Prince Bharata was a unique example of fraternity and his part in the Ramayana story is a true translation in real life of the Dharmas enshrined in our scriptures.  He renounced the crown that came to him through his mother’s designs and led a life of an ascetic for 14 years, till his brother Sri Rama, the legal heir returned back to Ayodhya.  He is respected as Azhwar in the Vaishnavite world – Bharatha Azhwar.

Devotees make garlands with 101 lotus flowers and offer it to Lord Koodal Manickam for wedding boon without delay and obstacles.

Kerala has duly honoured the brothers of Lord Sri Rama with temples for them separately.  This is one for Prince Bharatha in Irinjnalakuda in Trissur district.  Bharatha vehemently opposed the plans of his own mother Kaikeyi to get him the kingdom while Rama was the legal heir.  He met Sri Rama on his way to the forests, got his sandals – Padukas, placed them on the throne and ruled the kingdom as His representative until his return.  Selflessness was the other name of Bharatha.

The presiding deity Bharata in the temple is more popularly known as Koodal Manickam.  He is devotionally praised in the Kerala literatures and folklore.   One day devotees found glaring brightness in the forehead of the presiding deity.  All looked here and there to find the source of the light.  A devotee brought a precious ruby belonging to the king of Kayankulam and went close to the deity to compare the brightness.  But the gem simply disappeared in the forehead of the presiding deity.  The gem is called Manickam in Tamil and Malayalam.  Since then, He is praised as Manickam.  As the place of the temple is called Koodal, the name became Koodal Manickam.

The sacred spring is called Kulipini Theertham.  Except fishes there is no other creature in the tank as frogs and snakes.  People offer flakes to the fishes.  This is called fish feeding – Meenoottu in Malayalam.  Cosmetic items are not used in pujas to deity.  Only flowers are used.

OneVakke Kaimal, a staunch Vishnu devotee was the head of the village then.  One day, a Deva from the celestial world appeared in his dream and ordered to follow him to the sea shore to pick up a treasure hidden there.  They dug a particular place, found four idols and came to know that they were Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrugna.  Kaimal took those beautiful idols, built temples, installed Sri Rama in Tiruparayar, Bharata in Irinjnalakuda, Lakshmana in Mozhikulam and Satrugna in Payamma temples as presiding deities.

It is noteworthy that all the idols look like the mirror images of one another holding conch, discus, Japamala and a club in their hands as Lord Vishnu.   The devotee can have the darshan of Lords of the four temples in a single day as they are located close to one another with commuting facility.

Once, Irinjnalakuda was a dense forest where Sage Kapilini was in deep penance on Lord Vishnu.  Pleased with his penance, Lord appeared before the sage and asked for his wish.  The sage said that he was happy with what he had and begged that he should always engage himself in His thoughts.  When Lord insisted that he should ask something specific, the Rishi asked the Lord to make the place ever pleasing for those in righteous life.  Lord promised the Rishi to stay there and bless the devotees.  This was the home of sages then for some centuries earlier.