Rajarajeshwara Temple

The Rajarajeswara temple is a beautiful Shiva temple is located at Taliparamba in the Kannur district of Kerala, South India.

The temple is regarded as one of the 108 ancient Shiva temples of Kerala. It has a prominent place amongst the numerous Shiva temples in South India. If any problem is encountered in the other temples of South India, the devotees seek a solution in this Temple through a "prasna", a traditional method of astrological decision making. The "prasna" is conducted on a "peedha" (a raised platform) situated outside the temple.

The quadrangular sanctum has a two tiered pyramidal roof. In front of the sanctum is the "namaskara mandapam". The temple has no "kodi maram" (flagstaff), unlike other temples in Kerala.

Legend of Rajarajeswara Temple

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cquote|Taliparamba is regarded as one of the ancient "Shakti Peethams". Legend has it that the head of Sati fell here after Shiva's "tandavam" following Sati's self-immolation.

The Shiva linga here is believed to be thousands of years old. Legend has it that Siva gave three sacred Siva lingas to Parvati for worship. Once sage, Maandhata, propitiated Lord Siva with intense prayers. Siva was so pleased that he presented one of the Siva lingas to him with the injunction that it should be installed only at a place where there was no cremation ground. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the linga.

After his death, the linga however disappeared into the earth. Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Siva and got a second linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shivalinga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka (Kolathunad) dynasty who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Siva. On the advice of sage Agastya he prayed to Lord Siva who granted him the Shiva linga. The king installed it in the present temple built by him.

It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka, stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. In honor of his presence, devotees are not allowed into the "namaskara mandapam" even today.Fact|date=April 2007

Religious customs and rites

The place is considered as most sacred for performing Koodiyattam and Chakyar Koothu. Whenever a new Koodiyattam is being directed, it is first performed at this temple. Only the "Mani (Māni)" family of Chakyars solely possess the right of performing Koodiyattam here. Legendary Koodiyattam & Chakyar koothu maestro, Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār had performed here for many decades. The title "Vidūshakaratnam" was awarded to him from this temple.

One of the greatest appreciation or award that an artist/scholar can get is the "Veerashringhala" (Vīrasringhala)- Golden Bracelet, from the temple, given by the unanimous approval of the scholar body of the temple. Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar is the youngest and last person to get the Vīrasringhala from here.

Ghee in small pots are offered to the presiding deity Shiva and are placed on steps leading to the sanctum. These are called "Neyyamrithu" in Malayalam language.

Men are allowed to enter the shrine at any time, but woman are allowed only after 8 PM.

Though it is not practised as widely as it was in the earlier days, it is still a religious custom among many local Hindu women to visit three prominent temples in Taliparamba when they are pregnant. Apart from Rajarajeshwara temple, the other two temples are Sri Krishna at Trichambaram and another Shiva ("Vaidyanatha") at Kanjiragat, about 6 km from Taliparamba. It is believed that Shiva at Rajarajeshwara temple assures the child a high status, Sri Krishna of Trichambaram bestows it with good nature and mental qualities and the deity at Kanjiragat temple gives the child long life.

ee also

*Taliparamba
*Trichambaram Temple
*Parassinikkadavu
*Parassinikkadavu Temple
*Muthappan temple
*Kunnathoor Padi
*Mani Madhava Chakyar

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&msa=0&msid=114038809751246788218.00000112844f7014c63f0&ll=12.046634,75.355933&spn=0.00681,0.008701&z=17 Satellite images of Rajarajeshwara Temple.]
* [http://mottu.blogspot.com/2007_07_08_archive.html more about the temple]
* [http://www.geocities.com/chavanapuzha/cmp-main-page.htm Scholars honored at Sri Rajarajeswara Temple.]
* [http://www.geocities.com/chavanapuzha/cmp-main-page.htm Images & more about Rajarajeswara Temple.]
* [http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/kerala/rajarajeswara/index.htm Rajarajeshwara Temple from the book "Temples and legends of Kerala"]