Koodalmanikyam Temple
Koodalmanikyam Temple is a Hindu temple in Irinjalakuda Municipality, Thrissur district, Kerala, India . The temple comprises a main structure, a walled compound with citadels, and four ponds around the main structure one of which is within the walls. Koodalmanikyam Temple is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata, the second brother of Rama, however the idol is that of god Vishnu. "Sangameshwara" ("the Lord of the Confluence") is another name associated with the deity at Koodalmanikyam. The temple is one of four in Kerala that form a set called "nalambalam", each temple dedicated to one of the four brothers in the epic Ramayana: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
| Koodalmanikyam Temple | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Thrissur |
| Deity | Bharata |
| Location | |
| Location | Irinjalakuda |
| State | Kerala |
| Country | India |
Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala | |
| Geographic coordinates | 10.3466°N 76.2012°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture (Kerala style) |
| Elevation | 27.76 m (91 ft) |
The Thachudaya Kaimal as "Manikkam Keralar" is the spiritual chief and the temporal ruler of the Koodalmanikyam Temple and its estates. The line goes back to antiquity and is mentioned in the sacred Skanda Purana. The temporal rights over the temple, that is the office of the kaimal (as opposed to "Manikkam Keralar") and the office of "melkoyma".