The Parasurama Temple at Thiruvallam is located 7 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is a 2000-year-old temple on the banks of the River Karamana and is the only one in Kerala dedicated to Sree Parasurama, the mythological creator of the State. This temple is a venue for ancestor worship. As part of the bali ritual, devotees make offerings to the souls of the departed, after taking a dip in the holy water. The place where Parasurama worshiped Lord bears his foot prints.
It is believed that the Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple was built during the 12 th-13th century by a legendary Chera King called Athiyaman Perumal. Also known as Sri Parasuramaswamy Temple, this is a protected monument of the Archaeology Department of Kerala.
Sage Parasurama is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This is an incarnation to establish rule of discipline in life. It so happened that his mother Renuka Devi gazed at a lad appreciating his handsomeness. Suspecting her fidelity, Sage Jamadagni ordered his son Parasurama to behead his mother, which he executed as he could not disobey the father. Yet with the power of the boon he had from father Jamadagni, Parasurama restored his mother to life. He was a classic archer and was unconquerable. Parasu-axe was his weapon. He took a vow to destroy the royal dynasties (Kshatriya) entirely as a king killed his father (Jamadagni). It was during this time, Lord Vishnu took His Ramavatara. Parasurama understood who Rama was.
He surrendered all his archery skill with the respective Mantras attached to them and retired to penance. The rough place he cured with his axe is the Kerala of today. It is also noteworthy that Sage Parasurma is one among the seven immortals (Chiranjeevis). Others are, Ashwatama, Mahabali, Sage Vyasa, Sri Anjaneya, Krupa and Vibishana according to scriptures. The Sanskrit sloka runs, “Ashwatama Balir Vyasa Hanumanascha Vibishanah Krupa Parasuramascha Sathethe Chiranjeevi Namah. The place where Parasurama worshipped Lord bears his foot prints. This was worshipped by his disciple and one of the Chiranjeevis, Ashwatama. The idol of Parasurama with his axe is nearby. Lords Brahmma, Vishnu and Shiva grace the devotees from their respective shrines. Sage Parasurama installed Lord Shiva in the temple, Sage Vibakarana Lord Vishnu in Veda Vyasa form and Acharya Sri Adi Sankara Lord Brahma.
One of the unique features of Sree Parasurama Temple is that the temple has separate shrines for the Trimurtis of Hindu religion – Mahavishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. Another speciality is that the temple is located at the Triveni Sangama (merging of 3 rivers) of Karamana River, Killi River, and Parvathiputhanar River – and hence considered a holy spot to perform bali ritual.
New Moon days (Amavasya) in Thai (Janauary-February) and Aadi (July-August) in particular and on such monthly days, devotees gather here to perform Tarpan for their forefathers.
Additional information on http://mandirinfo.com/TempleDetails.aspx?HID=313
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