Rudrakshamala- Origin History and the greatness of Twenty Seven Temples of South Kerala with Ritualistic Details

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Princess Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, known for her learning and scholarship, has authored several publications and has presented erudite papers at national and international conferences. Her poems and articles have appeared in leading newspapers and journals in India and abroad. She has written both in English and Malayalam.

Her major works in English include, Thirumul- kazhcha and The Down (anthologies of poems), Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Kerala Temple Architecture, Thulasi Garland (about 33 Travancore temples) The Mighty Indian Experience and Glimpses of Kerala Culture. Her books in Malayalam include, Malayalame Mappu and Budha Darshanam. She has also translated Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Charitham from English to Malayalam and provided the English text for Raja Ravi Varma, The Painter Prince 1848-1906.

Princess Gouri Lakshmi Bayi is the recipient of several awards and honours which include the Sree Sarada Education Society Merit Award, Vijayadasami Puraskaram, C.G. Nair Sahitya Puraskaram, Sahitya Panchananan Puraskaram, Arsha Samskara Deepika Puraskar, Kala Poshak Award, Deva Ratna Award, T.S. Eliot Award, Indus Literary Award (U.S.A.) Sanathanadharma Puraskaram, Malabar 2010 Award (for research writing), Mookambika Award, Mannam Pratibha Puraskaram, Pratibha Pranamam, Sree Sakti Global Award, Malliyur Srimad Bhagavatha Puraskaram, Swami Sidhanandaji Smaraka Puraskaram and Sree Anjaneya Puraskaram. Recently she has received the Malabar Award, instituted by the Malabar Institute for Research and Development, for her literary contributions.

She is Managing Trustee/Trustee of many Charitable Trusts and Director in family owned concerns.

The restless human mind is on eternal quest and in the attempt to arrive at conclusions or solutions, at times, it stumbles on the doorstep of the spiritual saga of the universe. Whether it be search or research, whether it be to explore or implore, the inevitability of the presence of a paramount Power is beyond mere expression or casual comprehension. The religious centres world over, in this context the subject is restricted to Hindu temples, have played out a holistic role in the evolution and elevation of the cosmos, especially in terms of the complex and bound soul or Badha Jeevatma of sorts. While happiness tempts and teases like an iridescent rainbow with promises of the crock of gold, peace is more substantial and solid. It is for this peace, not just individual peace but universal peace, peace interiorized and exteriorized, that the repeated supplication of the Hindu Scriptures upholds, down unchartered time from then till now in ancient Bharatha ‘Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu’ which is followed by the sacred Pranava Sabdam and ‘Santhi:, Santhi:, Santhi:’. The temples, big and small, famous and little-known, all discharge their responsibilities to collective life, especially to mankind. The mystic union of the God within and God without is best exemplified by the innumerable temples, the abodes of the Divine, blessing the sands on which they stand. In Stella Kramrisch’s striking vocabulary on the temple, "It is the place for the meeting and marriage of Heaven and Earth.’

It has been a divine experience to have been able to embark on a pilgrimage into this hallowed orbit of temple culture. Temple lore, history, tradition encircling the temples under study, all became valuable primary and secondary information sources, opening windows to a fascinating past.

This volume with twenty-seven Travancore temples comes as a companion to "Thulasi Garland’ including thirty-three temples of the same area. In matters of faith, options are innumerable and like before, choice was no easy task. As always, I have been blessed to receive the unstinted and enthusiastic support and input from so many, from scholars to the ordinary man on the streets. They all gave generously of their time and knowledge and have been separately acknowledged by name in the book. Still, with folded hands, I extend to them collectively my deep gratitude.

As of before, my unfailing supports and source of encouragement have been my two wonderful professors — Prof. P.Balakrishnan Nair and Dr. M.GSashibhooshan. Prof. P.Balakrishnan Nair has examined my manuscripts with meticulous care. At times the teacher in him has deplored the exhaustive foray into certain aspects of some of the chapters like Thiruppathisaram, Parthivapuram, etc. While assenting to this assessment, in the case of Thiruppathisaram I felt compelled to add at least this much from the reams and reams of material available. With regard to Parthivapuram I have expanded on the copper plates and inscriptions this much in an attempt to present them as records also, which could be of some value in the area of serious study. However, the painstaking labour and care of Prof. Balakrishnan Nair and his valuable comments have been of immense help. I offer him a heart full of gratitude.

Like a friend in need, Dr.M.G. Sasibhooshan has unfailingly come to my aid. Whenever or wherever the need for help arises, often I have knocked at the door of the storehouse of information and knowledge that is his. He has willingly shared it with me, addressing my queries with real forebearance. My obligation to him is immense.

The wishes of my family and vast circle of friends and those who foster kindness for me have encouraged and inspired me. My sincere thankfulness to them all.

This is the second book authored by me to be brought out under the banner of Poorna Publication, Kozhikode. This publishing house of esteem has been enthusiastic and swift in its work under the efficient stewardship of Sri. Manohar Marar, the accomplished son of an eminent father, Sri Balakrishna Marar, under whom Poorna took its birth and flourished. I am placing my real appreciation to them and to the Poorna workforce for the valuable services in this direction.

The domain of proof reading is taxing and demands indepth concentration. Mr K. Nanda Kumar and Smt Remy Nandakumar (of Sri Dhanwantari Matam) and their daughter Kalyani have taken upon themselves, in willing response to my request, this mission as a labour of love. I remain deeply beholden to them.

I will be failing in my duty.to my own conscience ifI do not make special mention of Sri. S.Sreekumar (Bhattathiripad) of Thekke Chennamangalathu Illam, Pandalam. With missionary zeal he has himself converted the manuscript into typed form to avoid possible errors and, with meticulous care, readied it for final publication. His ready help in this work has been immense. My repeated and most heartfelt thanks to him.

Let me extend my obligation to the Travancore Devaswom Board, particularly to Smt. Cicily (then member of the Travancore Devaswom Board) and to Sri. L. Muralidharan, PRO, for their unstinted cooperation, particularly with regard to details and visuals of the temples coming within the orbit of the Board. My sincere thanks.

In great veneration let me prostrate before the twenty-seven Divinities of these twenty-seven temples of Travancore who have condescended to grace the pages of this work. Without their sanction this book would not have seen the light of day. My experience during the journey from temple to temple has been profound.

As the ultimate sublime Recipient of all my humble oblations, I submit to my Sree Padmanabha Swamy in all adoration, this chain of Rudraksha beads.