Spiritual Tourism XIX - Heavens on Earth -
The Triprayar Lord Rama Temple
Bridal Mysticism is akin to
Intellectual Mysticism. The Self is the Consort and He can be imagined in any
form, as all forms are He ! Here in this magnificent temple, His Form is that of
Lord Rama. Ramyathe ithi Ramah - meaning that which attracts and tantalises the
Mind is Rama !
We have to understand that Sakhyam ( eternal friendship with Him ) and Atma
Nivedanam ( Sacrifice for the Self ) are part of Bridal Mysticism or Bhakti
Yoga. He is our Friend, Consort and Guide. Whatever be His Form, whatever be His
Name, He is always He !
Him whom the Saivites
call Siva
The Brahman of the Vedantins
The Buddha of the Buddhists
The Karma of the Mimamsin
The Christ of the Christians
The Allah of the Muslims
Let Him who illumines the worlds triune
Enlighten us, to initiate the Self Actualisation process !
Saivya samupasathe Siva ithi Brahmethi Vedantino
Bauddha buddharithi pramana padava Karmethi Meemamsaka
Christva Christurithi kriya pararatha Allehthi Mahammada
Soyam vo Vidhadhatu Vanchitha phalam trailokya natho Ravi !
Sakhyam is friendship or perpetual fellowship with Love Immortal.
The Fivefold Chord of Being
The entire Universe is made up of Five Principles, the Five Philosophic Equations - Being, Knowlege, Bliss, Name and Form. Sat, Chit, Ananda, Nama and Rupa.
Self = Being
Self = Knowledge
Self = Bliss
Self = Name
Self = Form
Aar in Malayalam means river and Triprayar is the place where the river brushes the feet of the Lord !
Here five Pujas are done daily. The image of the Deity is carried around the temple thrice a day.
The major festival here is the Ekadasi Festival in the month of Scorpio or
Vrischika. It is akin to the Guruvayur Ekadasi festival. The procession of Lord
Rama is flanked by 21 elephants and other paraphernalia.
Mythology has it that the idols of the 4 heroes of the Ramayana, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrugna were washed ashore and were installed. Nalambala Darshanam or Vision of these 4 temples on a particular day is considered highly auspicious.
Pooram Festival
This is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Pisces or Meena and it concludes when Moon tenants Pooram constellation.
Performing Arts
Angya Koothu is offered as worship here. It is a local theater form. Episodes from the mighty epic, Ramayana, are performed in the 12 performing days, in the Holy Month of Vrischika or Scorpio.
Fish Feeding or Meenoottu
Devotees feed fishes of the nearby river and this function is called Meenoottu. The fishes are beloved to the Lord !
By Govind Kumar
Tour to the Four Temples, Nalambala Darshanam