Sree Lakshmanaswamy Temple, Thirumoozhikkulam

Datable to very ancient period,the idol of this grama-Kshetra was initially consecrated by Lord Parasurama. It is believed that later the original idol was either stolen or damaged. In its place the present idol obtained by Vakkayil Kaimal, a local chieftain under Aiyroor
principality was installed. The legend says that Vakkayil Kaimal had a dream in which he was told by some mysterious persons who appeared before him that four Maha Vishnu idols had been washed off at the west coast of Triprayar and that they should be consecrated at four different places with the sankalpam of Sree Rama, Sree Bharata, Sree Lakshmana and Sree Satrughna. Next day morning,
Kaimal went to the seashore and to his great surprise he saw four beautiful idols of Lord Vishnu. As per the instructions in his dream, he installed all the four idols, with the sankalpam of Sree Rama at Triprayar, Sree Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Sree Satrughna at Payammal and Sree Lakshmana at Thirumoozhikkulam. The temple of Thirumoozhikkulam is seen referred to in the Divya-prabhandham (numbered as Stotra 3030 of the 4000 Divya-prabandhams in Tamil) which narrates the details of visit by Nammazhvars. As per the description the place is on the bank of Kanal (River) which is none other than the present river of Chalakudi. The word ‘Tirumoozhikkulattura’ appears in this prabandham.

During the period of Kulasekhara Empire, the temple was very famous.A notable feature is the existence of Kaccham, which meansan agreement or schedule of instructions prepared jointly by ooralars, karalars etc. for the proper administration of the temple. The kaccham (kind of tax) of Thirumoozhikkulam is believed to be the oldest kaccham in Kerala. There are nine inscriptions at this temple, details of which are available in pages 132 to 134 of Travancore Inscriptions, a Topographical List compiled by R. Vasudeva Poduval.

These inscriptions are in Tamil-Vattezhuthu and in Tamil. The oldest inscription dates back to 973 A.D., which states that ‘something was done on this day, perhaps, building the temple’. This inscription is found on the north base of the main shrine of Lord Lakshmanaswamy, in the form of Lord Vishnu. Two other inscriptions are on gifts, one on a stone built into the floor west of the central shrine indicating a gilt of 40 panams for the purchase of stones by one Karambichethu Narayana Bhattar, while the other at a stone built at the floor east of the well depicting a gift of 350 puthuuppanams. A prostrated figure of a person is engraved on a stone and by its side there is a Tamil
Vattezhuthu inscription mentioning the name *Karanatta Kandan Kumaran (perhaps the name of the person in prostrated pose).

The inscription of Bhaskara Ravi Varman I of Chera dynasty (962-1019 A.D.) on the east base of chuttambalam is in Tamil Vattezhuthu and records the gift of land by Manukuladityan. The Tamil-Vattezhuthu inscription of Kov Indukota Varma (944-962 A.D.) on the east
base (outside) of the chuttu-mandapam mentions the arrangements made in connection with the poojas of the temple. The timings of vazhipadu are determined in relation to shadow of the Sun, when the length of the shadow in the morning is 25 feet (approx. 7-20 a.m.) and five feet (approx.9-35 a.m.) and evening 20 feet (approx.4-25 p.m.). Further the inscription stipulates that the rice for offering has to be measured in the presence of the person who offers the vazhipadu. All these inscriptions indicate the importance given to this temple prior to twelfth century.

The temple was earlier owned by 28 illams. It is believed that in those days, the properties of the temple extended from Thirumoozhikkulam to Kaladi in the east and the temple fetched 52,000 paras of paddy as paatam per annum.

The temple has all the five prakaram and is beautifully constructed. It is reported that the temple was built as per the advice of Perumthachan. Measurements of two koles are marked by Perumthachan on vertical granite sills of the front door of the eastern gopuram.

The indication is that the kole on the northern sill is meant to be used by all in building temples and houses on the northern side of
the temple and that of the southern sill by southerners, instead of adopting uniform kole throughout the region.

The koottambalam of this temple is famous. It is said that once when Anguleeyangam koottu was being performed, late at night, there was no audience. The chakyar was very much disappointed and in grief he prayed to the Lord Lakshmanaswamy. From the stage he looked at the southeast of the valiyambalam through the trellis work of vilakkumaadam. To his astonishment he saw the Lord standing there gazing at him. Even today, the place in the southern valiyambalam where the Lord was seen is worshipped by devotees.

During the invasion of Tippu Sultan in 1790, the temple was set on fire and the holy idol was desecrated. After that incident, the temple was taken over by the then Travancore Government and was renovated. Major renovations were also done during the reign of Sree Moolam Tirunal Maharaja and also of Sree Chithira Thirunal Maharaja. The temple was transferred to the Travancore Devaswam Board in 1950 and is now administered through the Devaswam Sub-group Officer appointed by the Board.

