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KOODALMANIKYAM TEMPLE- 2
Continued from part 1
10 Single Prathikshta
The lord at Koodalmanikyam is Chathurbahu Vishnu with Conch, Chakra, Gada and Japamaala. The general belief, however, is that the Lord is Bharatha the brother of Sree Rama. He anxiously and devotedly awaited the return of Rama from exile for fourteen years and then learnt from Hanuman that Rama has reached the outskirts of Ayodhya. He was much relieved and happy. Baratha in that mood is worshipped here. Naturally Hanuman is also present at Thidappilly [the holy kitchen]
A distinctive feature of Koodalmanikyam temple is that there is only one single Prathista. Even Vigneswara, usually found in all temples dose not find place here.
Usually when Thulasi leaves are offered to the diety, its seeds invariably sprouts in the premises. How this has not at any time happened in this temple is a mystery. One explanation is that Thulasi plant being sacred; it is worshipped wherever it is found. Probably it is to forbid even such an object of secondary worship in the temple precincts that Thulasi is not allowed to grow by some unforeseen power.
Irinjalakuda in former days is believed to have the confluence of two rivers, the place name suggesting such a conjecture. The Lord at the confluence is thus known as Sangameswara. Though the two rivers (Kurumali river and Chalakudy river) have changed course and Irinjalakuda is no longer on any river bank, Arattu – the holy dip of the idol at the close of the Annual Festival, is held alternatively in these two rivers suggesting a previous connection with these rivers.
11 FOLKLORE
There is a folklore relating to the name Samgameswara. One saintly person belonging to Taliparambu was on a strange mission. His objective was to collect the chaithanya of idols of important temples in Kerala for being transferred to the idol of the temple in his village. This he did by entering the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temples he visited and transferring the Chaithanya on to the conch in his possession.
WHEN HE DID THE SAME IN IRINJALAKUDA HE ACCIDENTALLY FELL DOWN AND THE CONCH WAS BROKEN INSTANTLY TRANSFERRING THE DIVINITY OF ALL IDOLS HE HAD ACQUIRED ON TO THE IDOL AT IRINJLAKUDA.
Thus the idol in which merged the divine Chaithanya of several idols came to be known as SANGAMESWARA.
The Namboodiri Brahmins associated with the temple still make all their Sevaas in the name of Siva, Vishnu and Devi at Sangamesa Sannidhi itself.
12 LOCATION
Koodalmanikyam Temple is situated at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District of Kerala. Irinjalakuda is 18 Km west of Chalakudy in NH 47 and 9 Km East of Moonnupeedika in NH 17. It is 23 Km south of Thrissur and 16 Km north of Kodungallur. .
Koodalmanikyam temple is 45 Km away from International Airport at Kochi. One has to travel 31 Km in NH 47 towards Thrissur and after Chalakudy-Potta Junction take diversion westwards in State Highway 60.
If travel is by rail there is a Railway Station at Irinjalakuda. The town is 9 Km away from the Railway Station.
Those who prefer public transport by Road have the following options:-
From Kochi travel by KSRTC Bus to Chalakudy and get a private Bus from there. Pilgrims from Palakkad side may come to Thrissur. BUSES ARE AVAILABLE AT EVERY 5 MINUTES FROM THRISSUR TO KODUNGALLUR. ALL SUCH BUSSES PASS THROUGH IRINJALAKUDA.
If travel is by NH 17, those who come from Kozhikkode side may get down at Moonnupeedika and take a private Bus from there. Those who come from the south via NH 17 may get down at Kodungallur and catch Kodungallur-Thrissur Bus and get down at Irinjalakuda.
Pilgrims who wish to worship Kodungallur, Koodalmanikyam, Thriprayar and Guruvayoor in one trip can do so without considerable extra running.
13 ANOTHER FOLKLORE ABOUT TEMPLE
Koodalmanickyam is the Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit word Sangameswara. There is, however, another folklore about the name. One day the idol was found to give out uncommonly bright from its forehead. Unable to identify the source of the brightness, some brought a Quartz (Manikyam) in the possession of Raja of Kayamkulam for comparison. As they were comparing the brightness of the two, it is said the stone brought from Kayamkulam mysteriously slipped from the hand and merged with the one on the idol. The merging of two manikyams led to the name 'Koodalmanikyam'. Similar brightness is reported to have appeared on the idol once again, much later in 1907.
