Mulakkulam Lakshmana Swamy Temple
Mulakkulam Lakshmana Swami Temple is situated at Mulakkulam in Kottayam district. Kottayam district is the only district in India having three Lakshmana Temples. The other two Lakshmana Temples in Kottayam are Vennimala Rama-Lakshmana Perumal Temple and Koodappulam Lakshmana Temple.
The specialty of this temple is that the Lakshmana Prathishta is in the form of a Sheeveli Thidambu. The Thidambu worship here is unique as in most Lakshmana temples in Kerala there is a murti in the sanctum installed through Ashtabandham method. Some temples have swayambhu murti.
Legend has it that the Brahmin Kings of Edappalli and Paravoor had an argument about Daasiyattom at the famous Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple in Ernakulam District. The Edappalli King failed and it is said that the King himself took the Sheeveli Thidambu of Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal and later he constructed a temple in Mulakkulam and installed the Thidambu there. He named the place as Mulakkulam to remember the connection with Moozhikkulam.
The pilgrim should offer prayers to Lord Rama at Sreeramaswami Temple at Mammalassery first and proceed to Bharatha at Bharathapilly Temple at Memmuri, then Lakshmana Lakshmanaswami Temple at Mulakkulam and Sathrugna at Nedungattu Shatrugna Swami Temple at Mammalassery in their birth order and finally end the pilgrimage by devoting prayers in Sreerama Swami temple.
Location
Arakunnam
Main Deity
Sree Lakshmana Swamy
Other Deities
Lord Ganesha, Kirathamoorthy (Lord Siva) & Lord Ayyappa.
Festivals
The nine day long annual festival is in the Malayalam month of Medam in which the Thriua Aarattu is held on the ninth day (Thiruvonam).
Main Offerings
Paalpaayasam, Nei-Vilakku, Kadalippazha-Nivedyam, Koottupaayasam.
How To Reach
By Air: Cochin International Airport is 56.3 KM from the Temple.
By Rail: Piravom Road Railway Station is 5.5 KM from the Temple.
By Road: Piravom KSRTC Bus Stand is 4.3 KM from the Temple.