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Nalambalam (Four Temple) | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Hinduism |
District | Thrissur, Ernakulam |
Deity | Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, Shatrughna |
Location | |
Location | Triprayar, Moozhikkulam, Irinjalakuda, Payammal |
State | Kerala |
Country | India |
Architecture | |
Type | Architecture of Kerala |
Specifications | |
Temple(s) | Four |
Elevation | 27.33 m (90 ft) |
Nalambalam is a set of four Hindu temples in Kerala. In Malayalam, Nalu means "four" and Ambalam means "temple". These are the temples for the Rama and his brothers. There are around five sets of Nalambalams in Kerala, the most famous among them being the four temples located in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, namely Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple, Koodalmanikyam Bharatha Temple, Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple and Payyammal Shathrughna Temple.
Nalambalam Yatra begins from the Rama temple in Triprayar and ends up at Shatrughna Temple in Payyammal. It is customary to visit the four temples in the order Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna respectively. A pilgrimage to these temples on a single day during the holy month of Karkkidakam believed to shower blessings and ensure prosperity. Starting from Thriprayar reaching Payammel through Koodalmanikyam and Moozhikulam. It is considered difficult to complete the trip before noon in early days on foot.
Thriprayar Temple houses a 6 ft tall idol of the Lord, holding Shankha, Sudarsanachakra, Stick and Garland, in a very ferocious form facing east. He is seen in standing posture. Vedi Vazhipadu and Meenoottu are the main offerings. The temple is under the control of Cochin Devaswom Board, an autonomous body.
Thriprayar is in the middle of Guruvayoor – Kodungallore route . Those who want to come via Trichur should reach Cherpu and proceed west wards to reach the east nada of the temple . Here is the famous Rama temple. This is the first temple to visit as part of Nalambalam Pilgrimage.
Koodalmanikyam Temple is one among the rare temples in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata, the second brother of Rama. Koodalmanikyam Temple houses another 6 ft tall idol of the Lord, seen in ferocious form, facing east, in standing posture holding the same things as seen at Triprayar. This is one of the rare temples where only one idol is there. The temple has a private devaswom.
This is a unique Vaishnava Temple and the second temple to visit. From Triprayar proceed in the Kodungallore route and divert from Edamuttam or Moonnupeedika. Irinjalakuda is about 20 km away from Triprayar.
Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple is the only temple in Ernakulam District, and the only one among the four temples, which belong to the 108 Divya Desams, praised by Alvars. The temple houses another 6 ft tall idol, similar to the idol at Triprayar, holding Shankha, Sudarsana chakra, Mace and Lotus, in standing posture, facing east.
Moozhikkulam Temple is the third temple to visit and is dedicated to Lakshmana. This is in Ernakulam District near to famous Annamanada Mahadeva temple proceed alongs Vellankallore in Irinjalakuda route to Kodungallore and reach Mala, Annamanada and then Muzhikkulam . Darshan is possible from 4 to 11.00 and 5 to 8 .
Payammal Sree Shathruknha swaamee Temple is the smallest temple, having the smallest idol, also similar to that at Triprayar. This is the last temple to visit. Reach Vellangallore and proceed west wards 4 km to reach Aripalam. Take right turn and reach the temple. Important Vazhipadu is Sudarshanan dedication.
In addition to the aforementioned temples, Kerala also has four other sets of Nalambalam.
Ramapuram in Kottayam district, Kerala is another place where temples of all four brothers are situated. The four temples of central Kerala, thronged by Hindu devotees during the holy month of Karkidakam are centred round Ramapuram, within a distance of three kilometres. They are Ramapuram Sree Ramaswamy Temple, Koodappulam Sree Lakshmanaswamy Temple, Amanakara Sree Bharathaswamy Temple, and Methiri Sree Sathrughnaswamy Temple.
In Kerala's Ernakulam district, the Nalambalam circuit consists of Mammalassery Sreeramaswami Temple, Memmury Sree Bharata Swami Temple(Bharatapilly), Mulakkulam Lakshmana Swami Temple, and Nedungaattu Sree Shatrugna Swami Temple(Mammalassery). Though this set is considered to be the Ernakulam district Nalambalam circuit, the Mulakkulam Sree Lakshmana Swami Temple is situated in the Kottayam-Ernakulam border.
Another set of Nalambalam is located in the Malappuram district. The circuit consist of Ramapuram Sreeramaswami Temple, Karinchapadi-Chirammal Sree Bharatha Swami Temple, Vattallur Chovvana Panangangara Lakshmana Swami Temple, and Naranathu Shatrughna Swami Temple. Here, the entire Nalambala Yatra can be completed within approximately one hour.
