Thriprayar Shri Rama Temple

While visiting Lakshmana PerumaaL temple at Thirumozikkulam yesterday I was wondering about Rama Temple. Then after reading the history I found the following facts. 

Vakkay Kaimal, had a dream one night in which some mysterious person appeared before him and told him that four idols have been washed ashore and that these idols are to be consecrated at such and such places. The Kaimal being an ardent devotee hastened to the sea shore there lay four idols as indicated in the dream. They were duly installed in four temples as directed in the dream. 

Rama at Thriprayar. 

Bharata at Irinjalakuda, 

Lakshmana at Moozhikkulam and 

Shathrughna at Payammal.

Since we are not sure whether we will have time to visit the other temples we started from Cochi to Guruvayur this morning. On the way I found the board showing directions to Thriprayar Shri Rama Temple at Thrissur. Thrilled to see we determined to stop and worship Lord Rama. We are glad we did. I went inside and had an excellent dharshan at 12 Noon just before closing for the afternoon. Amazing temple with Kerala style architecture. 

The diety Lord Rama in the Triprayar Temple is popularly known as Triprayarappan or Triprayar Thevar. 

The idol of Lord Rama was initially worshipped by Lord Krishna at Dwaraka. After the swargarohana of Lord Krishna the idol was immnesed in the sea. Later some fisher men got the idol from the sea near Chettuva region of Kerala and the local ruler Vakkayil Kaimal constructed a temple at Triprayar and installed the idol. 

The image of Rama (Triprayar Thevar) resembles the Chaturbhuja Vishnu form with four arms, bearing a conch(Panchajanya), a disc (Sudarsana), a bow (Kodanda) and a garland respectively. It is believed that the deity worshipped here possesses some of the aspects of Shiva too. It was after killing the asura, Khara that Sri Rama got both the Shaiva and Vaishnava aspects. Thus Triprayar Thevar is also called Khara Samhara Moorthy.

It is also believed that the portrayal of Rama with a garland held in the image's hand is also suggestive of aspects of Bhrahma and hence the deity is said to be a manifestation of the Trimoorthis