14 ROUTINE POOJA'S
The custom in most of the Temples in Kerala is to have five Poojas and three Sivelis a day. But in Koodalmanikyam there are only three Poojas and no Siveli. The diety is taken out for ceremonial procession only during the Annual Festival. There is no Deeparadhana. The floral offerings to the diety consist of Lotus,Tulasi and Chethi. No other flower is taken for Pooja or for making garlands.
15 Dhanwanthara Moorthy to ailing Devotees
There is a popular belief that the diety at Koodalmanikyam is a veritable Dhanwanthara moorthy. There are several stories about His curing sometimes even incurable diseases of faithful devotees.
Long ago one aged devotee was sitting in Bhajanam at the Temple. He was a victim of chronic stomachache. One night he had a dream in which the Lord appeared before him and advised him to pluck out 101 brinjals from his garden and offer the same as Nivedya. This was done and he was totally relieved of stomach ache. From THAT DAY ONWARDS BRINJAL NIVEDYAM BECAME A SPECIAL NIVEDYAM AT THE TEMPLE.
Another story is of gold smith who was ailing from severe stomach ache and was cured in a mysterious way at the hands of Koodalmanikyam. This happened in around 1825 AD. The goldsmith had come from Tamil Nadu. As per the custom prevalent at the time he was not allowed to enter the inner Temple. However, undaunted by all such adversities, he started Bhajanam right at the foot of the flagstaff.
When the then Thachudaya Kaimal heard that he was an expert goldsmith, he was sent for and asked to make the Angi in gold for the Lord. At that time only Thirumugham was made of gold. The goldsmith had no opportunity even to have a look at the idol let alone take measurements. Yet when the Angi was done in gold as per measurements given to him, it was found to be perfectly fitting the idol. The goldsmith did not take any remuneration. But the Lord amply compensated by totally relieving him of his stomach ache.
The case of Ponnunni Kartha of Kodassery is a still later incident. It happened in 1907. Kartha was well above seventy and was suffering from acute stomachache. With six months Bhajanam he was completely cured.
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar having heard the curative effect of Brinjal Nivedya visited the temple in 1972 and made an offering of Brinjal Nivedhya. Since then he was relieved of a stomach pain he was suffering for quiet a long period.
16 Offer a Thamara Mala for an auspicious start
Lotus garland, popularly known as Thamaramala is an important offering to the deity. A full garland will be around twelve feet long and will have not less than 101 lotus flowers. Full flowers not their petals, are used in this garland. There is a strong and substantiated belief that if you offer a lotus garland before starting any new project or before the commencement of any important function like marriage, Koodalmanickyam will make the effort a full success.
During Monsoon Devotees offer Thamaramala as a temporary injunction on rain till the proposed function is over. Even other temples offer Thamaramala to Koodalmanikyam before start of festivals, Kalasams at the respective temples
17 MAJOR FESTIVALS
Thriputhari on the Thiruvonam day in the month of Thulam (October-November) is an important occasion in the Temple. It is a day of feasting when the newly harvested rice is first cooked and offered to diety and then is partaken of by the devotees. The day after the feast, there is a special offering called MUKKUDI, which is considered to be a divine medicine for all ailments. Mukkudi is an Ayurvedic mixture, the formula of which being prescribed by Kuttancherry Mooss, one of the Ashtavaidyas.
The Annual Festival of the Temple held for 11 days in April-May is a well-known popular event in central Kerala. The festival starts one day after the famous Thrissur Pooram and comes to a close on the next Thiruvonam day. Thousands of people throng the place during the festival to witness the pageant of colour, music, Orchestra and Fine Arts; the like of which cannot be seen anywhere in Kerala or outside. Brahmakalasam strictly following the Vedic and Tantric rituals are offered to the deity on 11 days in connection with the Festival. This is the unique feature of this temple.
