Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple, Taliparamba
The Rajarajeshwara temple in Taliparamba, Kannur district of Kerala, India is considered one of the 108 ancient Shiva temples of Kerala and holds a prominent place among the numerous Shiva temples in South India.
The temple, known for having the tallest shikhara amongst the temples of its time, has a top of about 90 tonnes. Devotees seek a solution to their problems through a traditional method of astrological decision making called prashnam, which is conducted on a raised platform outside the temple.
According to legend, Sage Parashurama renovated the temple before the Kali Yuga era began, and it was later rebuilt by the Mushika (Kolathiri) dynasty kings in its present form in the early eleventh century. The sanctum is quadrangular with a two-tiered pyramidal roof, and there is a namaskara mandapam in front of it, but unlike other temples in Kerala, this one does not have a kodi maram (flagstaff).
Taliparamba is considered one of the ancient Shakti Peethams where the head of Sati fell after Shiva’s tandavam, following Sati’s self-immolation. The Shiva Linga in the temple is believed to be thousands of years old. Legend has it that Shiva gave Parvati/Sati 13 sacred Shivalingas to worship, and one of these was installed in Taliparamba by sage Maandhata after searching for the most sacred spot where there was no cremation ground.
It is also said that Sri Rama stopped at Taliparamba on his victorious return from Lanka to worship Lord Shiva. Devotees are still not allowed to enter the namaskara mandapam today in honor of his presence.
The temple compound, which is surrounded by a compound wall with two gopurams on the eastern and western sides, covers about eight acres. The ancient compound wall is a remarkable architectural wonder built of enormous cut stones placed one above the other without any cementing mortar. The main gate is on the east, and before entering the temple, one can offer prayers to Lord Vaidyanatha (kanhirangaatt-appan), an aspect of lord Shiva who is worshiped as the lord of healing illness, a temple which is about 6 km from Rajarajeswara temple.
The temple has had popular visitors, including former Karnataka chief minister Yeddyurappa, who donated an elephant during one of his visits and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha. Lord Shiva, as worshiped in this sacred temple, is known as Sree Rajarajeswara, which means the Emperor of Emperors, the Lord Supreme, invoking the supreme transcendental power in the background of mysterious drama of the boundless universe.
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