The Hindu : Kerala News : Shrine in memory of Kulasekhara Azhvar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Shrine in memory of Kulasekhara Azhvar

By Our Staff Reporter

KODUNGALLUR, NOV. 22. A shrine in memory of Kulasekhara Azhvar was consecrated today at T.K.S. Puram (Thirukulasekharapuram), considered to be the birth-place of the saintly Chera king of the 8th century.

Hundreds thronged the place to get a glimpse of the idol of Lord Sreenivasa Perumal or Tirupati Balaji that was installed during the ceremony.

Along with that of Kulasekhara Azhvar, idols of saints of the Vaishnavite sect — Nadhamuni, Alavandar, Ramanuja, Desika and Manavalamamunigal — were also installed.

A temple dedicated to the memory of Kodungallur's ancient king materialised when members of the Swami Nammazhvar (India) Foundation, Chennai, came looking for his roots, said Velukkudi Krishnan, chairman of the foundation.

King Kulasekhara is said to be the 6th Azhvar. He was the only one of the 10 Azhvars who did not have a shrine at his birthplace, Mr. Krishnan said.

Following talks with the Cochin Devaswom Board, a place for the temple was identified in front of an ancient Sree Krishna Temple, believed to be built by the king. T.K.S. Puram is located about four kilometres from Kodungallur, near the Mahadeva Temple at Thiruvanjikulam. The temple here will be one among the 13 Vaishnavite shrines in the State.

Rituals

According to Mr. Krishnan, rituals in the temple will be held according to the text followed in Pancharatna Agama. An annual festival on the birthday of the king will be celebrated on Mashi Kumbha Punnarvasu; monthly Sravana celebrations will be dedicated to Lord Sreenivasa.

Mukundamala, a 30-verse composition in Sanskrit by the king, is sung in the nearby Sree Krishna temple. The king has also composed Perumal Thirumozhi — 105 verses in Tamil in praise of the Lord.

The temple, built at a cost of Rs. 42 lakhs, would be handed over to the Cochin Devaswom Board once construction work was over, Mr. Krishnan said. A corpus fund would be set up to oversee the temple's activities till it becomes self-sufficient. Temple priests would be appointed by the Board as per the foundation's recommendations, he said.

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