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Thuravoor Mahakshethram, an ancient Devasthanam located by the side of NH-47, approximately 25 kms south of Kochi city, is the sacred abode of
Lord
Sree Narasimhamoorthy and
Lord
Sree Mahasudarsanamoorthy. The entire temple complex can be seen from the road.
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Two
separate temples in close proximity - within the same compound -
reflect the synthesis of a unique and mysterious divine power. The
idol of Sree Narasimhamoorthy is said to have originated in the holy
city of Kashi (Varanasi). Swami Padmapadar (8th century AD),
the principal disciple of Adi Sankaracharya, had worshipped the very
same idol at Kashi.
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Distinctive
in its architectural and artistic grandeur, Thuravoor Mahakshethram
is one of the most venerated places of worship in Kerala. Twin-Sreekovils
in a single Nalambalam, two gold-plated flagmasts that tower into
the skies, a majestically tall Anapandhal (elephant rostrum - the
largest in Kerala), a strict regimen of observances of vrathas for
the priests, days after days of rituals and festivals, chanting of
Vedic hymns and presentation of learned discourses on Puranas
throughout the year ... all these attract streams of devotees to the
temple from within and outside the State.
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Great
seers and saints such as Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Sringeri - Sree
Bharathi Theertha Swamigal, Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Kanchi - Sree
Jayendra Saraswathy, Sankaracharya of Puri - Sree Adhokshajananda
Swamigal, Uduppi Pejavar Math head - Sree Visweswara Theertha
Swamigal and the Jiyar of Ahobilamath - Sree Sadagopa Narayana
Yatheendra Swamigal - have all visited and experienced the spiritual
and devotional grandeur of this fabled Devasthanam.
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Of
the two temples here, it is believed that the one dedicated to
Sudarsanamoorthy was the first to come into existence. Though there
is no record of its origin, the temple is estimated to be over 1300
years old. There are scholars who hold that the
circular-shaped Sreekovil belongs to the Thretha Yuga; according to
others, its origin dates back to the Dwapara Yuga. Some
palmleaf texts on the temple do exist; but nobody has yet been able
to understand or decipher them.
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As
for the Narasimhamoorthy temple, records do show that it came into
being sometime in the 7th century AD, during the reign of a Chera
king named Keralendran. His guru was the great Muringottu
Adigal, a well-known Tulu Brahmin priest and scholar.
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Geographically,
the temple site belongs to the former Cochin state. However, it
subsequently came under the purview of Travancore for certain
political reasons. But this transition was subject to an important
proviso: If a Travancore king were ever to set foot on the
Mahakshethra soil, the temple would be immediately restored to
Cochin. Therefore, for a long time, no Travancore king visited the
temple. In 1951, on the merger of Travancore and Cochin and
coronation of Sree Chithirathirunal, the Maharaja visited the temple
- the first time for a Travancore king to do so. He walked to the
temple over a carpet to avoid stepping directly on the ground.
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Sub-shrines:
Within the Nalambalam, on the southern side of the inner courtyard
is the shrine of Ganapathy. Outside the two Sreekovils - but within
the same temple premises - are the idols of Sastha on the south,
with the serpent gods just behind it; Bhagavathy on the west and
Brahmarakshassu on the north - housed in separate, smaller
sub-shrines.
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Inviolable
discipline and austerity: The roles of the Melsanthi (chief priest)
and Keezhsanthi (assistant priest) at this temple are reversed every
year. So long as the Melsanthi continues in his position, he
has to maintain absolute celibacy; he must not leave the temple
compound during his tenure, and has to follow an austere lifestyle
and a observe a stringent daily regimen.
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