KOCHI: Come Karkidakam and it’s the time of the year when the Keralite is trying to rejuvenate the mind and body through ayurveda.
For the devout Hindu, it is the ‘Ramayana masam’ when men and women read the epic every day of the month and try to complete the whole epic in the month itself.
They get up early in the morning and visit temples of Lord Rama or his brothers every morning as a part of the rituals. Also, catching up is the concept of the Nalambalam pilgrimage which is fast becoming a much sought-after programme in the itinerary of most families during this season.
One of the oldest temples in this part of the world is the Sreerama Temple situated at Ramapuram village in Kottayam district along with temples of the other three brothers. Unlike the other ‘Nalambalams,’ the four temples here are situated within a radius of six kilometres in the same grama panchayat.
The Sreerama temple devasthanam at Ramapuram is said to be over 1,000 years old. In fact, the village got its name from the temple where Lord Rama is said to be seated in meditation. Legend has it that after a long peaceful and prosperous rule, Lord Rama, disturbed by the absence of his wife Sita, handed over the reign to his sons and left the kingdom without informing even his beloved brother Lakshmana.
Lord Rama proceeded south through the old path that he had trekked several years earlier in search of Sitadevi. At last, he reached a beautiful place with a stream on the right side, paddy fields in the rear and surrounded by dense forests, where he settled for meditation.
As his brothers Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shatrughna could not bear the absence of their brother, they set out in search of him and followed the same path. When they found him, they decided to settle down adjacent to his place. So, Lakshmana settled at Koodapulam, Bharatha at Amanakara, and Shatrughna at Methiri. As years rolled by, four temples rose in the places in their names.
Hence, this Nalambalam darshan is probably the only one where all the four brothers are seated in a single village within a distance of 15 kilometres. These temples at the Ramapuram grama panchayat in Kottayam district have been highlighted in the government of India temple survey of 1997.
The pilgrimage starts at Ramapuram. From Ernakulam one can reach Ramapuram by road via Piravom and Koothattukulam in one and a half hours. From Kottayam, Ramapuram can be reached via Palai and the journey takes almost the same time. Both state transport buses and private buses are available from Ernakulam to Palai via Ramapuram. The distance between the temples is around 4 to 5 kms. Though the old-timers used to complete the Nalambala darshan by walk, nowadays the temples are connected by good roads. Private taxies and autorickshaws are available at Ramapuram to take the pilgrim on a Nalambala yatra.
