00:00 [BIRDS CHIRPING]
00:02 [NON-ENGLISH SINGING]
00:04 As our journey, Karnakandmiram takes us
00:22 to every direction, every corner of this country.
00:25 Today, the Chandan breeze fragrance of bhakti
00:29 walks out to us from the enchanting southern landscape
00:33 of Ernakulam, the Muralikulam Lakshman Perumal Temple.
00:36 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:39 The temple is located at Thirumuralikulam in Ernakulam.
00:46 It is one of the temples in Kerala dedicated to Lakshman,
00:50 the brother of Lord Ram, popularly prayed to as Adishesh.
00:56 This temple's architecture, a quintessential example
00:59 of the Dravidian style architecture found in Kerala,
01:02 is believed to have been designed by the legendary artisan
01:06 Perumal Thachin.
01:07 The temple complex is well spread out,
01:10 the central attraction of its impossibly picturesque
01:14 surroundings.
01:14 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:23 Lakshman Perumal, the main deity,
01:26 is housed in the Garbha Greh, or sanctum sanctorum.
01:30 As majestic is the form of the temple and its deity now,
01:34 that violent is its history.
01:36 The temple was set on fire in 1790
01:40 during the invasion of Tipu Sultan.
01:43 The idol desecrated.
01:45 It was renovated until later, during the reigns
01:48 of Travancore kings, Sri Molan Tirunel Maharaj
01:52 and Sri Chitiray Tirunel Maharaj.
01:54 What often eludes the collective memory of people
01:57 and scholars alive here is immortalized on stone.
02:01 Vatterhuttu inscriptions can be found on the northern side
02:05 and below the pranalam, and also on the western side
02:09 of the valyambalam, confirming the age of the temple.
02:14 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
02:16 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
02:18 Nalambala Darshana, the annual pilgrimage
02:36 of visiting and offering prayers at four temples of Sri Ram,
02:40 Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughna as main deities
02:44 in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam
02:48 is considered auspicious by the Hindus of Kerala.
02:51 And Murikulam Lakshman temple can
02:53 be spotted ornamented in ready preparations,
02:56 eagerly awaiting the devotees.
02:59 There is no shortage of folklore, legends, and stories
03:02 that emerge from this temple and its aura.
03:05 The temple's antiquity dates back to the Ramayana,
03:09 when Prabhu Sri Ram was in exile in the forest,
03:12 and his brother Bharat came to request him to return
03:16 to the kingdom as its ruler.
03:18 However, Lakshman suspected Bharat's intention
03:22 and tried to engage in a fight with him.
03:24 Soon, Bharat's innocence and noble intentions became clear,
03:29 and Lakshmana's misgivings vanished.
03:32 And it is said that together, both the brothers
03:35 offered worship at Tirumurikulam.
03:39 Muri means language or words, and Tirumuri
03:43 is interpreted as sweet words.
03:46 Thus, the place where kind words were exchanged
03:49 became Tirumurikulam.
03:51 According to another legend, Harith Maharshi
03:54 did penance towards Lord Vishnu on the banks of River Purna.
03:58 The pleased Lord appeared before him
04:00 and gave him some mindful advice on how
04:03 to overcome the difficult times of Kali Yuga.
04:06 These wise words were called Tirumuri,
04:10 and the place where they were given became Tirumurikulam.
04:14 This later turned into Tirumurikulam.
04:18 Whether through the human pastimes of the Lord
04:20 or his divine benevolence, this place
04:23 remains blessed to continue to feel his presence.
04:27 The epicenter of this transcendence being the temple.
04:32 As one immerses themselves in life in this part of Ernakulam,
04:36 a different idea of heaven comes to mind,
04:39 of waking up early and spreading Pukalam
04:43 in honor of the Lord.
04:45 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
04:46 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
04:48 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
04:49 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
04:50 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
05:06 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
05:07 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
05:24 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
05:26 Of stringing garlands for the Lord,
05:51 of joining the Kirtan Sabhas, of watching
05:53 the sun fall below the horizon graced
05:56 by the shikara of this temple.
05:59 We find ourselves the Indian way of life.
06:02 Bhakti is no escape.
06:04 [MUSIC PLAYING]
06:07 (upbeat music)
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