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The Rajarajeshwara
temple is
a Shiva temple
located
in Taliparamba in Kannur
district of Kerala,
India.
The
temple
is
regarded
as
one
of
the
existing
108
ancient
Shiva
Temples
of
ancient
Kerala.
It
also
has
a
prominent
place
amongst
the
numerous
Shiva
temples
in
South
India. It
had
the
tallest
shikhara
amongst
the
temples
of
its
time.
The
Rajarajeshwara
temple
has
a
top
of
about
90
tonnes.
If
any
problem
is
encountered
in
the
other
temples
of
South
India,
devotees
seek
a
solution
in
this
temple
through
a prashnam,
a
traditional
method
of
astrological
decision
making.
The prashnam is
conducted
on
a peedha (a
raised
platform)
outside
the
temple.
Legendarily,
it
was
supposedly
renovated
by
Sage
Parashurama,
long
before
the
Kali
Yuga
commenced.
Several
centuries
ago,
it
was
renovated
by
the
Mushika
(Kolathiri)
dynasty
kings.
This
temple
was
rebuilt
into
its
present
form
in
the
early
eleventh
century.
The
quadrangular
sanctum
has
a
two-tiered
pyramidal
roof;
in
front
of
the
sanctum
is
the
namaskara
mandapam,
but
the
temple
has
no
kodi
maram
(flagstaff),
unlike
others
in
Kerala.
Only
Hindus
are
permitted
to
enter.
Taliparamba
is
also
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
13
sacred
Shivalingas
to
Parvati/Sati
to
worship.
One
sage,
Maandhata,
propitiated
Lord
Shiva
with
intense
prayers.
Shiva
was
so
pleased
that
he
presented
one
of
the
Shiva
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
Shiva
Linga.
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.
Lord
Shiva,
as
worshiped
in
this
sacred
temple,
is
known
as
Sree
Rajarajeswara,
which
means
the
Emperor
of
Emperors
—
the
Lord
Supreme.
The
name
signifies
the
supreme
transcendental
power
in
the
background
of
mysterious
drama
of
the
boundless
universe.
That
power
is
invoked
here
as
Lord
Rajarajeshwara.
The
temple
covers
a
spacious
compound
of
about
eight
acres
surrounded
by
a
compound
wall
with
two
gopurams
on
the
eastern
and
western
sides.
The
ancient
compound
wall
is
a
wondrous
architectural
marvel
built
of
huge
cut
stones
placed
one
above
the
other
without
any
cementing
mortar,
broad
at
the
base
and
tapering
towards
the
top.
The
main
gate
is
on
the
east
before
one
enters
the
temple;
one
turns
eastwards
and
offers
prayers
to
Lord
Vaidyanatha
(kanhirangaatt-appan),
an
aspect
of
lord
Shiva
worshiped
as
the
lord
of
physicians,
enshrined
in
temple
about
6
km
from
Rajarajeswara
temple.
Popular
visitors
Karnataka
former
chief
minister Yeddyurappa visited
here
several
times.
He
donated
an
elephant
to
this
temple
during
one
of
his
visits.
Tamil
Nadu
former
chief
minister Jayalalithaa had
a
special
relation
with
this
temple.
BJP
president Amit
Shah
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