Maandhatha installed his Shivalingam at this place.Įventually this Jyothirlingam disappeared in the earth rendering the place spiritually vibrant for ever. It is said that the region came to be known as Taliparamba, which means the place large enough to accommodate a Thalika after this legend. After a long search for such a place, which was very difficult to locate, Maandhatha, the first one to receive the lingam, found out a small place of that description, only that much land which could accommodate a small plate.
Goddess Parvathi advised each of them to install the idols in such a place where no death of any creature had taken place or any dead body had fallen. Maandhatha was the king to whom the Goddess presented the Shivalingam in the Thretha Yugam, and Muchukundam and Shathasoman were the devotees who received the other two lingams in Dwapara Yugam. Goddess Parvathi presented these Shivalingams to three kings who were doing intense austerities to invoke the Goddess, one in the Thretha Yugam and the other two Dwapara Yugam. They mixed the dust, which was formed while churning, with the divine nectar of immortality, Amrita, and out of it gave shape to three spiritually to Lord Brahma presented them to Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva. According to it, sage Sanaka and others, the sons of the creator Lord Brahma, churned the disk of the Sun to lessen its fierce heat. Thereupon, sage Narada appeared there and related to him the story of the temple. Seeing there, an ancient shrine of vibrant spiritual power in a dilapidated condition, the sage was grief-stricken and wanted to know its history. The legends of Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple reveal the antiquity and the special significance of the Spiritual Presence.Ī major legend about this temple, begins with the visit of the Puranic sage Parashurama, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The legends of temples are usually symbolic in character and are intended to convey deep messages to the spiritual inquirer and instill faith in the common man. The celebrated ancient sage Agasthya Maharishi is associated with the installation of the Jyothirlingam in the shrine. The Jyothirlingam in the shrine in vibrant with spiritual power that exerts an enriching influence both on the material and spiritual levels of the earnest devotees. Devotees address the lord with such royal appellations as Perumthrikovilappan, Perum-chelloorappan and Thampuraan Perumthrikkovilappan. That power is invoked here as Lord Rajarajeshwara. The name signifies the supreme transcendental power in the background of mysterious drama of the boundless universe. In honor of His presence, devotees are not allowed into the namaskara mandapam even today.Lord Shiva, as worshiped in this sacred temple, is known as Sree Rajarajeswara, which means the Emperor of Emperors - the Lord Supreme. However, many legends associated with the Temple, claim Agastya Himself as installing the Shiva Linga (which is believed as per those legends to be a 'Jyothirlingam').It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. The king installed it in the present temple built by him. On the advice of sage Agastya, he prayed to Lord Siva, who granted him the Shiva Linga. The third Shiva Linga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, who then ruled the region. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the Shiva Linga.Īfter his death the Linga disappeared into the earth.Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second Shiva Linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Shiva was so pleased that he presented one of the Shiva Lingas to him with the injunction that it should be installed only at a place where there was no cremation ground. Legend has it that Shiva gave three sacred Shiva Lingas to Parvati/Sati for worship.One sage, Maandhata, propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers. The Shiva Linga here is believed to be several thousands of years old. Sati was the daughter of Daksh, a respected Hindu king who had a disregard for Shiva. Legend has it that the head of Sati (Goddess/ wife of Shiva) fell here after Shiva's tandavam following Sati's self-immolation. Taliparamba is also regarded as one of the ancient Shakti Peethams. It is as famous as the Shiva temples in Vaikom, Ettumanur and Trichur. The temple at Taliparamba is among the 108 ancient Kerala temples dedicated to Shiva.