Taliparamba Siva temple.
According to legend, the place was a big forest, called Sambaravanam or Sambara forest. Sambara Maharshi was practicing tapas for several years by worshipping Mahavishnu, attained oneness with the God. Henceforth people felt the divine presence here and their devotion and faith gradually gave shape to a temple. It is not known whether the temple came into existence in Dwaparayuga or Kaliyuga. There is a general belief that this Vishnu temple was built soon after the Siva temple at Taliparamba in order to temper the fierceness of Siva. As in the case of several other temples in Kerala, Parasurama is also credited with the construction of this temple. When he came to Trichambaram he had the wonderful vision of the Lord after annihilating Kamsa probably the same vision which Sambara Maharshi had earlier. After constructing the temple Parasurama laid down the pooja routine and stipulated the different festivals to be observed in the temple.
There are two peculiar customs observed here, which reinforce the belief that the deity here represents the Lord after Kamsavadha. One is the offering of naivedya immediately after the sanctum is opened for the day every morning. The belief is Krishna after killing Kamsa went to his mother Devaki and asked for food stating that he was very hungry after the ordeal. It is to commemorate this event that the ritual of offering food the first thing in the morning is observed.
The other is the prohibition of elephants being taken anywhere near the temple. It may be recalled that the royal elephant Kuvalayapida charged Krishna and Balarama while they were entering the palace of Kamsa. Since this incident Krishna had developed hatred against elephants. For this reason no one dares taking an elephant near the temple although elephants are very much part of all other Kerala temples where the deities are mostly carried atop these animals in procession.
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