The Thiruvangad Sree Rama Swamy temple - One of the important temple of North Malabar
Thiruvangad temple is one of the famous temple in Malabar. This is located at Tellichery.This temple is devoted to Sree Rama. This temple has a great place in our history. This article highlights the
history and architectural beauty of the temple and the Vishu Mahotsavam.
Thiruvangad Sree Rama Swamy Temple
The Thiruvangad temple, the famous Sree rama swamy temple is located one kilo metre away from Tellicherry town. It has got centuries old histories. This temple is also known as chembadicha melkkoora since it is using copper sheet as roof. This is one of the oldest among the four Sri Rama temples in Kerala. The other old Sree Rama Temples are at Thiruvilluamala, Triprayar and Kadalur. This temple is one of the most important temples in Malabar.
There are only few records available to fix the age of this temple. Few references about the age of this temple is there in Keralolpathi, Kerala purana etc.The history says,the temple was an outpost of the Tellichery fort. In its grounds had often hosted conferences between the representatives of the East India Company and local leaders.There are evident references in the Logan's Manual that East India Company and the British were ardent to keep the interest of this temple. In the 18th century a part of the temple was damaged by Tipu Sultan's soldier. But the temple have been saved from destruction.Due to this We can see a small blend in Pagoda.Temple festival
The most important festival (utsav) begins every year on the Vishu day, the first day of the month of Medom and lasts for seven days with ceremonial activities happening in the morning and evening. This festival is called Vishu Mahotsavam. The festival is colorful one accompanied by various rituals.Chakyar Koothu,Kathakali are performed on all days in temple in the festival time. The Ezhunnalathu of Perumal around the temple is an important thing in this festival. A idol of Lord Sree Rama is taken on one Elephant be with various kind of decorated umbrellas, royal symbols, venchamaram, aalavattam and Panchavadyam, Pandi Melam etc.Temple architecture
This temple is located in a heighten plot of approximatlty 3 hectares.Beside this temple a temple pond has known as Chira which extend in an area of one hectare. In between the outer wall of the temple and the Chira ,there is a Gopuram, which was destroyed in the time of Tippu Sultan's attack.
Sree Rama swami temple is full of monuments wrought in wood. The Namaskara Mandapam is very attractive with its monuments excellence. The wooden cover of the ceiling has 44 Devi forms. The primary deity of this temple is Sree rama. Hanuman, Subramanya, Ganapathy, Vishnu and other deities. Sree rama deity in this temple is having six feet height and it is made up of granite.
The main attractions of this temple is its wood carvings, art work, wall painting imprinted on wooden plank. The wall paintings on the Thiruvangad Temple shows the mural paintings history of Kerala. The creations were done by the Perunthachan, whose artistic abilities are visible on the doors and prayer halls of the Thiruvangad temple.
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