Taliparamba Rajarajeswara Temple

Kerala, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram

Taliparamba is regarded as one of the ancient Shakti Peethams. Legend has it that the head of Sati (Goddess/ wife of shiva) fell here after Shiva's tandavam following Sati's self-immolation. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be several thousands of years old. Legend has it that Shiva gave three sacred Shiva Lingas to Parvati/Sati for worship. But when a sage, Maandhata, propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers, Shiva presented one of the Shiva Lingas to him with the condition 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 ideal spot. After his death the Linga disappeared into the earth. Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second Shiva Linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shiva Linga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. 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. The Rajarajeswara Temple had two ancient and large seven-storey Gopurams that were destroyed by Tipu Sultan in the late eighteenth century. The relics of these Gopurams are seen today lying all around the Eastern and Western entrances in the form of debris. The bases still remain, and from their imposing appearance and intricate sculptures, it is quite evident that they might have been grand edifices before their destruction.

Legend

The legend about Rajarajeswara Temple is associated with Sage Parashurama. Seeing there, an ancient shrine of vibrant spiritual power in a dilapidated condition, the sage was grief-stricken and wanted to know its history. Thereupon, Sage Narada appeared there and related to him the story of Sage Maandhata and the disappearance of three idols presented by Lord Siva. After hearing this story, Parashurama decided to renovate the temple. As desired by the Sage, the celestial architect Ari Vishwakarma performed the renovation work. During the final stage of the renovation, sage Agasthya appeared and, after making abhishekam (ablution) on the idol, lighted a ghee lamp. It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. In honour of His presence, devotees are not allowed into the namaskara mandapam even today.

Architecture

The architecture of the Rajarajeswara Temple is a blend of ancient Chola and traditional Kerala style, with ancient Chola inscriptions spotted on the building. The quadrangular sanctum has a two-tiered pyramidal roof; in front of the sanctum is the namaskara mandapam, but the Rajarajeswara Temple has no kodi maram (flagstaff), unlike others in Kerala.

Darsan Info

The Rajarajeswara Temple opens at 4.00 AM till 12 PM

The temple opens again at 5 PM till 8:30 PM

While men are allowed into the Rajarajeswara Temple at all time, women are allowed only after 8 PM.

Darsan Dresscode

At Rajarajeswara Temple Kerala traditional attire is preferred

Famous Festival

February/March : Maha Sivaratri

April : Vishu

Culture

Kannur has got a vibrant and rich political history. It also has got an illustrious history in social revolutions.

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Temple Rituals

According to the traditional system of visiting Rajarajeswara Temple the devotee first worship Lord Krishna at the shrine of Vasudevapuram located at the southern bank of the vast temple tank known as Aashraamath-chira. Then, proceeding towards Sree Rajarajeswara temple one has to worship at the shrine of Sree Bhoothanatha (Kumbhodhara), who is the chief lieutenant of Lord Shiva. The main entrance is on the east and before entering the nalambalam one turns eastwards and offers prayers to lord Vaidyanatha (Kanhirangaatt-appan), an aspect of lord Shiva worshipped as the lord of physicians, enshrined in temple about 6 km from Rajarajeswara temple.

On entering the eastern gate the devotee makes a circumambulation of the whole central shrine before stepping inside the shrine. Towards the northern side there is a small shrine of a guardian deity called Yakshi.

After worshipping this guardian deity the devotee proceeds towards the front of the central shrine and worships the Rishabha, the bull mount of Lord Shiva. While circumambulating the Naalambalam (the outer structure around Sree Kovil, the sanctum sanctorum), one walk towards the left side and from the Nirarithikonam (south-west corner) worships Goddess Annapoorneshwari of the famous shrine in Cherukunnu, a few kilometer away, and standing on the west one worships Goddess Bhadrakaali enshrined in another renowned shrine of divine mother in Maadaayikkavu. After making the circumambulation outside the Nalambalam the devotee enters the inner space around the sanctum sanctorum to worship lord Rajarajeswara's Jyothirlingam. As usual in the temples of lord Shiva, the circumambulation is performed only up to the theertha-channel and it is completed with a reverse circumambulation up to the channel. On the west of the sanctum sanctorum is the seat of divine mother Pravathi, the consort of lord Shiva. The door here is permanently closed.

Special Rituals

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 Rajarajeswara Temple .