SUBRAMANYASWAMY TEMPLE, PERALASSERY, KANNURDISTRICT-KERALA-Compiled
Dear friends, Kannur is famous for many ancient temples, and one among themis Peralassery Subramanya Temple. It is in Mundallur, 15 km from Kannur city onthe Kannur-Kuthuparamba Road. People better know it as the Snake Temple. The massive stepped pond isits specialty. This beautiful Peralassery Subramanya Swami temple stands on thebanks of the Anjarakandy River in Kannur. The presiding deity is the serpent form ofSubrahmanya, and inside the Peralassery Temple, devotees can seemany idols of the king cobra. It is considered holy, and they offer eggs to it.Today my posting is about this temple. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 9-7-2025 Introduction A famous pilgrim centre in the North Malabar region ofKerala, Sree Peralassery temple is situated at Peralassery in Kannur. The maindeity worshipped here is Lord Subramanya. The temple traces its origin to the Thretha Yuga.As per the Ramayana, Lord Sree Rama along with Lakshmana and Hanuman, on theirway to Lanka in search of Sita (consort of Sree Rama), reached this place andfelt the presence of Lord Subramanya. On approval from Lord Ayyappa, Sree Rama decided toconsecrate the idol of Lord Subramanya in this place. He sentHanuman to the north to find a suitable idol to be installed. When he failed tocome at the right time for consecration, Sree Rama removed hisPeruvala [great bangle – a symbol of kingdom] and consecrated it. Hence the place got itsname Peruvalassery, which in course of time got contracted to Peralassery. Later Hanuman tried to remove the bangle in order to consecrate theidol, but could not do so as he was warned by a serpent. Famous for snake worship, hen’s eggs are the main offeringsin the temple. The annual Kodiyettam festival is a key attraction here andusually falls in December. The traditional temple art forms like Thayambaka,Irattathayambaka, Chakyarkoothu, Patakham, Ottan Thullal, and Kathakali areperformed in the temple during festival seasons. A visit to the temple duringthis time will leave you elated and spiritually energized. The temple pond is a source of wonder for all devotees, andtaking a dip is considered sacred. This rectangular pond has an impressivearchitecture with countless steps leading into the pool from all the foursides. The local belief is that on the day of Thulam Sankramam, water from theCauvery will reach the well of temple pond. This temple, renowned for itsarchitectural splendour and legends, is a must-visit destination. Sacred templeknown for Lord Subramanya worship, unique offerings, and architecturallystunning pond. Legend of thePeralassery Temple There are a few legends about the temple. One has an association with thefamous Hindu epic, Ramayana. Rama visited this place, where thetemple stands now, searching for his abducted wife, Sita, during his exile. Hefelt the invisible energies of Subramanya emanating from here. Rama decided toinstall an idol of Subramanya to consecrate at the site. Another legend is that , Subramanya had imprisonedBrahma for knowing the meaning of "Om," the Pranava Mantra. He released Brahma at the request of Shiva.Finally, Subramanya explained the meaning of the Pranava Mantra to Shiva.Subramanya took a serpent form to wash off his sins and chose an isolated wellto reside as a serpent. Several other serpents guarded him against the Sun andrain. So, the place whereserpents guarded Subramanya is Peralassery Temple. Parvati requested Shiva to give Subramanya his original form.Shiva advised her to perform 18 Shasti Vrat to restore the original form ofSubramanya. As Shiva instructed, Parvati performed the Vrata and got her sonSubramanya in his original form. The Architecture ofPeralassery Temple The temple reflects traditional Kerala architecture. Thetemple Chira, temple tank, or stepped pond, lies outside the temple entrance.The pond is called Ayanivayal Kulam, and it was renovated in 2001. It resembles a baori, a step welltype found in Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. Steps descend to thewater in the centre. Laterite stones were used to construct the massive well, and the water in the temple tankmerges with the water of the River Kaveri. That's why KaveriSamkramam is celebrated in the Peralassery Temple. Devotees believe that a holydip in the Chira, followed by the temple visit, is very beneficial. This temple tank is world-famous for its unique structure andarchitecture, and it is the biggest temple pond in Kerala. A tiny brass idol of the king cobra faces the entrance. Thereis a brass, multi-levelled main lamp at the temple entrance to welcomedevotees. The main lamp has a tortoise at the base and a rooster at the top.The lamp with the eternal flame is another wonder of the temple. Main deity The main deity, Subramanya's idol, is six feet tall andcarved out of stone. Historysays the temple was destroyed during the invasion of Tipu Sultan, and now theidol is attached to a silver sphere. Sub deities Ganapati, Ayyappa, Bhagavathi,and Nagas are theother deities worshipped here. Chuttambalam has deities of Lord Ganesha andLord Ayyapa. Nagadevathas are below an Ashoka tree. Pooja timings Peralassery Sri Subramanya Temple has specific timings forpooja and darshan, which are generally from 4:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 4:15PM to 8:00 PM. The temple opens at 4:00 AM and closes at 12:30 PM, then reopensat 4:15 PM and closes at 8:00 PM., The priests at Peralassery Sri Subramanya Temple areprimarily ShivalliMadhva Brahmins. They perform the daily rituals and poojasaccording