- Vishnu
Sree Parasurama Temple
- Thiruvallam,Kerala
- View on map
- Tell us about this temple
Overview
The Parasurama Temple at Thiruvallam is located 7 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is a 2000-year-old temple on the banks of the River Karamana and is the only one in Kerala dedicated to Sree Parasurama, the mythological creator of the State. This temple is a venue for ancestor worship. As part of the Bali ritual, devotees make offerings to the souls of the departed, after taking a dip in the holy water.
About The Temple
Sage Parasurama visited many holy places to relieve himself from the dosha he incurred for killing his mother as commanded by his father. As advised by Lord Shiva, he came to this place and had a bath in the Karamanai River. He got a Linga here, installed it and performed penance in this place and cleansed himself of the Dosha. He also performed Tarpan for his mother here. After Parasurama, Sages Madanga and Gautama worshipped this Shiva Linga.
The place where Parasurama worshipped Lord bears his foot prints. This was worshipped by his disciple and one of the Chiranjeevis, Ashwatama. The idol of Parasurama with his axe is nearby. Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva grace the devotees from their respective shrines. Sage Parasurama installed Lord Shiva in the temple, Sage Vibakarana Lord Vishnu in Veda Vyasa form and Acharya Sri Adi Sankara Lord Brahmma.
Legend and Stories
Vallam means head. As the length of the place extended up to the head part of Lord Anantha Padmanabha Swami in Thiruvanathapuram, the place is named Vallam. Due to the prayer of His Holiness Vilwamangalam Swamigal who installed the Perumal idol, the size of Perumal shrunk within the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, according to Sthala Puranas. It is considered that the Parasurama temple as the head part of Anantha Padmanabha Swami, Thiruvananthapuram as Body part and the Tirupadapuram as His feet part. Hence, it is suggested that devotees visit the three temples the same time one by one to gain full benefit of prayers.
Sage Parasurama is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This is an incarnation to establish rule of discipline in life. It so happened that his mother Renuka Devi gazed at a lad appreciating his handsomeness. Suspecting her fidelity, Sage Jamadagni ordered his son Parasurama to behead his mother, which he executed as he could not disobey the father. Yet with the power of the boon he had from father Jamadagni, Parasurama restored his mother to life. He was a classic archer and was unconquerable. Parasu-axe was his weapon. He took a vow to destroy the royal dynasties (Kshatriya) entirely as a king killed his father (Jamadagni). It was during this time, Lord Vishnu took His Ramavatara. Parasurama understood who Rama was. He surrendered all his archery skill with the respective Mantras attached to them and retired to penance. The rough place he cured with his axe is the Kerala of today. It is also noteworthy that Sage Parasurma is one among the seven immortals (Chiranjeevis). Others are, Ashwatama, Mahabali, Sage Vyasa, Sri Anjaneya, Krupa and Vibishana according to scriptures. The Sanskrit sloka runs, “Ashwatama Balir Vyasa Hanumanascha Vibishanah Krupa Parasuramascha Sathethe Chiranjeevi Namah. The place where Parasurama worshipped Lord bears his foot prints. This was worshipped by his disciple and one of the Chiranjeevis, Ashwatama. The idol of Parasurama with his axe is nearby. Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva grace the devotees from their respective shrines. Sage Parasurama installed Lord Shiva in the temple, Sage Vibakarana Lord Vishnu in Veda Vyasa form and Acharya Sri Adi Sankara Lord Brahmma.
Temple Timing
Morning: - 5.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
Evening: - 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.
Festivals
New Moon days (Amavasya) in Thai (Janauary-February) and Aadi (July-August) in particular and on such monthly days, devotees gather here to perform Tarpan for their forefathers. Parasurama Jayanthi is grandly celebrated in the temple.
Significants
Student devotees pray at the Vedavyasa shrine to gain wisdom and distinction in their academic pursuits. Longevity boon pujas are performed here as in Tirukadavur in Tamilnadu. People pray for righteous, healthy and peaceful life and to bring up their children with moral values.
How To Reach Sree Parasurama Temple
Airport
Nearest airport: -Trivandrum International Airport.
Railways
Nearest Railway station: -Thiruvananthapuram station.
Road
Nearest Bus stop: - Thiruvallam bus stop.
Temple Address
Sree Parasurama Temple,
Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala - 695027.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- Salvation of departed souls
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.