The Alathiyoor Perumthrikkovil temple is located at Poilissery (Alathiyoor), about 7 km from Tirur railway Station, in Malappuram district. It is also called as Hanuman Kavu Temple due to the importance given to Hanuman more than the presiding deity Sri Rama and is believed to be built by
Sage Vasishta, who is prominent among the Saptarshis, some 3000 years
ago.
Long ago, the Alathiyoor Grama Namboodiri was in possession of this Temple. Afterwards it was taken over by Vettath Raja. A little later, the Zamorin Raja of Kozhikode took over the management of this temple. Presently, the temple continues to be administered by His Highness Zamorin Raja of Calicut.
The Alathiyoor Perumthrikovil Temple is special to its devotees for very many reasons. Although the daily rituals, offerings by devotees, and the spectacular annual temple festival, all are held in honour of the presiding deity, Sri Rama, the devotees popularly refer to this temple as the Hanuman Kavu Temple. And, in a way, it symbolizes the triumph of the supreme strength of devotion of Sri Hanuman to his God, Sri Rama.
Here, Sri Rama is visualized as the Maryada Purushothaman, in a disposition that he is separated from his beloved consort, Sita, who was abducted by the mighty Ravana to Lanka. Sri Rama is seen as entrusting Hanuman the possible task of locating the whereabouts of Sita. Sri Rama confides to Hanuman about how to look for Sita in Lanka. Hanuman has to cross the vast and formidable sea that separates Lanka from the main land. Thirty three crore demi-gods have gathered to witness this significant act. It is an act in which Lord Sri Rama seeks the assistance of his devotee Hanuman. All the Gods bestow Hanuman with their enormous strength, so that he succeeds in his mission. For Hanuman this is one of the most significant moments of his life.
The temple of Sri Hanuman is adjacent to the main temple of Sri Rama. Sri Hanuman stands leaning a little towards the left, to hear his master’s words. Sree Rama is confiding in Hanuman the cue-word(Abhignana Vaakyam) that would enable him to gain the confidence of Sita. Hanuman has a mace in his hand. Devotees of Hanuman throng this temple to make their wishes and be heard by the mighty Hanuman. Sri Hanuman of alathiyoor is a darling-guardian of children also.
There is a platform to commemorate Sri Hanuman’s mighty leap to Lanka over the sea. There is a long granite stone at one end of this platform and it symbolizes the sea. Devotees come running and leap over this long stone. By doing this, auspicious result is expected especially for the better health and life of children.
Sri Lakshmana is positioned to the West, within the
temple complex but a few meters away from Sri Rama, outside the
periphery of Naalambalam. It is believed that Sri Lakshmana was keeping
himself at a small distance away, deliberately, presumably to avoid overhearing the cue-word which Sri Rama secretly says in the ear of Hanuman.
The favourite offering of Sree Hanuman is Wet Avil ( Pothi Avil) and another important offering is Kadali banana. Sri Hanuman is usually portrayed as praying in Kadalivana, the forest made of Kadali plantain.
Other sub-deities worshiped in the temple are Lord Ganapathi, Mahavishnu, Goddess Bagavathy and Lord Sastha. The walls of the sanctum are painted with murals depicting stories from Ramayana, Bhakta Hanuman in standing posture, Nataraja, Sri Rama, incarnations of Mahavishnu etc.
