ALATHIYOOR

Alathiyur
After a sumptuous breakfast of iddli, hot vada and dosa at a restaurant at Angadipuram we left towards Valanchery road. We crossed Valancherry proceeded towards Kuttipuram and continued towards Tirur. About 5 kms before reaching Tirur there is a road towards left which takes you to Hanumankavu where the famous temple of Alathiyur is situated. We reached at around 9 o clock and went inside the temple.

History and legends

This temple which is said to be 3000 years old ,is rumoured to be founded by the great Sage Vasishsta The temple in those days belonged to the Alathiyur Namboodiris, subsequently the local Maharaja took over and finally it came to be under the Calicut Zamoorins. And even today this temple is maintained by the descendants of Zamoorin
family

The main deity is of Sri Rama. This Sri Rama does not have Devi Sita next to him. The legend is that after the abduction of Sita by Ravana, Rama is seen advising Hanuman, in the ears, His code word to be passed on to Sita. And hence the deities of Sri Rama and Hanuman are situated in that pose, Hanuman carrying His Gada, bending His head slightly towards Sri Rama as if to listen more carefully. As the words of Sri Rama is confidential in nature, brother Laksmanan is asked to stay little away, as can be seen from the temple of Laksmanan,
There is a granite stone which is supposed to be the ocean which Hanuman jumps to reach Lanka. By jumping this, the legend is that we can overcome all our worries in life. I did the jump.
The most important offering to Sri Hanuman is a mixture of beaten rice with jaggery called “Avilnedyam”. This is in memory of the packet of beaten rice given to Hanuman by Sri Rama when He was going in quest of Seetha Devi.

After this we proceeded to visit the famous NavaMukundan Stemple at Thirunavaya