The tales of valor, justice, and love from Ramayana fill the air during the sacred month of Karkidakam.The omnipotent gods of nalambala offer solace and relief from the troubles and tribulations of life. Special offerings to the Lords grant all your wishes and provide solace from all the illness, famine and hardships.Do you know that there are four temples which make up the ‘Naalambala Yatra’ circuit in Kottayam?
These four temples situated in and around Ramapuram are about 37 kms from Kottayam town. The temples are Sree Rama Temple Ramapuram, Lakshmana Temple Koodappulam, Bharatha Temple Amanakara and Shatrughna Temple Methiri. You have to start your ‘yatra’ by offering prayers at the Rama temple, and finishing at the Rama temple before the noon pooja.
According to the legends, Lord Rama rested at this place(ramapuram) on his way to Lanka. When Rama reached this place, with beautiful mountains,forests,and greenery, he felt it as an ideal place for his meditation. As Lakshmana, Bharatha and Sathrughna could not bear the disappearance of their beloved brother any longer, they too left Ayodhya and followed the path of Rama, assuming that he would have gone towards the South. On finding him at Ramapuram, they too settled down nearby, thus explaining the four temples which are equi-distant from each other at ramapuram.
Devotees first visit the temple dedicated to Lord Rama at Ramapuram and then move on to Koodappulam Sree Lakshmana temple. The pilgrimage is completed by offering prayers at the Amanakara Bharatha Temple and Methiri Shatrughna Temple and coming back again to the Rama temple before the special pooja at noon(ucha pooja).
Nalambalam is a set of four Hindu temples in Kerala. In malayalam, nalu means “four” and Ambalam means “temple”. The deities here are the four sons of King Dasaratha of Ramayana.
Lord Ram, the eldest of them, is the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu, who is the Supreme God of the Hindus. Bharata , second amongst them, is the avatar of the Panchajanya (Conch held by Vishnu) .Lakshmana is the avatar of the Adisesha, the serpent of infinite measures and on whom Lord Vishnu sleeps in the Ocean of Milk. Sathrughna (the One who is destroyer of enemies) is the twin brother to Lakshamana and the youngest .He is the avatar of the Sudarshana chakra held by Lord Vishnu.
Visiting nalambalam is considered to be a sacred event during the Malayalam month Karkidakam. Nalambalam consists of temples of brothers Sri Rama, Bharatha, Lakshmana & Sathrughna.
Ramapuram
Koodappulam
Amanakara
Methiri
President, Nalambala Committee
Secretary, Nalambala Committee
Treasurer, Nalambala Committee
Publicity Convener, Nalambala Committee
