5/5 Adithya Kumar S L (Adithya K. 5 months ago on Google • 350 reviews
The
Sree
Subrahmanya
Swamy
Temple
(Perumthrikkovil),
also
known
as
Kerala
Palani
or
Dakshina
Palani
(lit. 'Southern
Palani'),
in
Haripad,
Kerala,
is
one
of
the
oldest
and
largest
temples
in
the
region.
According
to
belief,
the
temple
predates
the
beginning
of
Kali
Yuga.
This
temple
holds
the
distinction
of
being
the
largest
Subrahmanya
Swami
Temple
in
Kerala,
and
features
the
longest
golden
flagpost,
known
as
the
dhwajastambha
(kodimaram
in
Malayalam).
The
temple's
main
deity
is
believed
to
embody
not
only
Subrahmanya
Swamy
but
also
Lord
Shiva
and
Lord
Vishnu,
making
it
a
highly
revered
and
powerful
place
of
worship.
Legend
has
it
that
the
idol
of
the
temple
was
previously
used
by
Parasurama
for
pooja
and
was
later
discovered
in
the
Govindamuttom
backwaters
of
Kandanalloor.
It
is
said
that
all
the
landlords
of
Eakachakra
(then
Haripad)
simultaneously
had
visions
of
the
idol,
leading
them
to
find
it
in
Kayamkulam
Lake.
The
idol
was
brought
ashore
at
Nelpurakadavu.
To
commemorate
its
retrieval,
the
Vigraha
Labdhi
Jalolsavam
festival
is
conducted
in
the
Payippad
River
for
three
days
after
Thiruvonam.
According
to
legend,
the
idol
was
temporarily
placed
for
public
viewing
for
half
an
hour
under
a
banyan
tree
belonging
to
a
Christian
family,
Tharakanmar.
There
is
a
small
temple
at
that
location
known
as
"Ara
Nazhika
Ambalam".
The
temple
was
consecrated
on
the
Pushya
nakshtra
(constellation)
of
Makara
Masa,
which
is
annually
celebrated
as
the
founding
day
of
the
temple.
It
is
believed
that
Lord
Vishnu
appeared
as
a
saint
to
consecrate
the
temple,
which
led
to
the
name
"Harigeethapuram"
for
the
present-day
Haripad.
In
the
Malayalam
year
1096,
the
temple
suffered
a
fire,
but
the
golden
flag
mast
and
the
Koothambalam
were
fortunately
saved.
During
the
reign
of
King
Sree
Chithira
Thirunal
Rama
Varma,
the
temple
was
rebuilt,
and
the
golden
flag
mast
was
reinstalled.
The
presiding
deity
of
the
temple
is
Karthikeya
in
his
four-armed
form.
The
idol
holds
the
divine
spear
Vel
in
one
hand
and
a
Vajrayudha
(thunderbolt)
in
another,
with
one
hand
bestowing
blessings
and
the
other
touching
its
thighs.
According
to
belief,
the
idol
embodies
the
presence
of
Vishnu,
Shiva,
and
Brahma.
The
idol
stands
at
approximately
six
feet
in
height
and
faces
towards
the
east.