VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Thriprayar Temple/ Thriprayar Sree Ramaswami Temple, Temple Rd, Valapad, Triprayar, Thrissur District, Kerala.

Thursday, 28 August 2025

Thriprayar Temple/ Thriprayar Sree Ramaswami Temple, Temple Rd, Valapad, Triprayar, Thrissur District, Kerala.

The visit to this Sree Ramaswami Temple at Thriprayar was a part of the Malai Nadu Divya Desams visit from 10^th to 14^th June 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care.

This Sree Ramaswami Temple, at Thriprayar, is the first temple of “Nalambalam”, temples of Kerala, to be visited in a day. This temple is associated with the Epic Ramayan and is believed to have been built by Sree Rama, and hence the Moolavar is called Sree Ramaswami. This temple is on the banks of the Karuvannur River.

Moolavar: Sree Ramaswami, Sree Triprayarappan,

Sree Triprayar Thevar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east on the banks of the Karuvannur River. The entrance to the nalambalam is from the west side. Thulabaram and a metal lamp are in a mandapam before entering Nalambalam. Balipeedam is in the Nalambalam Mandapam on the east side. Dwarapalakakas are at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar is about 6 ft tall, holding Shankha, Sudarsanachakra, bow, and Garland. Sridevi and Bhudevi are on both sides. Dharshan of Vinayagar, and Shiva as Dakshinamurthy can be done through the south side door of the Sree Kovil.

In pradakshinapatha Saptamatrikas, ashtadikpalakas are in the form of balipeedas.

In the Thiruchuttambalam/outer paraharam Goshala, Krishna, Sastha, Karthikeya, Nagars, Hanuman, Vinayagar (south-west corner of Sree kovil), and Kshetrapalaka.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sree Kovil, Namakara mandapam, pradakshinapatha, nalambalam with entrances on 4 sides, and thiruchuttambalam. The Sree Kovil is circular in plan. The adhistanam is pada bandha adhistanam with padma peedam, jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and palakai. An eka tala Kerala-style conical vimana is on the Sree kovil. Mural paintings of Maha Vishnu’s various avatars and incarnations are around the Sree Kovil wall. (Most of them are in damaged condition.) The Sreekovil west side entrance was closed after installing Sridevi and Bhudevi, along with Maha Vishnu as Sree Rama.

A Namaskara mandapa is in front of Sree Kovil. A Mandapa with thulabaram is at the entrance of the east side. Steps are built to reach the River to feed fish (Meenoottu).

Sree Kovil wall with paintings

Entrance Gopuram

Paintings at the entrance Gopuram

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Based on the architecture, the temple may belong to the 10^th to 11^th Century, Chera period. Later received contributions from the Pandyas, Cheras, Venadu Kings, Travancore Kings, etc.

It is said that the moolavar was found on the seashore, and the fishermen handed it over to the well-wishers to build a temple at this place.

The temple is under the control of the Cochin Devaswom Board, an autonomous body, and is being maintained by the Archaeological Department.

LEGENDS

It is believed that the Moolavar idol was worshipped by Krishna in the Dwaraba Yuga.

There are around five sets of four temples, also known as “Nalambalams” in Kerala, the most famous among them being the four temples located in and around Thrissur and Ernakulam of Kerala. These four temples are connected with the Epic Ramayan, where Rama and his brothers are believed to have built one temple each, and the Presiding Deities are also named after them. It is customary to visit the four temples in the order of Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, respectively. A pilgrimage to these temples on a single day during the holy month of Karkkidakam is believed to shower blessings and ensure prosperity.

1. Sree Rama Temple at Thriprayar by Sri Rama,

2. Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple at Thirumoozhikkulam, by Sree Lakshmana

3. Sree Koodalmanikyam Temple, at Irinjalakuda by Sree Bharata

4. Sree Shathrugna Swamy Temple at Payammal by Sree Shathrugna.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Rama Navami, Thiruvonam, Vishu, Ekadasi, Pooram, etc.

Some of the important offerings for the prayers are Vedi Vazhipadu and Meenoottu (feeding the fish of the temple tank).

This temple celebrates Sethubandhanam every year on the "Thiruvonam day of the Malayalam month Kanni. The temple is closed early after performing "Deeparadhana" and "Athazhapooja" (Evening and night poojas). At the time, the early closing of Sree Ramaswamy Temple was done only on two occasions in a year. One is for "Sree Rama chirakettu" (ie, Sethubandhanam) and another is "Arattupuzha Devamela".