T V Puram Thrinayamkudam Sree Rama temple, also known as Vaikom Thiruvenkatapuram temple, is located at T V
Puram near Vaikom in Kottayam district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to
Bhagavan Sri Rama. The annual festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Meda
Masam (April – May). It begins on Chothi nakshatra day in Medam month.
This is a beautiful Kerala style temple located on banks of
Vembanad Lake. The temple has classic Kerala architecture with chuttambalam,
kodimaram (flag pole), namaskara mandapam and shrines of upa devatas.
The square-shaped two-tier sanctum sanctorum – chathura
sreekovil has a standing murti of Bhagavan Sri Rama. The Sankalpam of Sri Rama
here is the one who has just annihilated demon Khara. The murti has four hands
and holds Shankh, Gada and Padmam. The murti is nearly 6-feet tall and is
carved in Anjana Shila. The murti is covered in panchaloham.
The upa devatas worshipped in the temple include Sastha, Naga
devatas, Brahma Rakshas, Goddess Bhagavathi and Hanuman.
The origin of the temple is associated with Konkani people
who fearing prosecution of Portuguese arrived here. They temple was built by
their leader Thirumani Venkitan.
The original Sree Rama temple was located on a small island,
Vilakkumadom, behind the present temple which is surrounded on four sides by
Vembanad Lake. Thousands of people offer Bali Tarpan on Karkidaka Vavu day at the
Vilakkumadom.
The present temple was constructed by the Travancore kings.
The Bali Kallu in the temple is unusually big.
The annual festival is famous for various Vaishnava temple
pujas and rituals. Ezhunellippu, traditional temple art forms and melam are
part of the festivities.
The temple also observes Vishu, Sri Rama Navami in Meena
Masam, Ramayana Masam and Karkidaka Vavu Bali.