Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple

The Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple at Moozhikkulam in Ernakulam district is praised in hymns of the Alvar saints Nammalvar and Tirumangai Alvar and is one of the 13 Divya Desams in Kerala. Built in Kerala style within granite walls, it is run by the Travancore Devaswom Board and is one of the few temples where the dance-drama Kutiyattam is practised.

The presiding deity takes the form of Lakshmana, and the temple is one of four on the Nalambalam yatra, with Rama at Thriprayar, Bharata at Irinjalakuda and Shatrughna at Payammal. Legend says that when Bharata came to ask the exiled Rama to return, an angry Lakshmana suspected him and meant to kill him, but Bharata's innocence soon became clear and the two worshipped here together; the name is read as the place where sweet words were spoken. Another story links it to the sage Harita, to whom Vishnu appeared here.