I will continue and complete in the third part
Continued from part 1
10 Single Prathikshta
The lord at Koodalmanikyam is Chathurbahu Vishnu with Conch, Chakra, Gada and Japamaala. The general belief, however, is that the Lord is Bharatha the brother of Sree Rama. He anxiously and devotedly awaited the return of Rama from exile for fourteen years and then learnt from Hanuman that Rama has reached the outskirts of Ayodhya. He was much relieved and happy. Baratha in that mood is worshipped here. Naturally Hanuman is also present at Thidappilly [the holy kitchen]
A distinctive feature of Koodalmanikyam temple is that there is only one single Prathista. Even Vigneswara, usually found in all temples dose not find place here.
Usually when Thulasi leaves are offered to the diety, its seeds invariably sprouts in the premises. How this has not at any time happened in this temple is a mystery. One explanation is that Thulasi plant being sacred; it is worshipped wherever it is found. Probably it is to forbid even such an object of secondary worship in the temple precincts that Thulasi is not allowed to grow by some unforeseen power.
Irinjalakuda in former days is believed to have the confluence of two rivers, the place name suggesting such a conjecture. The Lord at the confluence is thus known as Sangameswara. Though the two rivers (Kurumali river and Chalakudy river) have changed course and Irinjalakuda is no longer on any river bank, Arattu – the holy dip of the idol at the close of the Annual Festival, is held alternatively in these two rivers suggesting a previous connection with these rivers.
11 FOLKLORE
There is a folklore relating to the name Samgameswara. One saintly person belonging to Taliparambu was on a strange mission. His objective was to collect the chaithanya of idols of important temples in Kerala for being transferred to the idol of the temple in his village. This he did by entering the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temples he visited and transferring the Chaithanya on to the conch in his possession.
WHEN HE DID THE SAME IN IRINJALAKUDA HE ACCIDENTALLY FELL DOWN AND THE CONCH WAS BROKEN INSTANTLY TRANSFERRING THE DIVINITY OF ALL IDOLS HE HAD ACQUIRED ON TO THE IDOL AT IRINJLAKUDA.
Thus the idol in which merged the divine Chaithanya of several idols came to be known as SANGAMESWARA.
The Namboodiri Brahmins associated with the temple still make all their Sevaas in the name of Siva, Vishnu and Devi at Sangamesa Sannidhi itself.
12 LOCATION
Koodalmanikyam Temple is situated at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District of Kerala. Irinjalakuda is 18 Km west of Chalakudy in NH 47 and 9 Km East of Moonnupeedika in NH 17. It is 23 Km south of Thrissur and 16 Km north of Kodungallur. .
Koodalmanikyam temple is 45 Km away from International Airport at Kochi. One has to travel 31 Km in NH 47 towards Thrissur and after Chalakudy-Potta Junction take diversion westwards in State Highway 60.
If travel is by rail there is a Railway Station at Irinjalakuda. The town is 9 Km away from the Railway Station.
Those who prefer public transport by Road have the following options:-
From Kochi travel by KSRTC Bus to Chalakudy and get a private Bus from there. Pilgrims from Palakkad side may come to Thrissur. BUSES ARE AVAILABLE AT EVERY 5 MINUTES FROM THRISSUR TO KODUNGALLUR. ALL SUCH BUSSES PASS THROUGH IRINJALAKUDA.
If travel is by NH 17, those who come from Kozhikkode side may get down at Moonnupeedika and take a private Bus from there. Those who come from the south via NH 17 may get down at Kodungallur and catch Kodungallur-Thrissur Bus and get down at Irinjalakuda.
Pilgrims who wish to worship Kodungallur, Koodalmanikyam, Thriprayar and Guruvayoor in one trip can do so without considerable extra running.
13 ANOTHER FOLKLORE ABOUT TEMPLE
Koodalmanickyam is the Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit word Sangameswara. There is, however, another folklore about the name. One day the idol was found to give out uncommonly bright from its forehead. Unable to identify the source of the brightness, some brought a Quartz (Manikyam) in the possession of Raja of Kayamkulam for comparison. As they were comparing the brightness of the two, it is said the stone brought from Kayamkulam mysteriously slipped from the hand and merged with the one on the idol. The merging of two manikyams led to the name 'Koodalmanikyam'. Similar brightness is reported to have appeared on the idol once again, much later in 1907.
