Thirumoozhikkulam - Lakshmana Perumal Jayam

Thirumoozhikulam Sri Lakshmana Perumal Temple is located in Thirumoozhikalam (Moozhikkulam) in Ernakulam district, 12 km away from Cochin International Airport, and 10 km from Angamali railway station, on the banks of Chalakudy River. 

 

 

The mythology behind the name of this place is Sage Hareetha did penance and meditation on the banks of river Poorna (Chalakudy River). Lord Mahavishnu got impressed by the dedication of the sage and appeared before him in the beginning of the Kali yuga. Lord Vishnu gave some advices to Sage Hareetha to overcome the difficulties in Kali yuga. These advices are called Thiru Mozhi meaning 'Sacred Words' and hence the place got its name as 'Thirumozhi kalam' (Kalam means place) which later transformed into Thirumoozhikkulam.
 

 

The temple complex enclosed in a large area with picturesque surroundings, holds the main sanctum dedicated to Sri Lakshmana Perumal. The sanctum sanctorum of the main shrine houses the Chathurbahu idol of Lord Maha Vishnu worshiped as Lord Lakshmana. Devotees enter the shrine through eastern entrance and first worship Lord Lakshmana. Lord Shiva, Lord Ganapathy, Sri Rama, Sita, Hanuman, Lord Sastha and Goddess Bhagawathi are the sub-deities worshipped during the circumambulation. After coming out of the Chuttambalam, devotees will also worship the idol of Gosala Krishna. Lastly, devotees again come to East Nada and worship Lord Lakshmana again.

 

 

The temple is associated with legends from the Ramayana. Bharata, the brother of Sri Rama and Lakshmana, came to invite Sri Rama during his exile, to take over the reigns of the kingdom and this made Lakshmana angry suspecting Bharata's good intentions, however, Bharata's innocence was very soon revealed, and then the two of them offered worship together at Thirumoozhikkalam. The name Thirumoozhikalam is also said to have originated from the phrase thiru-mozhi-kalam, the site where sweet words were uttered.

 

 

Another belief is that at the end of the Dwaparayuga, Dvaraka, Sri Krishna's Kingdom, was swallowed by the sea and four idols of Sri Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana and Shathrukhna which Lord Sri Krishna had worshiped, were sank on to the sea. Some fishermen got those four idols from the sea in Kaliyuga near Thriprayar and they given it to Vakkai Kaimal, the then Naduvazhi of the place. Vakkai Kaimal had a dream one night in which some mysterious person appeared before him and told him that the four idols are to be consecrated at certain places. They were duly installed in four temples as directed in the dream. Sri Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Sathrughna at Payammal. It is believed that worship at all these four temples on the same day is especially meritorious. In the Malayalam month of Karkidakam (July 15th to August 15th) - the Ramayana Month, thousands of devotees do this special pilgrimge, which is popularly known as 'Nalambalam Yatra' - a pilgrimage to the above said four temples.

The temple finds mention in many of the bhajans sung by the Alwars, vaishnavite poets, particularly by Nammalwar. The temple comes under one of the 108 Divya Desams held sacred by Vaishnavites. The main annual festival lasts for ten days and is in the month of Medam (April/May). The temple is under the administration of the Travancore Devaswom Board.