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Moozhikkalam (Tirumoozhikkalam)
One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE
Location: Moozhikkalam near Alwaye
(Malai Naadu)
Vishnu: Moozhikkalattappan (Lakshmana Perumaal)
Taayaar: Madhuraveni Naachiyaar
Theertham:Shankha Theertham
Paasuram :Nammalwar
Vimaanam:Soundarya Vimanam
Travel Base:Ernakulam
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.
Abodes of Vishnu ********
One of the 108 Temples & Celestial Abodes of Vishnu revered by the Tamil hymns of the Alwars of the 1st millennium CE
Location: Moozhikkalam near Alwaye
(Malai Naadu)
Vishnu: Moozhikkalattappan (Lakshmana Perumaal)
Taayaar: Madhuraveni Naachiyaar
Theertham:Shankha Theertham
Paasuram :Nammalwar
Vimaanam:Soundarya Vimanam
Travel Base:Ernakulam
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.
Abodes of Vishnu ********