Thiruvallam - A shrine for shraddhams

Thiruvallam Sri Parasurama swamy temple is probably the only Parasurama temple, dedicated to the creator of Kerala, Lord Parasurama, which is more than 2000 years old and it still stands magnificently just a few kilometres away from one of the most famous tourism hot spots in Kerala, the Paradise of the God's own country, the Kovalam beach. The temple is on the banks of an exquisite backwater estuary formed by Karamanayaar and Killiyaar. The rivers as they meander into the Arabian Sea creates a fascinating mysticism of "Triveni Sangamam" and hence the temple is also famous among Hindus in performing last rites (Pithrubali). 

 

According to legends, Karthaveeriyarjuna slayed Parasurama's father, sage Jamadagni. Kartavirya Arjuna was a legendary king of an ancient Hyihya kingdom with capital at Mahishmati which is on the banks of river Narmada in the current state of Madhya Pradesh. He is described as having a thousand hands and a great devotee of Lord Dathatreya (a hindu deity encompassing the trinity, Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva). Kartavirya's power is popularly told in the Ramayana.

 He was the contemporary of Ravana. The story goes that once when Kartavirya Arjuna was enjoying in the river Godavari along with his wives, he stopped the force of the river with his thousand arms from both the sides. Ravana (the Lord of Lanka), who was camping by the banks of the river washed away in flood and was furious over this. Enraged, he challenged the former for a combat. Ravana was defeated and was put to humiliation.Then on request of his maternal grandfather Pulastya the great king Kartaviryarjuna released Ravana (the Lord of Lanka).

 

Kartavirya Arjuna and his army visited Jamadagni, father of Parasurama, who fed his guest and the whole army with offerings from his divine cow Kamadhenu. The king demanded the cow for the betterment of his subjects; Jamadagni refused because he needed the cow for his religious ceremonies. King Kartavirya Arjuna sent his soldiers to take the cow. As the conflict developed among the Jamadagni and the King, Kartavirya Arjuna chopped off the head of Jamadagni. When Parasurama returned to the hermitage, he was informed of the context by his mother, Renuka. In revenge, Parashurama slayed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna and the King Kartavirya Arjuna with the mighty axe given to him by Lord Shiva.

  

Thus to avenge father's death, Parasurama destroyed 21 races of kshatriyas. He made amends by giving away all his possessions to Brahmins. He meditated and traveled through different parts of the country. Later, to give a sacred land to Brahmins for performing holy religious rites, a place where no battle was ever made and not even a single drop of blood of Kshatriyas had fallen,  he threw away his axe into the sea. The water receded up to the point where the axe fell and the land that thus surfaced came to be known as Kerala. For the safety of the land he revived, Parasurama made 108 Shiva temples in the mid-land, 108 Sastha temples at the mountains and 108 Devi temples by the shore. But, unfortunately, there are not many temples where Parasurama is been worshipped as the main deity although in some temples like Sri Vadakumnatha temple, Thrissur, Parasurama is worshipped as a sub-ordinate deity. 

 Adi Sankaracharya was searching for a place to perform shraddham (yearly rites) for his mother. Enchanted by the serene surroundings, he chose this place. He beseeched Parasurama to help him. But at least three persons were required for the ceremony. Hence he sought the help of other two in the trinity. Brahma took the position of the holy priest as aacharya, Shiva, the recipient of offerings, and Parasurama, the offering or Shraddham itself. The ceremony went off very well and moved by this, Adi Sankara requested them to grace whoever comes to this land in future for performing the last rites. 

 The gods who complied also added that the departed souls would attain Mukthi(salvation). Adi Sankara installed the idols of these three deities at the place which came to be known by triva 'illam' (abode of trinity) later called as `Thiru va Illam' or Thiruvallam. 

Dotted with coconut and palm groves the shrine appears more or less like a Parnassala. One has to cross the bridge to reach the temple. An archway greets the visitor and atop the arch poses a furious-looking Parasurama wielding his mighty axe. A brisk walk leads to the temple whose façade has a triangular roof which is in typical Kerala style of architecture. In the forecourt, there are some altars arrayed in tandem, also called Bali peetams. To the left is an enclosure where shrardhams are performed. The idol of Lord Parasurama is Chathurbahu (one with four hands) with discus, conch, club and axe and is having 4.5 ft tall including the peetam (platform). The idol resembles with many of the Mahavishnu idols worshipped in elsewhere Kerala temples. Since Adi Sankara made the idol with clay on the banks of the backwaters, the actual strength and shape deteriorates with time and also due to 'abhishekam' (holy bath) performed on the idol. Hence the idol is covered with silver as per the instructions of tantri Mekkadu Matom Narayanan Nambuthiri.

The temple tank reflecting the greenery is serene and placid but the exact period of construction of this temple is not known. Across the courtyard is the Sreekovil or sanctum sanctorum. The main deity, Lord Parasurama, is petite, calm and composed. There are shrines for the Trinity, Sastha, Devi, Matsyamurthi, Ganesha, Subrahmanya, Vedavyasa and also Adi Sankara. Lord Brahma's shrine seen here is also a rareity as generally Brahma is not worshipped in temples. 

On special occasions like Karkkidaka Vaavu (on the day of vavu or Amavasi (new moon day) Hindus gather on the riverbanks and beaches to offer bali) people throng this shrine to perform rituals to their departed ancestors. Apart from this, there is also a ten-day festival which is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November.