Sukapuram Dakshinamoorthy Temple, consecreated by Sage Suka (parrot-headed sage of hindu mythologies who was the son of Vedavyasa and the one who recites Bhagavatha Purana to the dying King Parikshit), is just a kilometer east of Edappal on Palakkad route, situated 16 km east of Ponnani, the ancient port town in Malappuram district. Sukapuram (Chokiram in sanskrit) is one of the thirty two villages established by Lord Parasurama. Once upon a time the village was the abode of Brahmin Scholars.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthi (Lord Shiva). Lord Dakshinamurthy is considered as the God of all knowledge and is always worshipped by Saptharshis and Sages from mythical times. This temple has yielded four inscriptions of the Chera period. The Chandrotsavam refers to certain Brahmin settlements of this village. This has been one of the most prominent settlements of Kerala and figures as witness, together with Panniyur in the Viraraghava Copper Plates of AD 1225. The hostilities between Panniyur and Sukapuram figure prominently in medieval literature. It is believed that the Valluva konathiri patronised this settlement from very early times. The temple was desecrated during the conquest of Tipu Sultan.
In every Grama, Parasurama established a temple which the people of that Grama
considered as Grama Kshetra (Village Temple). Also every Grama has a
deity who is considered Grama Paradevata (Eg:- Peruvanam Shiva
temple as Grama Temple and Thiruvllakkavu Sastha as Grama Paradevata of
Peruvanam-Cherppu).
Of all Namboothiri Gramams, the most important ones are
Perinchellur(Taliparamba - worshipped Lord Rajarajeswara as Perinchelloorappan), considered to be the first Namboothiri Grama established by
Parashurama followed by the Panniyur Grama (presiding deity is Varahamurthy), the Peruvanam Grama (presiding deity is Irattayappan - Lord Shiva) and the Sukapuram
Grama (presiding deity is Dakshinmurthy - Lord Shiva), in the order of their importance. The Taliparamba(Perinchellur)
temple and Panniyur temple are important to all Namboothiries of Kerala and not
just to the Namboothiries of the respective Gramas.
Vedic sacrifices need 'Ritwiks' from all the three Vedas and only in Perinchellur, Panniyur and Peruvanam there were all the three Vedic people. The Samavedic Namboothiries of today belonging to Paanjaal and Kottayam were originally from Panniyur and Perinchellur. Today the Namboothiri Gramams with a tradition of Vedic Sacrifices (Yajna-Yaaga) are Perumanam, Perinchellur, Sukapuram and Irinjalakuda. Once there were three thousand Namboodiri families in both Panniyur and Perinchellur, thousand each belonging to Yajur, Rig and Sama Vedas. But today there are only about 200 Illams (Families) in Perinchellur who are mostly Yajur Vedic and about 30 families in Panniyur who are not vedic. The Sukapuram grew at the cost of Panniyur when the latter was destroyed. Today however Peruvanam Gramam is the biggest Namboothiri village with about 300 families (mostly Yajur Vedis and few Rig Vedis too).
Vedic sacrifices need 'Ritwiks' from all the three Vedas and only in Perinchellur, Panniyur and Peruvanam there were all the three Vedic people. The Samavedic Namboothiries of today belonging to Paanjaal and Kottayam were originally from Panniyur and Perinchellur. Today the Namboothiri Gramams with a tradition of Vedic Sacrifices (Yajna-Yaaga) are Perumanam, Perinchellur, Sukapuram and Irinjalakuda. Once there were three thousand Namboodiri families in both Panniyur and Perinchellur, thousand each belonging to Yajur, Rig and Sama Vedas. But today there are only about 200 Illams (Families) in Perinchellur who are mostly Yajur Vedic and about 30 families in Panniyur who are not vedic. The Sukapuram grew at the cost of Panniyur when the latter was destroyed. Today however Peruvanam Gramam is the biggest Namboothiri village with about 300 families (mostly Yajur Vedis and few Rig Vedis too).
Sukapuram is one of the rare temples where the main entrance faces towards South. This is due to the mythology that Lord Dakshinmurthy meditates under the giant banyan tree facing South. Sukapuram is probably the only temple in South India where Dakshinamurthy is worshipped as the principal deity.
The air of Sukapuram temple reverberate many a time with the chanting of the Suktas from vedas as it had seen several yanjas till date and even the Somayaga and Athiratram. The temple festival is in January which will be accompanied with caparisoned elephants and grandeur of percussions.
The air of Sukapuram temple reverberate many a time with the chanting of the Suktas from vedas as it had seen several yanjas till date and even the Somayaga and Athiratram. The temple festival is in January which will be accompanied with caparisoned elephants and grandeur of percussions.
