The Peralassery Subrahmanya Swami Temple is in Peralasseri village, located 15 km from Kannur town on Kannur-Kuthuparamba road. The principal deity of the temple is Lord Subrahmanya who is worshipped as the 'Pranava' (OM) itself as well as Lord of all Serpants.
During the period of vanavasa (stay in jungle) Lord Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman had to stay in a forest where the temple is now seen. The tribal around started to worship them within no time.
Hanuman became happy with this and wanted to create a temple here for the localites to pray. On hearing Hanuman’s request, Sri Rama told Hanuman that they are in human form and hence creating an idol of them and consecrating themselves is not correct according to the ideologies. Sri Rama suggested an alternative, saying that if Hanuman could find a suitable idol, Sri Rama would do the consecration in the same location. Hanuman thought about this for some time and found that the only idol that will be equivalent to Sri Rama and Sita Devi together will be the Valli Parinaya Subramaniyan. Lord Sri Rama told Hanuman that a suitable idol is there in Himalayas (some believe that the idol was from Sarayu river) and instructed him to go and fetch it. But Hanuman was very late to find the idol. As the decided time of consecration approached, Sri Rama, not seeing Hanuman, decided to do the consecration with his Peruvala (The big bangle embedded with king's emblem). Thus this place got the name as Peruvalasseri and later came to be called as Perallasseri.
As soon as the consecration ceremony was over, Hanuman returned, but was sad seeing that he was very late. To make Hanuman happy, Sri Rama told him to do consecation on the West side of the consecration he made. Also Sri Rama told everyone that to get blessings, anyone who prays at Perallasseri needs to pray at Makreri (as Hanuman made the consecration, the place is called as Markadasseri later transformed into Makreri) too, else the prayers go unanswered. Hanuman was happy and did consecration one foot West. But, for doing the consecration he couldn’t find water anywhere near and hence with his tail made a hit on the ground which created the water flow. It is rebuilt recently and is one of the biggest temple ponds in Kerala.
The main offerings in this temple are Subrahmanya Pooja and Mutta Oppikal (offering of eggs to the revered snake deity- to get wishes from snake gods). Sub-deities of the temple are Lord Ganesha, Lord Ayyapa and snake gods. Bronze and copper idols of snakes are found in so many places in the temple and is one of the chief shrines which perform "Sarppa Bali". The legend is that on one occasion, Brahma the lord of creation, is said to have been challenged by Lord Subrahmanya to expound "Pranava" to his satisfaction and when he failed to do so, was tied and imprisoned on a cave. Lord Subrahmanya is said to have overheard and thoroughly grasped the expoundings of Pranava (the meaning of the syllable OM) given to Goddess Parvathi by Lord Shiva, even when he was an infant.
In order to maintain the cosmic order of the Universe, Lord Subrahmanya himself started the job of creation which was done earlier by Lord Brahma. But a lot of complications soon arose and on Shiva's interference, Brahama was released. As a self-imposed punishment for his unthoughtful deeds Lord Subrahmanya himself turned into a six-headed serpant and disappeared from mount Kailasa. Later, Goddess Parvathi propitiated by taking "Shashti Vrutha" to bring him back to mount Kailasa. In remembrance of this event Sarppa Bali is performed at Peralasseri Subrahmanya swami temple. Lord Muruga is hence also called as the Lord of Serpants. One week long festival associated with the Peralassery Subrahmanya temple is performed in the month of December every year.
