Makreri Subrahmanya temple is situated at Makreri (short form of Markkadasseri) near Tellicherry in the district of Kannur in Kerala. It is also considered as the twin temple of Peralassery Subrahmanya Swami temple. The temple has been determined by experts to be thousands of years old. The temple consists of two structures, where the same deities are installed. The main deity here is the "Valli Parinaya Subrahmanya" (disposition of Lord Muruga marrying Valli). The deity was installed by Lord Hanuman and hence this place is called Markkadasseri (Land of Monkey) and later known as Makreri. It is still believed that Hanuman does all the daily rites and there is the idol of Hanuman in the main thantri's position. Human poojari is considered as a helper to the Lord Hanuman and he, after asking the permission from Lord Hanuman, does all the poojas.
During the exile period of Lord Sri Rama, Lord Lakshmana and Lord Sita Devi, it so happened that they had to stay in a place inside the forest called Perallasseri. During this stay, it so happened that Lord Hanuman also had the blessing to stay with this divine group in this place for sometime. The tribal people who were in this forest, upon knowing the divine power of this group started to provide all the help needed for them. They began to pray to this group for their blessings. Seeing this Hanuman wanted to create a temple in this location for the people to pray to Lord Sri Rama and Sita Devi for blessings and removing this pain. On hearing Hanuman’s request, Sri Rama told Hanuman that they are in exile and in human form and hence creating an idol of them is not correct according to the rules.
Sri Rama suggested an alternative, saying that if Hanuman could find an idol, Sri Rama would do the consecration at the same location. Hanuman thought about this for some time and found that the only idol that will be equivalent to Lord Sri Rama and Sita Devi together will be Lord Subrahmanya with Valli devi. Hanuman found that he could find such an idol from Sarayu River.
Sri Hanuman told Sri Rama about his idea for which, Sri Rama immediately agreed with a pleasant smile telling the right moment for the ceremony. Sri Hanuman immediately started to get the idol from Sarayu River before the fixed time. However, since Hanuman was unaware of his unlimited strength and power, he took more time to find the idol.
As the decided time approached, Sri Rama, not seeing Hanuman, decided to go through the consecration ceremony with his Peruvala instead of an idol (large bangle). That is why this place came to be known as Peruvalasseri and later Perallasseri. Immediately after the prathishta ceremony was over, Hanuman returned with the idol and seeing the ceremony got over and became very sad. Seeing the tears of Hanuman, Sri Rama asked him to install the idol one foot West of the currently consecrated bangle. Moreover Sri Rama told everyone that to get his blessings, anyone who prays at Perallasseri needs to pray at Makreri too else the prayers go unanswered.
Hearing this Hanuman became very happy and immediately installed the idol one foot West. However for doing the prathishta ceremony as well as for the pujas, he couldn’t find holy water and hence he used his powerful tail to smash on the ground to create a small pond containing holy water. Since the main thantri is Lord Hanuman himself, the idol got uncontrollable power. In order to control this power, Sri Rama installed idols of Lord Vishnu on the three sides of the temple.
Sri V. Dakshinamoorthy, the legendary carnatic musician and composer, conducted
yearly Thyagraja Akhanda Sangeetha Aradhana Yagnam as well as Anjaneya
Sahasra Nama Laksharchana, which is his Athmaradhana on December every year from 2001 to 2012 till he passed away on August, 2013. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman at Makreri and submitted most of his mementos and souvenirs in front of Lord Hanuman which is kept at the temple. He also built a magnificent 'Saraswathy Mandapa' at the temple.
