Thirumoozhikkulam

Thirumoozhikkulam is traditionally enumerated as number 92 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This divya desa is located very near Bharatapuzha river. One can get down at Alwaye railway station and reach by bus this place which is about twelve kilometers away. One can also get down at Kaladi road station and reach this place as it is about seven miles from Kaladi Road.

The moolavar here is known as Thirumoozhi Kalathan, Appan, Sri Sookthinathar. ThePerumal is seen in a standing pose, facing east. The Thayar is known as Madhuraveni Thayar. The theertha is known as Perunkulam, Sanga theertha, Chitraru. The vimanam is known as Soundarya vimanam. The Perumal appeared in response to the prayers of Hareetha maharishi.

This temple has a hoary past as it finds a mention in the"Naalaayira Divya prabandha. The word “kulam” in Malayalam means a tank. One will therefore expect that a big tank is perhaps situated near the temple; but it is surprising that there is no tank worth mentioning anywhere near the temple! Some others say that the place drived its name from the word “mozhi” which meant.” irrigation channel and “kalam” which meant fields. As the origin of the temple is traced back to the glorious days of Kulasekhara, it is believed that this temple must once have been situated in very fertile land with criss-crossing of irrigation channels and luscious fields. There is a popular belief that the idol at Thiramoozhikalam was consecrated by Parasurama himself. Some others believe that this idol is that of Lakshmana. In Kerala, in very many places, Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Krishna, Narasimha as also Rama. Many temples originally regarded as Vishnu temples later came to be accepted as temples for Sri Rama. It is in keeping with that tradition and concept that the identity of the presiding deity in this temple is linked with the brother of Sri Rama, viz. Sri Lakshmana. The temples of Vilwadrinatha at Thiruvilwamala and the Sri Rama temple at Trprayar were both regarded as Vishnu temples. The idols in both places are having four hands. But yet in course of time, these temples have come to be accepted as temples for Sri Rama. Normally, the idols of Sri Rama are never depicted with four arms. He is never seen without His ensemble of bow and

quiver of arrows. Yet the idols in these places, in spite of having four arms, are popularly referred to as temples of Sri Rama! In the famous Irinjalakuda temple, the idol is identified as that of Bharata. At Payammal, a few kilometers awayfrom Irinjalakuda, the idol is identified as that of Satrughna. All these deities are also Chaturbahus and yet Vishnu idols generally get identified popularly with Rama or Krishna in Kerala.