NALAMBALAM(Temple Package)

NALAMBALAM YATHRA

Nalambalam Yathra is a religious journey popular in Kerala. It is conducted during the month of Karkidakam.

This journey is connected with the visit to four temples namely, Sree Rama Temple at Triprayar, Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana Temple at Moozhikkulam in Ernakulam District and Payammel Temple near Irinjalakuda. The specialty of these temples are they are dedicated to Lord Ram, Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughna.

Nalambalam Yathra starts with the visit to Sree Rama temple at Triprayar and ends with the visit to Payammel Temple.

Triprayar, also spelt Thriprayar, is a temple town approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Thrissur (Kerala, India). It is the home of a temple dedicated to Lord Rama. According to legend, idols of Lord Vishnu resembling Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna were washed ashore and were consecrated at Triprayar, Tirumoozhikkalam and Koodalmaanikkam Payammel respectively by a local chieftain Vakkel Kaimal who used to be the naaduvaazhi. Descendants of Vakkel Kovilakam moved to the south and settled in Niranam (Thudangiyil) and Thalavady (Cherussery Madhom) as worshippers of Thrikapaleswar (Lord Shiva) for the attainment of the lotus feet of Lord Krshna. Thachudaya kaimal, who was entusted as the caretaker, used to reside at Iringalakkuda. Worshipping all the four deities in a single day is considered especially auspicious.

The idol is that of a four-armed Vishnu (Chaturbhuja Vishnu) and Rama is depicted as the victor over the demon Kara. The deity is said to contain aspects of Brhama and Shiva too, making it into a Trimurthi. The temple also has a shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in its outer courtyard.
The main festivals of the temple are the Pooram (held in the Malayalam month of Meenam) and Ekadasi (which falls in November-December). One of the popular sacrifices (vazhipadu) at the temple is meen-oottu (fish-feeding) which involves feeding grains of rice to the fish at the river that forms one boundary of the temple.

On the banks of a beautiful river near Thrissur in Kerala almost bordering the trunk road is a big temple dedicated to Sri Rama, which combines attractive location, traditional legend and superb architecture. In the dim past, this river is believed to have skirted the temple on three sides and hence the sacred place is called Thirupuraiyar or most popularly as Triprayar.
The main idol of Sri Rama which is installed and worshipped at this temple is believed to have been originally worshipped by Sri.Krishna at Dwaraka in Sowrashtra coast. When Dwaraka was submerged, the idol of Sri Rama was lying in the sea bed along with the further idols of Lakshmana, Bharata and shaturghna.

After many centuries, when some fishermen went out into the sea for fishing, the idol, of Sri Rama, along with the other idols got entangled in their fishing nets. They brought them ashore and handed over to the local chieftain Vikkal Kaimal. He consulted the astrologers and came to know about the previous history of these idols. At that time, there was a divine ‘asari' who informed him that the idol of Sri Rama should be installed at the place where a peacock would be visible in the sky.

Accordingly, all the preparations were made for the installation of the idol, but even after several days, no peacock was visible. At last, a devotee pilgrim carrying a bunch of peacock feathers came to this spot, followed by a live peacock also. The idol of Sri Rama was installed at that very spot where the peacock feathers and the peacock were found.

The idol is Bharata was installed at Irinjalakuda Koodalnickam. Lakshmana's idol, was installed at Moorikunni village 10 kms. away similarly the idol of Shatrughna was installed at an adjacent place called payamel. The chieftain is said to have constructed the original shrines at all these places for the respective idols. Among all these, the shrine of Bharatha at Irinajalakuda came to prominence as that was the only temple built separately for Bharata in the entire region.

According to the local legend, it is said that the idol of Sri Rama kept on revolving after it was installed until an ascetic did some rituals and prayers and a nail driven at the base. The majestic deity of Sri Rama is worshipped here as Maha Vishnu due to its posture and the attributes. He holds in his two hands the bow and garland and the other two hands hold the discuss (chakra) and conch (Shankha). The chest is adorned with srivatsa and Kaustubham. Some time later, the ‘Saparivara Pratishta” of Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi was also done on the right and left side of the deity.

An outstanding peculiarity of the ‘sanctum sanctorum' si that there are idols of Dakshinamurthy, Ganapathi and a lamp at the back of the deity. The local devotees call the idol as ‘Trimurthy' as it is supposed to represent Brahma also. Hanuman is said to be present at the ‘Namaskara Mandapa' although there is no separate idol for him.

Devotees possessed of evil spirits throng to this place and the cure is miraculous due to the presence of Hanuman. He is supposed to be always running about the temple chanting ‘Drishta Sita, Drishta Sita'. The periodical fireworks conducted here also emanate the same type of sound. As is in the temple of Thrissur , there is no ‘Dhwaja Stambha' in this temple also. Devotees offer prayer first to the‘Namaskara Mandapa' before worshipping Sri Rama.
Located on a picturesque spot on the banks of river Triprayar, the temple occupies a vast area as the main Shiva temple at Thrissur. The ‘garbhagriha' is square in plan, on a massive base, and includes sveral tiers sending in a conical roof. According to an inscription, historically the temple is ascribed to the 11th century. a number of pillars, beautifully carved, uproot the roof of the structure which has a pyramidal roof covered with copper sheets. The Namaskara Mandapam has a treasure of carvings on wood. Mural paintings are found on the walls. The panels have fine carvings depicting the ‘Navagrahas'. Around the Srikovil are carved episodes of Ramayana in the style of sculpture that blend with the architecture of the shrine.

About 3 kms. to the north-east of Thirupuraiyar, there is a place where a bund was supposed to have been erected on the river similar to the ‘Sethu Bhandana' at Dhanushkodi. In the month of Kanni on Thiruvonam star, the deity is taken to that place every year. This place is known as Raman Chitra or the bund of Sri Rama.

