Thriprayar Temple

Thriprayar Temple, located in the southern part of Thrissur district of Kerala, is one of most important temples dedicated to Lord Rama in the state. The temple is adorned with a number of precious murals, which are preserved inside this temple. Lord Rama is the presiding deity of the temple. The image of the deity, which is worshipped inside the temple, resembles the Chaturbhuj Vishnu form with four hands, each hand bearing a conch, a discus, a mace and a lotus flower, respectively. This image of Lord Rama was conceived by the artist as the victor over the demon Khara. There are five worship services conducted each day at the temple. These are called Usha, Etirthu, Panthirati, Uccha, and Athazha Puja, respectively. There is an idol of the temple deity kept especially for the purpose of procession, which is conducted thrice a day as it is carried around the temple thrice every day. During the festival of Onam, there is a snake boat race organized in honor of the temple deity.

History/Establishment
There are no written scriptures, which could establish the exact date of the construction of the Thriprayar temple or any other incidence. A popularly believed legend throws light on how the temple was constructed and what is the story behind its construction. According to that legend, the idols of Lord Rama and that of his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna, were washed ashore and were found at Thriprayar, Tirumoozhikkalam, Koodalmanikyam and Payammel, respectively. The idols were found by a chieftain named Vakkel Kaimal.

After consulting from a number of astrologers, the chieftain decided to install at a place where peacocks were found and so was done. Later, the decendents of Vakkel Kaimal moved further south and settled at Niranam and Thalavady. They worshipped Thrikapaleswar, a form of Lord Siva for attaining the lotus feet of lord Krishna. One of the son who was known as Thachudaya kaimal decided to reside at reside at Irinjalakuda. He was the one who was entrusted as the caretaker of the deities. It is considered that if a person worships the four deities in one day, he attains salvation.

Attractions
Thriprayar Temple is an exquisite example of the traditional Kerala architecture. The major attraction is the intricate wood carvings done all over the temple. The masterpiece of this craftsmanship is the Namaskara Mandapam, which faces the circular sanctum. The Mandapam is ornamented with 24 intricately carved wooden panels. Apart from it, a number of mural paintings are also protected by the temple. The circular sanctum has a number of murals painted on them, each depicting different scenes from the epic Ramayana. On the outer courtyard of the temple, there is a shrine dedicated to Dharma Shastha or Ayyappan. It is believed that this particular shrine was located at a site, which is corresponding to the temple's sanctum. The temple is located at the banks of a river. Devotees coming here indulge themselves in feeding the fish of the river.

How to Reach

By Road
The temple is well connected by an efficient network of roads. As the temple is placed conveniently, reaching it with the help of public transport is the easiest way. Private transport too is easily available and is convenient as well.

By Air
The nearest Airport to the temple is Kochi Airport. Taxies run to the airport can be hired from near the temple. One can conveniently catch a fight to any of the major cities of India, after reaching the airport.

By Rail
Thrissur railway station is the nearest railhead. From here, you can catch a train to any of the major cities in India. The network of Indian Railways is reliable and secure.