The Nalambalam circuit in the Kannur district is the fifth and final set of Nalambalam. This circuit consists of Neerveli Sree Ramaswamy Temple, Elayavoor Sree Bharatha Swamy Temple, Perinjeri Sri Vishnu (Lakshmana) Temple, and Payam Sri Mahavishu (Shatrughna) Temple.
The deities here are the four sons of King Dasaratha of Ramayana. Lord Ram, the eldest of them is the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, the preserver deity of the Hindu Trimurti. Bharata, second amongst them, is the avatar of the Panchajanya (Conch held by Vishnu). Lakshmana is the avatar of the Adisesha, also known as Anantha, the serpent of infinite measures and on whom Lord Vishnu sleeps in the Ocean of Milk. Shatrughna (the One who is destroyer of enemies) is the twin brother to Lakshamana and the youngest. He is the avatar of the Sudarshana chakra held by Lord Vishnu.
Lakshmana, also known as Laxmana, Lakhan, Saumitra, and Ramanuja, is the younger brother of Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is considered as an incarnation of Shesha, the lord of serpents. Lakshmana was married to Urmila, and is known for his loyalty and dedication towards Rama.
Shatrughna, also known as Ripudaman, is the younger brother of Rama, and King of Madhupura and Vidisha, in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is considered as an incarnation of the Sudarshana Chakra of god Vishnu, and was married to Shrutakirti.
The Vadakkumnathan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Thrissur, in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. The temple is a classical example of the architectural style of Kerala and has one monumental tower on each of the four sides in addition to a koothambalam. Mural paintings depicting various scenes from the Mahabharata can be seen inside the temple. The shrines and the Kuttambalam display vignettes carved in wood. The temple, along with the mural paintings, has been declared as a National Monument by India under the AMASR Act. According to popular local lore, this is the first temple built by Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. Thekkinkadu Maidan, encircling the Vadakkumnathan Temple, is the main venue of the renowned Thrissur Pooram festival.
Bharata is the younger brother of Rama in Hindu epic Ramayana, and the regent of Ayodhya during Rama's exile. Bharata is considered as an incarnation of the Panchajanya of god Vishnu, and was married to Mandavi.
Koodalmanikyam Temple is a Hindu temple in Irinjalakuda Municipality, Thrissur district, Kerala, India. The temple comprises a main structure, a walled compound with citadels, and four ponds around the main structure one of which is within the walls. Koodalmanikyam Temple is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata, of Rama, however the idol is that of god Vishnu. "Sangameshwara" is another name associated with the deity at Koodalmanikyam. The temple is one of four in Kerala that form a set called "nalambalam", each temple dedicated to one of the four brothers in the epic Ramayana: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
Alathiyur Hanuman Temple, also known as Alathiyur Perumthrikkovil or Hanuman Kavu is a famous Hindu temple located between the Ponnani River and the Bharathappuzha at Alathiyur near Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala state, India. Although the main deity is Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, Hanuman, believed to be an incarnation of Shiva and a devotee of Rama and a Chiranjivi, is as famous as the main deity in the temple. Also reside in the temple as sub-deities of equal importance: Lakshmana, Ganesha, Maha Vishnu, Durga, Bhadrakali, Ayyappan, and Naga deities. According to legend, the idol of Hanuman was consecrated 3000 years ago by Sage Vasishtha, one of the Saptarishis. Over the years, the custodians of the temple were the Alathiyur village Nambudiri Clan, the King of Vettathunad, and the Samuthiri of Kozhikode. Aval is the main offering in this temple. The main annual event here is the festival held on the days corresponding with the Stars of Pooradam, Uthradam and Thiruvonam in the month of Thulam corresponding to mid-October to mid-November. The month of Karkidakam, corresponding to mid-July and mid-August, popularly called the Ramayana month, is usually crowded. The weekdays of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are also important as they are considered auspicious for Hanuman. The temple is administered by a Trust under the Malabar Devaswom Board, with the Samuthiri royalty as the Chief Trustee. This is believed to be the most important temple among the temples under the administration of the Malabar Devaswom Board.
Thrissur, anglicised as Trichur, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It is situated in the central region of the state. Spanning an area of about 3,032 km2 (1,171 sq mi), the district is home to over 9% of Kerala's population.
Even though the deity as Rama, in the 'thanthrik' context, believers consider the deity as "Thevar" who participate in fishing pond, in their agriculture activities building check dam for paddy cultivation, who inaugurates seasonal plough of land and so on.
Thriprayar is a town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. It is famous for the Thriprayar Temple. It is a part of Thrissur Metropolitan Area. It has one of the 4 temples which is visited in Nalambalam Yatra(Rama-Bharta-Lakshmana-Shaturghna).