As stated earlier, the temple had paddy fields, which fetched 52,000 paras of paddy as paatam per annum, besides 3.25 acres of dry land which constitute the temple complex. The structures thereon are sreekovil with mukha-mandapam, namaskara-mandapam, sub-shrines,
well, chuttambalam, vilakkumaadam with agra-mandapam, Valiya. Balikkal, dhwajam, deepastambham, gopuras and compound wall.

The circular dwi-tala Sreekovil of sandhaara type and facing east has granite adhishthaanam with mouldings of paadukam, jagathi,
triple-faceted kumudam, kumuda-pati, galam with Vaajana motif, gala-pati, utharam, kampam, galam with Vaajana motif, gala-pati, valaru and pati. The sopanam has five direct steps with vyaali-face on top of banisters and decorations on their sides.

The pranaalam has makara-simha face at the base, ornate sundu with rings and go-mukham end. The lustral water falls on the head of a Bhootagana of standing pose who supports the go-mukham with his right hand, while his left hand is in kadi-bandham pose. Though the
basement dates back to ancient period, the walls are seen to have been re-built on many occasions. The laterite stone wall has functional doors at sides of ground tala.

At the southern side of the antharaalam, idols of Lord Ganapati and Lord Dakshinamoorthy in linga forms and Sree Rama
with Sita and Lord Hanuman in peetha-sankalpam are installed facing south.

The walls have 20 pillars, eight wooden and 12 granite stones. The roof is covered with copper sheets. The sreekovil has a mukha-mandapam. The namaskara-mandapam (side: 6.50 m.) has sixteen granite pillars. The well is at northeast of the akathe-balivattam.

The chuttambalam has entrances from all sides. Two thidappali are provided, one at southeast and the other at northeast. The idols of Goddess Bhagavathi and Lord Sastha are installed at southwest.

The vilakkumaadam is an independent structure with galaxy of metal lamps fixed on its outer walls. It has 456 wooden pillars (east and west 96 each; north and south 132 each) with three rows of metal lamps, the total lamps being 1.368. Seventy-four wooden vyaali
figurines 14 each at east and west and 23 each at north and south) that support the roof of vilakkumaadam are beautiful art pieces. The agra-mandapam is attached to the vilakkumaadam. The valiya-balikkall is a great art-piece, very tall with a height of about 3 metres. The sub-shrine of Lord Goshala Krishnan is at the northern side facing west. The concrete dhwajam is covered with copper paras and has a height of about 18.5 koles. A sila deepastambham is installed at the east.

The koottambalam has a length of 14 m. and a width of 10.35 m. It has a ranga-peetham of 4.8 m. length and 3.8 m. width. The
measurements of nepathyam is 5.5 m. x 2.8 m. In olden days 41 days of koottu and three days of kodiyattam used to be performed here.

Three gopuras exist, at east, south and west. The compound wall is built with laterite stones.

On the northern side and below the pranaalam there are Vattezhuthe inscriptions on jagathi moulding of the adhishthaanam. There is yet another Vattezhuthe inscription on the kumuda-pati of the western side of the southern valiyambalam. There are wood carvings on the ceiling of namaskara-mandapam and koottambalam. The huge valiya-balikkall is very attractive.

The four-armed sila idol of Lord Vishnu with the sankalpam of Lord Lakshmana is of standing pose (height: 145 cm.) with conch, disc, club and lotus in hands. The sila idols of Lord Ganapati and Lord Sastha are of sitting pose with heights of 45 cm. and 23 cm. respectively. The Sila-linga idol of Lord Siva has a height of 23 cm. The pancha-loha idol of Goddess Bhagavathi is of mirror type (15 cm.), while the pancha-loha idol of Sree Goshala Krishnan is of standing pose (height: 45 cm.). Lord Sree Rama, Goddess Sita and Lord Hanuman are only sila-peethas without idols.

The temple is kept open from 5AM to11 AM  and from 5 PM to 8 PM . Three poojas are held daily, Usha-pooja (7 a.m.), Uccha-pooja (10-30 a.m.) and Athazha-pooja (7-30 p.m.). Daily sheeveli is performed at 7-30 AM., 10 :30 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Pal-payasam, appam, kadum-payasam, Thrumadhuram etc. are the main vazhipadu, of which the first one is more popular.

The ten-day annual festival is celebrated with aarattu on Thiruvonam nakshatram of Medam. Besides the utsava rites, kathakali, thullal and Koothu are performed.

Anguleeyangam koottu is also staged as an offering meant for getting progeny.

The original idol is believed to have been installed by Lord Parasurama. The Tantri who installed
the idol obtained by Vakkayil Kaimal is not known. The present Tantri belongs
to Pattatirutti (Pattatteyadath) mana of Moozhikkulam. The shanthikkar
are appointed from Malayala Brahmins. The other staff includes kazhakam, vadhyakkars,
adichu-tali etc.

Situated 15 km. northwest of Aluva at Moozhikkulam on Parakkadavu road (via Athani of NH-47), the temple is connected
by tarred road. Chalakudi River flows on the western side of the temple. Facilities for stay are available at Aluva and Angamali (13 km.).