01Sweet words
When Bharata came to the forest to bring Rama home, Lakshmana saw his army and thought he came to fight. Bharata’s words made his intent plain, and the brothers worshipped here together. Another katha says Maharshi Harita did tapas on the bank of the river, and Vishnu appeared and told him how men might keep dharma in Kali Yuga; those words, tiru-mozhi, gave the place its name. In Karkidakam (July–August) pilgrims go round the Nalambalam in a day: Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana here and Shatrughna at Payammal.
02Fourteen pasurams
Nammalvar sang Thirumoozhikkalam in a decad of the Thiruvaimozhi and Thirumangai Alvar added verses; fourteen pasurams are counted. The temple has no gopuram, only an arch from the road, then the Kerala compound with flagstaff, namaskara mandapa and sanctum. It is one of the few temples where Koodiyattam, the old Sanskrit theatre, is still performed. Thiruvonam and Vaikuntha Ekadashi are kept, and the ten-day festival comes in Medam (April–May).
The life of this place
- Alvar periodNammalvar and Thirumangai Alvar sing Thirumoozhikkalam.
About 25 km north of Ernakulam, near Mala and Angamaly. Open roughly 4–10 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.
