THirumoozhikulam Lakshmana temple

THirumoozhikulam  Lakshmana temple

 

Compiled  by

P.R.Ramachander

 

Namaazhvar and thirumangai azhvar  have visted  and sung anbout this temple and hence  it is classified as a Dhivya  desam

Stories  of its origin

1,In Ramayana BHaratha  after performing the  funeral ceremonies  of his father , goes to forest to invite  Rama to be the king.He  takes with him the huge army  .Hearing the sound  of army , Lakshmana  thinks that  Bharatha has  come  to kill Rama  and shouts harsh words.Later  when he come to know  that Bharatha  has come  with good intentions, Both of them offered  worship in Thirumoozhikulam (thiru mozhi kalam-the place  where  divine words were  uttered).and hence the place   was called  Thirumoozhikulam,

2.Another story is that  one sage Haritha did thapas to lord Vishnu in the banks  of Chalakkudy river(Poorna river.Lord Vishnu appeared  before him and adviced  him divine words(Thiru mozhi) to get over  problems of Kali yuga.This thiru mozhi later  became Thirumoozhi Kalam

  3. Yet another story is that the  Rama, Lakdshmana, Bharatha , and Sathrugna idols were  worshipped by Lord Krishna in dwaraka   and when sea swallowed the city, the idols reached  this place by sea. Some fishermen fished them out and gave it the ruler of the place  called one Kaimal who was told by a mysterious person to build foy ur temples  for them .The temple for Lakshmana was  constructed here

 

Architecture

  The temple has been built  in Kerala Architecture, with no gopurams  and Vimanams  .There is a flagpole(KOdi maram) at entrance and once t you cross the gate , you reach the  Namaskara  mandampam and then the garbha  Griham(sanctum sanctorum) housing the temple  of Lord Lakshmana  .Besides the main temple, there are sub temples for Shiva, dakshinamurthy, Krishna  , Bhagawathy and Ayyappa

It is believed that during invasion of Tipu Sultan, the temple   was set on fire and it was renovated   the  Travancore kings   Sri Moolam Thirunal   and Sri Chithirai thirunal

 

Timings

  The temple  is open  between 4 Am to 10 Am   and 4 PM to 8 Pm

The following are  timings of individual pooja

Abhishekam  5.00 AM , usha pooja 7.00 AM, usha  sreeveli  7.30 AM, Ucha pooja  10.30 AM  Ucha  Sheeveli 10.30 AM Deparadhana 6.30 Pm   , Athazha  pooja 7.30 PM  , Athazha  sheeveli   7.30 Pm

Festivals

Vaikunta ekadasi and thiruonam are the two  festivals celebrated  in this temple,During thironam festival devotees desiring tohave child perform special pooja  and this has to be booked one year in advance 

 

Phone  +91 4842473996

 

Approach

The temple is located about 25 km from Ernakulam. The nearest railway stations are Aluva and Angamaly; the nearest airports are Cochin International Airport, and Nedumbassery Airport. The temple is in fact located less than 12 km from Nedumbassery airport. For travelling pilgrims, it is recommended that they stay at Angamaly or Nedumbassery and commute to the temple for Perumal Darshan, as the place has limited facilities for stay.

 

More information

 

The temple is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board. Lakshmana Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Nammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar. The temple is classified as a Dhivya Desam, one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar.

 

Hymns in dhivya  prabandham

The following two hymns written by the Alvars are associated with this site:

தகவன்று என்று உரையீர்கள் தடம் புனல் வாயிரை தேர்ந்து
மிகவின்பம் படமேவும் மென்னடைய வன்னங்காள்
மிகமேனி மெலிவெய்தி மேகலையும் ஈடழிந்து என்
அகமேனி யொழியாமே திரு மூழிக் களத்தார்க்கே 9-7-10 Tiruvaymoli (Nammalvar)

Slow moving Swans, who search of happy meal in wide water sources, I have thinned in his (Thirumoozhikalam Lord) thought that my clothes no more fit me and fall down while the soul still dwells in body. Tell my lord of Thirumoozhikalam that it is not fair to desert me without moksha.

பொன்னானாய் பொழிலேழும் காவல் பூண்ட புகழானாய் இகழ்வாய தொண்ட னேன்நான்,
என்னானாய்? என்னானாய்? என்னல் அல்லால் என்னறிவ னேழையேன், உலக மேத்தும்
தென்னானாய் வடவானாய் குடபா லானாய் குணபால மத யானாய் இமையோர்க் கென்றும்
முன்னானாய் பின்னானார் வணங்கும் சோதி திருமூழிக் களத்தானாய் முதலா னாயே 2061 - (Tirumangai Alvar)

O First Lord! O Golden Lord, sentinel of the seven worlds! Other than exclaiming, "What happened to you? Where are you?", this despicable lowly devotee-self knows nothing. O Lord of the South, Lord of the North, Lord of East and west! O Rutted elephant! O First Lord of the celestials! You are the radiant Lord of Tirumoozhikalam, where later generations will worship you forever.