Rajarajeshwara Temple

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Shree Rajarajeshwara Kshetram
Taliparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple
Rajarajeshwara Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictKannur district
DeityShiva
Governing bodyMalabar Devaswom Board[1]
Location
StateKerala
CountryIndia
Rajarajeshwara Temple is located in Kerala
Rajarajeshwara Temple
Location within Kerala
Geographic coordinates12°2′54.17″N 75°21′20.1″E / 12.0483806°N 75.355583°E / 12.0483806; 75.355583
Architecture
TypeKerala Architecture
CreatorParashurama
InscriptionsMalayalam

The Rajarajeshwara Temple is a Hindu temple in Taliparamba, Kannur district, Kerala, India, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. It is one of the 108 Shiva Temples of Kerala and one of the Dwadasha Shivalayam (12 important Shiva temples of ancient Kerala, stretching from Gokarnam to Kanyakumari). It also has a prominent place amongst the numerous Shiva temples in South India.[2] It had the tallest shikhara amongst the temples of its time. The Rajarajeshwara temple has a top of about 90 tonnes.

Legendarily, it was supposedly renovated by Sage Parashurama, long before the Kali Yuga commenced. Several centuries ago, it was renovated by the Mushika (Kolathiri) dynasty kings. This temple was rebuilt into its present form in the early eleventh century. The quadrangular sanctum has a two-tiered pyramidal roof; in front of the sanctum is the namaskara mandapam, but the temple has no kodi maram (flagstaff), unlike others in Kerala. Only Hindus are permitted to enter.[3]

Legend and history

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Rajarajeshwara Temple

The Shiva Linga here is believed to be several thousands of years old. Legend has it that Shiva gave 13 sacred Shivalingas to Parvati/Sati to worship.[4] One sage, Maandhata, propitiated Lord Shiva with intense prayers. 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. The sage, after searching all over, found Taliparamba the most sacred spot where he installed the Shiva Linga. After his death the Linga disappeared into the earth.[5] Then his son Muchukunda offered similar prayers to Shiva and got a second Shiva Linga, which too disappeared in course of time. Centuries passed. The third Shiva Linga was handed down to Satasoman, a king of Mushaka/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family, who then ruled the region. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. On the advice of sage Agastya, he prayed to Lord Siva, who granted him the Shiva Linga. The king installed it in the present temple built by him. However, as per many legends associated with the Temple, Agastya Himself installed the Shiva Linga (which is believed as per those legends to be a 'Jyothirlingam').[6]

It is believed that Sri Rama during his victorious return from Lanka stopped here to offer worship to Lord Shiva. In honor of His presence, devotees are not allowed into the namaskara mandapam even today.[5]



Visitors

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  • Karnataka former chief minister Yeddyurappa visited here several times. He donated an elephant to this temple during one of his visits.[7][8]
  • Tamil Nadu former chief minister Jayalalithaa had a special relation with this temple.[9][10]
  • BJP president Amit Shah[11]

Controversies

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In July 2006, Malayalam actress Meera Jasmine, a Christian, was found to have visited the temple despite the fact that non-Hindus are banned from entry. She later apologised and offered to pay money to perform purification rituals.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Temples under Malabar Devaswam Board, Division : Thalassery" (PDF). Malabar Devaswam Board. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Rajarajeshwara temple". Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b "D A I J I W O R L D". www.daijiworld.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2006.
  4. ^ "Rajarajeswara Of Taliparamba". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Rajarajeswara Of Taliparamba". Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  6. ^ Mathew, Biju (September 2013). Biju Mathew (ed.). Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage. Info Kerala Communications. ISBN 9788192128443.
  7. ^ "Yeddyurappa donates elephant to Kerala temple".
  8. ^ "Yeddyurappa worships at Kannur temples - The Hindu". The Hindu. 26 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Jayalalithaa shared a special relation with Talipparamba Rajarajeshwara Temple". 7 December 2016.
  10. ^ "When a temple kept its doors open for Jayalalithaa | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Amit Shah in Kerala: BJP president offers prayers at Taliparamba's Rajarajeswara Temple". 3 October 2017.
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