Nattika is a small village in Thrissur district of Kerala state, South India. It is centrally located about 25 km from Thrissur, Kodungallur, Irinjalakuda, Chavakkad, Kunnamkulam and Guruvayur. Nattika is beside the Arabian Sea. There is a beach in this village called Nattika Beach. Nattika Beach was previously known as Attakuzhi Bandhar Kadapuram. Nattika is on the west coast of Thrissur. Conolly Canal is the eastern border of Nattika. There is a private bus stand in Thriprayar. Nattika is 60 km away from Cochin International Airport and 25 km away from Thrissur railway station. Modern transportation and better communication facilities are available in the village. This is an assembly constituency.
Ramapuram is a town in the Kottayam district of the Indian state of Kerala.
Ramapuram is a suburb of Malappuram in the Indian state of Kerala. Ramapuram is 8 km from the district HQ city Malappuram towards Palakkad on National Highway-966. The Malappuram showrooms of both TOYOTA and NISSAN are located at Panangangara, Ramapuram in Puzhakkattiri. Temples of lord Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Sathrughna are within a range of two kilo meters. During Karkidaka month of Malayalam calendar thousands of devotees from across Kerala come here for Nalambala Darshan. Now efforts are being done to recover the lost Sita Devi temple.
The Vilwadrinatha Temple is a Hindu temple in Thiruvilwamala, a town in the city of Thrissur, Kerala, India. The principal deities are Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his brother, Lakshmana. It figures among the Abhimana Kshetrams in Vaishnavite traditions. This is one of the four major Rama temples in Kerala — the other three are in Thriprayar, Kadavallur, and Thiruvangad. The temple houses an idol of Lakshmana, which is rare in India. Vilwadrinatha Temple is located in the centre of the community of Thiruvilwamala, atop a 100-foot-high hillock. Visible from the temple is Bharathappuzha, the second-largest river in Kerala, which flows past the temple's northern side from around 3 kilometres away.
Anandavalleeswaram Sri Mahadevar Temple in Kollam city is one of the ancient Hindu temples in Kerala, India. Lord Siva and Goddess Anandavally are the main deities of the temple. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. It is located at Anandavalleeswaram, a major neighborhood of Kollam city, that comes to the west side of Kollam Collectorate.
Thirumoozhikulam Sree Lakshmanaperumal Temple is located in Thirumoozhikalam (Moozhikkulam) in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. The temple finds mention in some of verses of ancient Tamil Vedam sung by the Sri Vaishnava Alvars, particularly Nammalvar and Tirumangai Alvar and classified as Divya Desams, the 108 holy temples revered in the canon. This belongs to one of the 13 Malai Naatu (Kerala/Chera) Divya Desams, the Divya Desams located in Kerala.
The Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple (Perumthrikkovil), also known as Kerala Palani or Dakshina Palani (lit. 'Southern Palani'), in Haripad, Kerala, is one of the oldest and largest temples in the region. According to belief, the temple predates the beginning of Kali Yuga. This temple holds the distinction of being the largest Subrahmanya Swami Temple in Kerala, and features the longest golden flagpost, known as the dhwajastambha (kodimaram in Malayalam). The temple's main deity is believed to embody not only Subrahmanya Swamy but also Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, making it a highly revered and powerful place of worship.
There are many stories that describe the origin of the word Thripunithura. Some latter day Sanskrit enthusiasts ascribe the origin of the name to "Poorna Veda Puri" - the town of Vedas in its entirety. Another possible origin to name comes from the meaning "the land on the shores of Poorna river".
Sree Rama Swami Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Ramapuram village in Meenachil tehsil and near Pala in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The temple is classified one among the 108 Abhimana kshetrams of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple has Lord Rama as principal deity, facing the east, who is in a four-armed form, Chathurbahu. It is managed by a trust called Ramapuram Devaswom consisting of three Nambudiri families of Amanakara mana, Kunnoor mana and Karanattu mana.
Avittathur Mahadeva Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated at Avittathur village of Thrissur District in Kerala state in India. Avittathur gramam (village) is one of the 64 original Brahmin settlements in the ancient Kerala. The Avittathur temple as well as Avittathur Gramam is equally famous like Thaliparamb gramam, Sukapuram gramam, Irinjalakuda gramam and Peruvanam gramam. Avittathur Mahadeva Temple is more than 2000 years old and four old inscriptions have been discovered. According to folklore, sage Agastya has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. It is also believed that the temple's shiva lingam was installed by lord Parasurama the sixth incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu. The temple is a part of the famous 108 Shiva temples of Kerala.