The ‘Arattu', something similar to the south Indian temple Brahmotsavam of the deity is celebrated in the Arattu Kadavu, known as Mandarathi Kadavu. An important feature observed here is a kind of drama acting with a single person, known as ‘Kuttu'. The festival lasts for twelve days. The theme is usually episodes from Ramayana such as Hanuman locating Sita in Ashoka vana, presentation of ‘Chudamani' to Sri Rama, etc. Major part of the presentation is the conversation between Hanuman and Sita.

According to the‘Sthala Purana', when Parasurama created Kerala and brought the Brahmins to inherit the area, they complained about the absence of a sacred river for bathing purposes. Thereupon, Parasurama prayed to Brahama for the grant of the sacred River, who sent the seven ‘Kanyas', Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada and Kaveri to flow here as river triprayer. It is believed that these seven divine ‘Kanyas' come to this river every year on the‘Vrat' day of the deity.

Thirupuraiyar ‘Ekadashi' in ‘Vrischika Krishna Panchami' (Dark fortnight) is a very auspicious day at this ‘Kshetra'. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees flock to this temple to participate in the celebrations. Another important festival is Arathupuzha Pooram, held in March-April attracts a large crowd to witness the fireworks and the elephant procession. Till a generation ago, more than a hundred elephants decorated with glittering howdahs, umbrellas and ornaments used to take part in the procession.

Thirupuraiyar is only 24 kms. form Thrissur railway station. Kochi is the nearest Airport. An excellent road connects this sacred ‘Kshetra' with many important cities in Kerala and Tamilnadu. The State and Public Transport authorities operate in this route in addition to hired taxis nd vans. A moderate choultry is maintained at this ‘Kshetre' by the temple authorities, but Thrissur would be the most convenient place for overnight stay as good lodging facilities are available here.

How to get thereTriprayar is freely accessible by road from Thrissur, which has a major railway station. It is about 60 kilometers from the airport at Kochi.

Koodalmanikyam Temple

Koodalmanikyam Temple and the big pond insideKoodalmanikyam Temple is the only Hindu temple in India where Bharata (Lord Sangameshwara), the brother of Sree Rama is worshiped. This beautiful ancient temple is situated in Irinjalakuda a small town in Trissur district of Kerala state, south India.
The speciality of this temple is that there is only one place of worship, even Ganapathy is not be found inside the temple. Usually all big temples in India will have more than one deity inside the temple, especially Sree Ganapathy.
The temple is surrounded by four vast ponds . The pond inside the compound is believed to be sanctified by Kulipini Maharshi (Sage) who had held a great yaga here. The pond is known as Kulipini Theertham.
The pond outside the compound located at the eastern side is called Kuttan Kulam
Seventeen elephants are engaged for the ceremonial rounds which happens once in a year for ten days, to the accomplishment of Panchari Melam. The last Two days of festival, Panjavadyam will be accomplished. The head gears ('Netti pattam' in Malayalam language) of seven elephants are made of pure gold (Or so believed) and rest of pure silver is another uniqueness of this temple.
The Ten day annual festival in this temple is held in April/May with Seventeen caparisoned temple elephants. It starts the day after the famous Thrissur Pooram and goes on for 10 days. The first day of utsavam (festival) falls under the star Uthram, and the ceremonial flag is hoisted which marks the beginning of the festival. On all ten days, a seeveli (procession of caparisoned elephants) is held twice, one in the forenoon and one at night. A unique speciality of this temple utsavam is the fact that two baby elephants are made to stand on either side of the elephant carrying the thidambu (the deity).

How to reach there

Nearest local railway station - Irinjalakuda 10 km Nearest main railway station - Trissur 21 km Nearest city - Trissur - 21 km Nearest airport - Cochin International Airport - 40 km

Moozhikulam

Moozhikulam Temple is a shrine dedicated to Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram. It is located near Angamaly, in Ernakulam District. Folklore is that Vakkey Kaimal, a local chieftain, once had a dream that idols of Lord Ram, Bharatha, Lakshman and Shatrugna had washed up on the beach of the shore nearby. As per the advice of astrologers, these idols were installed at four temples: Lord Ram at Thriprayar, Bharatha at Irinjalakuda, Lakshman at Moozhikulam and Shatrugna at Payyammal.

There is a belief that to worship at all four temples on the same day is beneficial.Moozhikulam is 30 km from Irinjalakuda.

The Shatrughna Temple(Payammal)

The Shatrughna Temple is situated at Payammal, which is six kms from the Koodalmanikyam temple at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District of Kerala. This incidentally is the only temple dedicated to Lord Shatrughna in India. The idol of Lord Shatrughna is housed in a squarish granite sanctum sanctorum in the Payammal temple. The original Panchaloha (Five Metals - Brass,Bronze, Copper,Gold and Silver) has been untracable though efforts have been made to retrieve it from the temple pond situated in the back yard of the temple complex. The existing idol made of granite exudes a rare kind of divinity. The temple is haven of peace and sanctity and a devotee experiences an unique sense of satisfaction after praying in this abode. The Shatrughna Temple is the fourth temple which devotees visit when they embark on the Nalambalam (Four Temples) yatra or visit. Visiting nalambalam is considered to be a sacred event during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. Nalambalam Yathra is a religious journey popular in Kerala. This journey is connected with the visit to four temples namely, Sree Rama Temple at Triprayar, Bharatha (Koodalmanikyam) Temple at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana Temple at Moozhikkulam in Ernakulam District and Sree Shatrughna Temple at Payammel near Irinjalakuda.Nalambalam Yathra starts with the visit to Sree Rama temple at Triprayar and ends with the visit to Payammal Sree Shatrughna Temple.