to Madhvacharya's Tantra Sara Sangraha. The temple is dedicatedto Lord Subramanya, particularly in his serpent form. The main poojas atPeralassery Temple, dedicated to Lord Subramanya, include Usha Pooja(morning), Uchha Pooja (noon), and Deeparadhana (evening lampoffering). Abhishekam (ritual bathing) with milk and flower garlandofferings are also common. Additionally, the temple is known for itsunique offering of Mutta Oppikkal (offering of eggs to snakes) as a remedy forSarpa Dosha (serpent affliction). Here's a more detailed breakdown: Daily Pujas: Usha Pooja (early morning), Uchha Pooja (noon), andDeeparadhana (evening). Abhishekam: Milk abhishekam is a common ritual. Offerings: Besides milk and flowers, the temple is known for MuttaOppikkal, the offering of eggs to snakes, particularly for Sarpa Dosharemedies. Special Days: Additionalrituals are performed during Shashti, Skanda Shashti, and Thaipusam. Festivals: The annual Kodiyettam festival, celebrated in December,is a major event. Other Deities: Offerings are also made to other deities like Ayyappa,Ganapathi, Naga, and Bhagawathi Darshan: Darshan is available during both the morning and eveningopening hours. Festivals of thePeralassery Temple The Temple has a number of festivals. The important ones are: Annual Kodiyettam Festival The annual Kodiyettam festival held at the Peralassery SriSubrahmanya Temple in December is a significant event that draws devoteesseeking spiritual enrichment and cultural immersion. This festival serves as aplatform for showcasing traditional temple arts such as Thayambaka,Chakyarkoothu, and Kathakali, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry ofreligious and cultural expression. Thayambaka, with its rhythmic percussion,Chakyarkoothu's blend of storytelling and humor, and the grandeur of Kathakaliperformances, all combine to create a mesmerizing and spiritually upliftingatmosphere. The Kodiyettam takes place on the fourth day of thefestival. The temple priest performs Thidambu Nritham (religious dance),and Kazhcha Sreebali (caparisoned elephants procession) rituals follow. Thulam Sankramam The rectangular pond at the temple boasts remarkablearchitecture, featuring numerous steps leading into the pool from all foursides. Local tradition holds that during Thulam Sankramam, water from theCauvery River is believed to miraculously reach the temple pond's well, addingto the site's mystique and spiritual significance. This temple, celebrated forits architectural grandeur and legendary associations, stands as a compellingdestination for visitors seeking both cultural enrichment and spiritual nourishment. Offerings The main deity here at this renowned pilgrimage centre is theserpent form of Lord Subramanya and the chief offerings are eggs. My note- Nagaraja templeat Nagerkovil in Tamilnadu also is having offering- milk and eggs. The temple premises also have a massive Ashoka tree with asnake pit where Naga Aradhana (snake worship) is offered by devotees. Benefits ofWorshipping at Peralassery Temple People who suffer fromSarpa Dosha perform Pooja at Peralassery Temple to eliminate their affliction. Eggs are offered to honour thesnake deity, Subramanya, as a part of the Pooja. Every month, on Ayilyamnakshatra day, devotees come here and perform Subramanya Pooja and MuttaOppikal by offering eggs to the main deity to remove all obstacles in theirlife. Devotees tie miniature cradles to be blessed with a child. Temple Timings: Morning 4.00 am – 12.30 pm & Evening 4.15 pm – 8.00 pm What is the Specialityof Peralassery Temple? The main deity here at this renowned pilgrimage centre is theserpent form of Lord Subramanya and the chief offerings are eggs. The templepremises also have a massive Ashoka tree with a snake pit where Naga Aradhana(snake worship) is offered by devotees Temple Pond The massive temple pond, Kerala's largest step well, is another astoundingstructure at this temple. Considered to be sacred by devotees, the pondreflects an exquisite and unique style of architecture that cannot be foundelsewhere. The rectangular pond is constructed like a well that has countlesssteps leading into the pool from all sides. The intricate architecture is awe inspiring.Local legends say that on the day of Thulam Sankramam, the water from the riverCauvery will reach the well of the temple pond. Serpent worship Serpents are worshipped here with chicken eggs as theoffering apart from milkand yellow rice. Region name Peralassery The region derived its name Peruvalassery, now colloquiallyreferred to as Peralassery, for the ‘peruvala’ or ‘big bangle’ worn by LordRama as a symbol of his kingdom. Legend says the temple dates back to theThretha Yuga and came into being when Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman stoppedby the region enroute their journey to Lanka for rescuing Sita. Sensing thepresence of Lord Subramanya, with permission from Lord Ayyappa, Lord Ramadecided to consecrate an idol of the deity there. Location Peralasseri is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the districtheadquarters Kannur. The nearest town and railway stations are Thalassery which is 14 km(8.7 mi) and Kannur which is15 km (9.3 mi) away. How To Reach By Bus-Kannur Central Bus Terminal, around 15 km away. By Flight-Kannur International Airport, about 18 km By Train-Kannur Railway Station, about 16 km Contact Address: Peralassery Sri Subrahmanya Temple, Mundalur, Peralassery,Kannur, Kerala 670622 Phone Number:0497 282 7601 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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