| Description The Lakshmana Perumaal temple is located at Tirumoozhikkalam near Alwaye
and Kaaladi. The presiding deity Lakshmana Perumaal is
considered to be none other than Vishnu. The Triprayar Rama temple and the Koodalmanikyam
Bharata temple are related shrines located in this part of Kerala.
This is an ancient temple, glorified by the tamil hymns
(Tiruvaimozhi) of Nammalwar one of the 12 Vaishnavite Alwars of the 1st millenium CE.
This shrine is associated with legends from the Ramayanam.
Legend has it that while Bharata the brother of Rama and Lakshmana, came to invite Rama,
then in exile, to take over the reins of the kingdom, an angry Lakshmana suspecting
Bharata's intentions intended to kill him; however, Bharata's innocence was very soon
revealed, and then the two of them offered worship together at Tirumoozhikkalam. The name
Tirumoozhikalam is said to have originated from the phrase tiru mozhi kalam the site where
sweet words were uttered.
Legend also has it that Hareetha muni the son of Viswamitra worshipped Vishnu at this
site.
The temple: Inscriptions from the 11th
century CE (Bhaskara Ravivarman) are seen in this temple. A vritta (circular) vimanam
crowns this temple whose base is of stone, and the rest of the superstructure being
laterite, stucco and timber.
The image of the presiding deity is in a damage state thanks to
vandalism effected by conquerors. A silver kavacam or armour was made as a covering for
the image; however soon after installation of the kavacam an attempt was made to steal it,
after which it has never been in use.
To the left of the sanctum is a door with no images inside.
Worship is offered to Rama, Sita and Hanuman at this spot acknowledging their presence.
No music is played during worship services here, unlike other
temples.
The annual festival which falls in the malayalam month of Makaram
used to be an occasion of great festivity, with performances of koothu and Koodiyaattam
for a 41 day period (in the temple Koothambalam).
Associated closely with this temple are temples dedicated to Bharata
at Irinjalakuda (which is one
of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desam temples), Rama
at Triprayar and to Satrugna
at Payammel.
Legend has it that four images of
the heroic brothers Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrugna were washed ashore and were
discovered by a local chieftan Vakkey Kaimal and were installed at the
sites mentioned above. All of these four images are those of Vishnu, but
are referred to as Rama, Lakshmanaperumaal, Bharata and Satrugna. Offering worship
at each of these four shrines on a given day, is considered auspicious. |
