This is an ancient temple associated with Sree
Rama as he went in search of Sita in Threta Yuga. It is said that Jatayu fell
fighting against Ravana here. His head fell at Aluva, his body at Nadungaloor, now known as Kadungaloor, his tail at Thiruvaloor, and his wings at
Periyanam. Sree Rama is believed to have performed the last rites for Jatayu
here. Later when Vilwamangalath Swamiyar was searching for Ananthankadu
where Maha Vishnu had promised to meet him, he came to Aluva. He realised the
presence of Lord Siva and recognized the forest as his beard. He found the idol
and consecrated
more
it here. The three temples at Aluva, Kadungaloor and Thiruvaloor
are closely connected. They are supposed to lie like a coiled serpent. Narasimhamoorthy
is consecrated at the temple at Kodungaloor, Mahadeva as Mruthyunjaya at
Thiruvaloor and Mahavishnu at Periyanam. Unlike in other temples, all the poojas
are not performed here. The temple opens on the 1st of Makaram and poojas are
performed only till the end of Medam. The self-originated idol here is not made
of stone but of sand. So, ablutions with oily liquids are not performed here.
Water, tender coconut water and holy ash are used for it. Vilwamangalath Swamiyar is believed to have
offered naivedyam in the spate of the areca palm. This practice used to be
followed here till it had to be stopped due to the scarcity of the spathes.
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