The Koodalmanikyam Bharatha Temple at Irinjalakuda,in Thrissur District is a very ancient
Temple .The earliest evidence belongs to a stone inscription attributed to the Chera king
Stanu Ravi Varma as back as in 854 AD who donated vast area of land for the Temple.It
therefore would appear to be reasonable to assume that the Temple must have been in existence
quite sometimes before this date.
It is therefore to be believed that thousands of years ago the entire area now known as
Irinjalakuda was a dense forest a number of Rishisunder Kulipini Maharshi were engages in an
ancient Yagna offering severe penance to please MahaVishnu.Ultimately pleased with the
intensity and sincerety of their devotion,the Lord Vishnu appeared before them and offered
to satisfy their wish.All they wanted wasthe eternal presence of the Lord at the place.The
Lord readilyb agreed to the earnest wush of the Rishis.
The Rishis now prayed to Deva Ganga to Bless the sacred Yagna bhoomi with her presence.As the
springs of River Ganga fountained and inundated the area the Rishis were immersed themselves
in the sacred waters and became one with thev Lord Vishnu.
The presence of Ganga is believed to continue in the Kulipini Theertham named after the name
of the chief of Rishis. This tank on the northern side is believed as sacred as Sanctum
Sanctorum. The speciality of thos tankn is that Water Snakes frogs etc commonlly found in this
considered to be a special boon and merit.Water for preperation of Nivedyams is taken from
this tank alone.Priests/Poojaris after taking bath in outside tanks have to take a dip in
Kulipini theertham before entering Sanctum Sanctorum.
The Temple itself was not built immeadiately after the incident mentioned above had taken
place.The place was not inhabited for many yearsprobably.The traditional legends about how the
temple came to be established say that a local chieftainVakkay Kaimal had a dream one night in
which a mysterious person appeared before him and told him that four idols have been washed
ashore and that these idols are to be installed at four different places.The Kaimal being and
ardent devotee hastened to thev seashore to find four idols lying there as indicated in the
dream.They were duly installed at 4 different places as indicated below:
Rama at Thriprayar (22 KMs northwest of Irinjalakkuda, Bharatha at Irijalakkuda
itself,Lakshmana at Moozhikulam(30 KMs southwest of Irinjalakkuda and Satrugna at Payammal(5
KM south of Irinjalakkuda).It is believed that worshipping at these 4 places on the same day
was highly meritorious .It is believed that Ardent devotees used to cover these distances on
the same day by walking or in Bullock carts.But nowadys it is much easier to make these trips
on the same day.In the Malayalam month of Karkidakam(July 15th to August 15th,called the
RAMAYANAMASA, thousands of Devotees do this special pilgrimage (Popularly known as Nalambalam
Thozhal) to become themselves recepients of Blessings from the above Gods.
The Lord at Koodal Manikyam Temple ,Irinjalakkuda is known as Chaturbahu Vishnu with
Conch,Chakra,Gada,and Japamala is believed to be none other than Lord Bharatha the brother of Lord Sreerama.
Lord Bharatha is supposed to be waiting anxiously and devotedly for the return of Rama from
exile for 14 years and later on learnt from Hanuman that Rama had reached the outskirts of
Ayodhya .Thereafter he was much relieved and Happier .Bharatha in this mood is worshipped
here in Irinjalakkuda.Naturally ,Hanuman is also present at the Thidappally of Irinjalakkuda
Temple.
ADistinctive feature of Bharath Temple is thatthere is only one single Pradishta here .Even
Lord Ganesha usually found in every Temple is not present here.Usually when Thulsi leaves are
offered to the Diety of any Temple the seeds of Thulasi are fell and scattered in the
premises ,how this phenomenon does not happen here is a Mystery not solved so far!One
explanation ,however,is that Tulsi plant being sacred it is worshipped where it is found.But
somehow,Thulasi is forbidden frm growing here by some unforseen Power!
There is also one story that a ysrterios person used to enter Sanctom and Sanctorum of
Tempies he visited and transferred the Chaitanya in a Conch he carried to be taken to his
village.Howeven this person with the conch fell down and got his conch broken so that the
Chaitanys of many Temple he had gathered got consolidated here.The divine Chaitanya
consolidated here is known as Sangameswara.So although there is just one Prathishta of
Bharatha here ,the priests (Namboodiris )perform their Seva for Vishu ,Siva and Devi here.
The main "Nivedyams" offered to the Lord here on the day of "Avittam" star in the Malayalam
month of Thulam is the famous :Mukkudi nivedyam" and "Brinjal Nivedyam".This ancient Temple is
,perhaps,the only Temple in India dedicated to Lord Bharatha.The diety here is often called "Parabrahma Moorthy "also.
Koodal Manikyam Temple is a Marvel in Architecturan beauty.The impressive Gateways,Round
shaped Sanctum Sanctorum ,the majestic Koothambalam and carvings in wood nd stones on the
wall are all attractive features of Art and Architecture.The Murals on the wall on either
side of the Eastern entry to Chuttambalam also needs special mention.
So why wait to plan a visit to the Temple preferably in the next Ramayana Masam which is just
6 months from now?
Jai Lord Bharatha the most honest,
Sincere and devoted brother of Lord Sreerama!
Sreedharan Mundanat
16th of December 2017
at Thrissur 680 004
( Source :Net,Hearsay,Discussion with the local people and from visit to thev Temple)
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