Legend holds that marks on the idol come from Hanuman wrapping his tail around it when he tried to lift it after Rama had already consecrated it.