Sri Koodalmanikyam Temple- Kerala

Address

Sri Koodalmanikyam Temple- Trissur District, Irinjalakuda, Kerala 680121

Diety

Koodalmanikyam (Bharata) Vishnu

Introduction

Koodalmanikyam Temple is located in Irinjalakuda Municipality, Thrissur district, Kerala. 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, the third brother of Rama, however the idol is that of god Vishnu. “Sangameshwara” (“the Lord of the Confluence”) 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. The Thachudaya Kaimal as “Manikkam Keralar” is the spiritual chief and the temporal ruler of the Koodalmanikyam Temple and its estates. The line goes back to antiquity and is mentioned in the sacred Skanda Purana. The temporal rights over the temple, that is the office of the kaimal (as opposed to “Manikkam Keralar”) and the office of “melkoyma”.

Puranic Significance

The earliest historical reference to Koodalmanikyam Temple is found in a stone inscription attributed to the Chera king Stanu Ravi Varman dated 854 A.D, donating vast extents of land for the Temple. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that the Temple must have been in existence for quite some time before this date and that even then Koodalmanickyam was occupying a place of importance among the temples of Kerala. Another Cheraman Perumal Bhaskara Ravi Varma has donated vast lands at Potta near Chalakudy to the Temple. The Temple was in the domain of the erstwhile Maharaja of Cochin; but the administration was under a person designated as Thachudaya Kaimal appointed by the Maharaja of Travancore. In 1971, the Government of Kerala, through a special order, took over the administration of the Temple. A Committee appointed from time to time by the Government of Kerala now manages the Temple. This is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Bharata, the third brother of Lord Rama. Built-in typical Kerala architectural style, the temple features several delicate carvings. The eastern gateway (gopuram) is an impressive structure and is a protected monument of the Archaeological Department. The circular sanctum sanctorum is noted for its copper plate roof. Nalambala Darshanam, the annual pilgrimage of visiting the four shrines dedicated to Lord Sree Rama and his three brothers – Bharata, Lakshmana, and Sathrughna – is considered auspicious by the devotees. It is held in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam (mid-July – mid-August). The other three temples are the Triprayar Sree Rama Temple, Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple and Payammel Sathrughna Temple.

Special Features

There are four ponds that are located in and around the temple. The largest of the four are “Kuttan Kulam”, located outside the compound on the eastern side, and “Kulipini Theertham”, located inside the compound. Kulipini Theertham is believed to have been sanctified by the sage (maharishi) Kulipini, who held a great ritual sacrifice, a yajna, at the spot. Water from this source is used for rituals and ceremonies within the temple. • The custom in most of the temples in Kerala is to have five pujas and three sivelis a day. But in Koodalmanikyam Temple there are only three pujas and no siveli. There is no usha puja and pantheeradi puja at this shrine. • The deity is taken out for ceremonial procession only during the annual festival. There is no deepa-aradhana. This is the only temple without deepa-aradhana. • Sticks and camphor are not used for the puja. The floral offerings to the deity consist of lotus, tulasi (ocimum sanctum) and thechi (ixora). But they are not grown in the temple compound. No other flower is taken for puja or for making garlands. Lotus garland is an important offering to the deity. A garland will be offered to the deity which does have not less than 101 lotus flowers.

Festivals

The temple holds its chief annual festival for ten days each year in the month of Medam (April/May). The first day of the festival is calculated by the appearance of the uthram asterism and signified by hoisting a ceremonial flag . Each day of the festival, a seeveli (procession of caparisoned temple elephants) is held twice, once in the morning and once at night, to the accompaniment of panchari melam (sacred music). Seventeen elephants take part. Two features of the seeveli are unique to the Koodalmanikyam Temple: first that two baby elephants are included in the procession, one standing on each side of the elephant carrying the deity. Second, while the headdresses (‘netti pattam’ in Malayalam) of seven elephants are made of pure gold, the rest are made of pure silver. The last two days of the festival feature panchavadyam (sacred music from an orchestra of five instruments), and the festival ends at the thiruvonam asterism.