- Vishnu
Karimpuzha Sree Ramaswamy Temple
- Karimpuzha,Kerala
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Overview
Karimpuzha Sriramaswamy Temple is located at Othapalam in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The temple lies next to the Kunthipuzha River. The temple has one of the rarest idols of Sree Rama in India. The idol depicts the ever sacrificing Lord Rama, renunciating on the shores of the Sarayu River before his ascent to heaven. The Lord is accompanied by his trusted lieutenant Hanuman.
About the deity
The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Sri Ramaswamy who is seen sitting, facing the direction west. The temple also houses separate shrines for other deities such as Lord Ganapathy, Lord Shiva, Devi Bhagavathy and Chamravattath Ayyappan & Shasthavu. A couple of years back, Lord Hanuman’s idol had been placed in the temple and since then the place is known as Dakshina Ayodhya or Southern Ayodhya. According to Legends, a Rishi was known to have worshipped Sree Rama, undergoing severe penance at this place. Hence this place later got to be called Arattukadavu Para. Even today, in memory of this Rishi, a lamp is lit on the eastern end of the banyan tree which stands on the northern side of the river.
About the Temple
This temple is one of the biggest temples in India. It is also considered unique. Thus the temple got to be considered a Mahakshetra. The pilgrims visiting this temple were provided with sumptuous food cooked from the two temple kitchens, of which only one is operational now. The Surya namaskara Sadhya is provided daily for the Brahmins which has now become one of the main offerings of this temple. This ritual signifies our gratitude to the Lord for the fulfilment of our desires. During the evenings Vaara Sadhya, termed “Agram” is offered.
The temple conducts Panja praakara Pooja and Saparivaara Pooja. Panja Prakara pooja denotes the five Poojas that are performed at different hours of a day.
- Usha Pooja is performed in the early mornings.
- The usual morning Pooja is called the Pantheeradi Pooja.
- The Ucha Pooja is performed at the noon and
- The Athaza Pooja is conducted at the night.
- Three shivelis are conducted in the morning, noon and night respectively.
The Shiveli performed here at night is followed as in the famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple with 11 Lamps & 4 Vadyams. Presently only 3 Poojas are performed in this temple. The Kalasham or the kumbabisheka is conducted only once in 12 years, as in many others Hindu shrines. This Kumbhabisheka is performed usually after renovating the temple, thereby bringing back its lost richness. Annual temple festival is also celebrated in this temple.
Legend and Stories
According to Legends, the idol of the deity kept for installation in the temple had broken due to mishandling. There was no sufficient time to sculpt a new idol for the ceremony, due to which, there was a possibility of the ceremony getting cancelled. The Earalppad was forced to look for another deity to replace thee broken idol. The Earalppad had come to know of an idol of Sri Rama with the Kaypedath Nair family. He went to the Nair seeking the idol. But the Nair was reluctant to give away his idol. Thus Earalpad had to use force to take away the idol from the Nair and installed it in the temple. The heavy hearted Nair went to the temple and prayed the Lord that the idol should have faced the west direction at the dawn of the next day, if that deity truly belonged to him. To the surprise of the people, the deity with was found facing the west the next day, against its original position facing the east. The Earalppad was astonished too on witnessing this miracle and decided to undergo penance to wash away his sins.
Festivals
Punartham Nakshatram which falls in the Kumba Masam (Feb – March) is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Sri Ramachandra Moorthy. The temple flag is hoisted during this month commemorating the festival which lasts for 8 days. Sri Hanuman adorns the flag post. On occasion of Palli Vetta, the temple is beautifully decorated and a huge crowd of devotees throng the temple to get he blessings of the Lord. With the Arrattu ceremony, the festival comes to an end.
How to reach Karimpuzha sree ramaswamy temple
Road
Public buses are available from Palakkad to Ottapalam. One has to take the Palakkad-Kozhikode road to reach Dakshina Ayodhya. The distance from Palakad to his temple is approximately 35 kms.
Railways
The nearest railway station Palakkad Junction.
Airport
The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport and Calicut International Airport.
Temple Address
Karimpuzha sree ramaswamy temple,
Karimpuzha,
Karimpuzha-I,
Kerala 679513.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- To perform rituals for ancestors
Shlokas
Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey
Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.
Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum
Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.
Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram
Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.
Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami
Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.
Timings
The temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.