Thirumoozhikkalam Lakshmana Perumal Temple, in Thirumoozhikulam in Kerala, is a shrine to Lakshmana Perumal (Vishnu), also called Sookthinatha Perumal, with consort Madhuraveni. It is also known as Sree Lakshmana Perumal Temple, Sri Sookthinatha Perumal Temple, Thirumoozhikkulam.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints, and is one of thirteen Divya Desams located in Kerala (the Malai Naadu group). Temple tradition holds that Lakshmana and Bharata, the brothers of Rama, worshipped Vishnu together here after resolving a misunderstanding over the succession of the kingdom during Rama's exile. The temple is one of four shrines associated with the Nalambalam (four brothers) tradition of the Ramayana, alongside the Rama temple at Thriprayar, the Bharata temple at Irinjalakuda, and the Shatrughna temple at Payammal.
Kerala carries a distinct temple identity of its own: God's Own Country, where copper-roofed shrines and centuries-old rituals draw pilgrims to Vishnu, Krishna and Ayyappa.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Sources give slightly different timings, one lists 4:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM instead; not independently confirmed with the temple administration.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Annual festival | Ten days during the Malayalam month of Medam (April/May) | The temple's most important annual celebration, featuring cultural programs including the classical performance art Chakyar Koothu. |
| Vaikuntha Ekadashi | Observed as a major festival day at the temple. | |
| Thiruvonam | Malayalam month of Chingam (August/September) | Celebrated as a major festival at the temple. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Built in Kerala temple architectural style with all five traditional prakaras (enclosures); temple lore credits the design to Perumthachan, the legendary master craftsman. The sanctum faces east and houses the deity in a standing posture. The temple was set on fire during Tipu Sultan's invasion in 1790 and the original idol was desecrated; it was later renovated during the reigns of the Travancore kings Sree Moolam Thirunal and Sree Chithira Thirunal.
History
The temple is one of four shrines associated with the Nalambalam (four brothers) tradition of the Ramayana, alongside the Rama temple at Thriprayar, the Bharata temple at Irinjalakuda, and the Shatrughna temple at Payammal. It is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham through eleven verses by Nammalvar and three verses by Tirumangai Alvar. A shrine to Shiva also stands within the temple complex, reflecting a shared Vaishnava-Shaiva sanctity at the site.
Planning your visit
How to reach
The temple is located about 25 km from Ernakulam city. The nearest railway stations are Aluva and Angamaly. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, less than 12 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Deity, consort (Madhuraveni), Divya Desam status and the Lakshmana/Bharata legend are well corroborated, and the Shiva shrine is confirmed as part of the same temple complex rather than a distinct nearby temple; exact timings, entry fee and dress code were not consistently confirmed across sources, and the name of the adjoining river is given differently in different sources so it was omitted