Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple

01Four brothers from the sea

The kshetra’s account says that four murtis, of Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, once worshipped by Shri Krishna at Dwarka, were washed up on the coast near here after Dwarka went under the sea. Fishermen found them and gave them to a local chieftain, Vakkayil Kaimal, who installed them in four temples: Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda (Koodalmanikyam), Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and Shatrughna at Payammal. Rama here holds the conch, discus, bow and a garland, and Shiva as Dakshinamurti, Ganesh and Sastha have shrines within the walls. The round sanctum has fine wood carvings of the Ramayana.

02Nalambalam in Karkidakam

Karkidakam, July–August, is the month when Kerala reads the Ramayana at home every evening. In this month devotees make the Nalambalam yatra, visiting the four brothers in one day in order, beginning at Thriprayar before dawn. Rama is also the presiding deity of the Arattupuzha Pooram, the gathering of the deities of more than a hundred village temples, and goes out to it on an elephant. Ekadashi in Vrischikam is the temple’s own great festival.