Vennimala Sree Rama Lakshmana Perumal Temple is a 1000+ year old temple located at Puthuppalli village panchayath, around 15 km from Kottayam in Kerala. The presiding deity is Lakshmana Perumal along with his elder brother Sree Ram. Vennimala temple is located on a hill top, almost 1500 feet high from the sea level. The temple is believed to have been built by Cheraman Perumal Bhaskara Ravi Varma according to the direction of Kapila Maharshi (Sage Kapila). This ancient temple was a Mahakshetra with 5 poojas and 3 sreebalis daily.
Vennimala Lakshmana Temple faces west and features two bronze dhwajastambhas (flagmasts) in the front yard. The temple complex also has shrines of Lord Ganapati, Lord Krishna, Lord Nagaraja and Yakshi.
Puranic Significance
Purunas has it that Sree Rama and Lakshmana visited this place searching for Sita during their exile period of 14 years. During that time numerous sages who were meditating in the caves of Vennimala requested Sri Ram to help them in eradicating the trouble caused by demons. So Rama asked Lakshmana to kill the demons who were a threat and nuisance to the sages. Lakshmana won the battle with demons. After this event the place came to be known as Vijayadri or the ‘hill of victory’ which later got changed to Vennimala.
Festivals
The temple celebrates annual festival during the Malayalam month of Makaram – Kumbham. Ramayanam story will be enacted during the festival. Vennimala Koothu, performed by Pothiyil Chakyars, is another major festival attraction. Karkidaka Vavu Bali in the month of July – August is another major festival here and thousands of Hindus visit the temple to perform Pithru Tharpanam or Vavubali, an offering to the ancestors.
Cheruvallikavu Devi Temple, Alampally Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, and Chennampally Gandharvasamy Temple are popular religious sites located nearby.
Location
Sree Rama Lakshmana Temple in Vennimala is situated in Putuppally and can be reached by bus in Kottayam – Putupally - Payyappadi route. The temple can be easily accessed from Kottayam or Kumarakom. The temple can be reached through K.K. Road from Kottayam via Manarkad and turn right at the 8th mile. A board of Vennimala Temple shows the way.
Vennimala Lakshmana Temple faces west and features two bronze dhwajastambhas (flagmasts) in the front yard. The temple complex also has shrines of Lord Ganapati, Lord Krishna, Lord Nagaraja and Yakshi.
Puranic Significance
Purunas has it that Sree Rama and Lakshmana visited this place searching for Sita during their exile period of 14 years. During that time numerous sages who were meditating in the caves of Vennimala requested Sri Ram to help them in eradicating the trouble caused by demons. So Rama asked Lakshmana to kill the demons who were a threat and nuisance to the sages. Lakshmana won the battle with demons. After this event the place came to be known as Vijayadri or the ‘hill of victory’ which later got changed to Vennimala.
Festivals
The temple celebrates annual festival during the Malayalam month of Makaram – Kumbham. Ramayanam story will be enacted during the festival. Vennimala Koothu, performed by Pothiyil Chakyars, is another major festival attraction. Karkidaka Vavu Bali in the month of July – August is another major festival here and thousands of Hindus visit the temple to perform Pithru Tharpanam or Vavubali, an offering to the ancestors.
Cheruvallikavu Devi Temple, Alampally Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, and Chennampally Gandharvasamy Temple are popular religious sites located nearby.
Location
Sree Rama Lakshmana Temple in Vennimala is situated in Putuppally and can be reached by bus in Kottayam – Putupally - Payyappadi route. The temple can be easily accessed from Kottayam or Kumarakom. The temple can be reached through K.K. Road from Kottayam via Manarkad and turn right at the 8th mile. A board of Vennimala Temple shows the way.
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