14 ROUTINE POOJA'S
The custom in most of the Temples in Kerala is to have five Poojas and three Sivelis a day. But in Koodalmanikyam there are only three Poojas and no Siveli. The diety is taken out for ceremonial procession only during the Annual Festival. There is no Deeparadhana. The floral offerings to the diety consist of Lotus,Tulasi and Chethi. No other flower is taken for Pooja or for making garlands.
15 Dhanwanthara Moorthy to ailing Devotees
There is a popular belief that the diety at Koodalmanikyam is a veritable Dhanwanthara moorthy. There are several stories about His curing sometimes even incurable diseases of faithful devotees.
Long ago one aged devotee was sitting in Bhajanam at the Temple. He was a victim of chronic stomachache. One night he had a dream in which the Lord appeared before him and advised him to pluck out 101 brinjals from his garden and offer the same as Nivedya. This was done and he was totally relieved of stomach ache. From THAT DAY ONWARDS BRINJAL NIVEDYAM BECAME A SPECIAL NIVEDYAM AT THE TEMPLE.
Another story is of gold smith who was ailing from severe stomach ache and was cured in a mysterious way at the hands of Koodalmanikyam. This happened in around 1825 AD. The goldsmith had come from Tamil Nadu. As per the custom prevalent at the time he was not allowed to enter the inner Temple. However, undaunted by all such adversities, he started Bhajanam right at the foot of the flagstaff.
When the then Thachudaya Kaimal heard that he was an expert goldsmith, he was sent for and asked to make the Angi in gold for the Lord. At that time only Thirumugham was made of gold. The goldsmith had no opportunity even to have a look at the idol let alone take measurements. Yet when the Angi was done in gold as per measurements given to him, it was found to be perfectly fitting the idol. The goldsmith did not take any remuneration. But the Lord amply compensated by totally relieving him of his stomach ache.
The case of Ponnunni Kartha of Kodassery is a still later incident. It happened in 1907. Kartha was well above seventy and was suffering from acute stomachache. With six months Bhajanam he was completely cured.
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar having heard the curative effect of Brinjal Nivedya visited the temple in 1972 and made an offering of Brinjal Nivedhya. Since then he was relieved of a stomach pain he was suffering for quiet a long period.
16 Offer a Thamara Mala for an auspicious start
Lotus garland, popularly known as Thamaramala is an important offering to the deity. A full garland will be around twelve feet long and will have not less than 101 lotus flowers. Full flowers not their petals, are used in this garland. There is a strong and substantiated belief that if you offer a lotus garland before starting any new project or before the commencement of any important function like marriage, Koodalmanickyam will make the effort a full success.
During Monsoon Devotees offer Thamaramala as a temporary injunction on rain till the proposed function is over. Even other temples offer Thamaramala to Koodalmanikyam before start of festivals, Kalasams at the respective temples
17 MAJOR FESTIVALS
Thriputhari on the Thiruvonam day in the month of Thulam (October-November) is an important occasion in the Temple. It is a day of feasting when the newly harvested rice is first cooked and offered to diety and then is partaken of by the devotees. The day after the feast, there is a special offering called MUKKUDI, which is considered to be a divine medicine for all ailments. Mukkudi is an Ayurvedic mixture, the formula of which being prescribed by Kuttancherry Mooss, one of the Ashtavaidyas.
The Annual Festival of the Temple held for 11 days in April-May is a well-known popular event in central Kerala. The festival starts one day after the famous Thrissur Pooram and comes to a close on the next Thiruvonam day. Thousands of people throng the place during the festival to witness the pageant of colour, music, Orchestra and Fine Arts; the like of which cannot be seen anywhere in Kerala or outside. Brahmakalasam strictly following the Vedic and Tantric rituals are offered to the deity on 11 days in connection with the Festival. This is the unique feature of this temple.
I will continue and complete in the third part