Lakshmana Perumal Temple, Thirumoozhikkalam
Thirumoozhikkalam
Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Deity venerated as Lakshmana; one of the few temples invoking the Ramayana brothers.
Sthala Purāṇam
Thirumoozhikkalam (Moozhikkulam), near Aluva in Ernakulam, is the 68th Divya Desam and one of the thirteen Kerala divyadesams. Unusually, the presiding deity is Lakshmana, brother of Rama, worshipped here as Moozhikkalathan (also Sukti Natha Perumal), in standing posture (Nindra Thirukkolam) facing east. The sthala puranam draws from the Ramayana: when Bharata came toward the forest to bring the exiled Rama back to Ayodhya, Lakshmana suspected treachery and grew enraged, nearly attacking him. On learning of Bharata's innocence and devotion, the brothers reconciled and exchanged sweet, loving words, and worshipped together at this place. From these gentle words (mozhi) the site took its name, tiru-mozhi-kalam, later softened to Thirumoozhikkalam. As Lakshmana is regarded as an incarnation of Adisesha, the shrine venerates this aspect of the Lord. The temple was sung in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham by Nammalvar, who offered eleven pasurams, and by Thirumangai Alvar with three more. It is one of the Kerala shrines visited for relief during distress, included in the Nalambalam pilgrimage circuit observed in the month of Karkidakam. A distinctive feature is the performance of Koodiyattam, the ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition, within the temple.
Mangalāśāsanam — the Āḻvār pāsurams
The Lord Moozhikkalathan (Lakshmana Perumal) with Madhuraveni of Thirumoozhikkalam is glorified in 14 pāsurams by:
Thirumoozhikkalam (Moozhikkalathan / Lakshmana Perumal temple in Ernakulam district, a Malai Nadu Divya Desam) was glorified by both Nammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar. Nammalvar's principal Mangalasasanam is the decade Thiruvaaymozhi 9.7 ('numarodum...' theme), where, in the voice of the love-lorn Parankusa Nayaki, he sends herons as messengers to the Lord eternally residing at 'aNi mUzhikkaLam'. Thirumangai Alvar added roughly three further pasurams (including a Thirunedunthandakam reference). Together their hymns establish this Kerala temple, where Vishnu is worshipped as Lakshmana Perumal, as a revered Divya Desam.
Verses & references (2)
- In this verse Parankusa Nayaki (Nammalvar in the voice of the pining heroine) addresses a flock of herons that live in loving union with their mates, and asks them to carry her message to Emperuman who eternally resides at beautiful Thirumoozhikkalam (aNi mUzhikkaLam). She laments that, having been embraced and then left in separation, she is reproached by her own kin, and pleads with the birds to ask the Lord whether devotees united with Him should be treated so. — Nammalvar, Thiruvaaymozhi 9.7.2 · source ↗
- Thirumangai Alvar also offered Mangalasasanam to Thirumoozhikkalam (Moozhikkalathan / Lakshmana Perumal), with about three pasurams across his works (including a reference in the Thirunedunthandakam). His verses likewise hail this Kerala shrine where Lakshmana is worshipped as the Perumal. — Thirumangai Alvar, Periya Thirumozhi / Thirunedunthandakam · source ↗
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