Koodalmanikyam temple

I have visited Triprayar many times before; But this was my first visit to Koodalmanikyam temple

I was on my way to Thrissur in November 2007 from Peruvaram with Vava and Manikutty, when suddenly I felt like visiting the temple. Great temple with a lot of history. Koodalmanikyam Temple has many unique features/ legends:
1. It holds the image of only one deity and there are no 'chuttambalam'/sub deities in this temple.
2. It is the only temple in India dedicated to the worship of Bharata.

3. There is a view that this temple belonged to the Jains.

4.There is another view that the deity is the incarnation of “Dhanvanthara moorthi” or the saint of healing.

5. The idol of this temple radiated bright light like 'manikyam' (a mythological precious stone) A 'manikyam' kept in Kayamkulam palace was brought to this temple to compare which is brighter. It seems that the palace manikyam when brought near the idol merged with the idol! (koodal manikyam means merger of manikyams)

6. Thetchi and thulasi flowers are not grown in the temple premises.

7. Incense sticks and camphor are not used for the pooja.

People had to wait for sometime before the temple opened for evening poojas on that day as there was some 'shuddhikalasham' ceremony taking place inside the temple. One of the temple persons was not very happy with Vava's dresscode ( She was wearing a Kavi Mundu, that was perfectly alright for entering the temple) , but another person said its fine. I Could feel the power and aura surrounding the temple......This feeling was very strong when I did the pradakshinam around the temple and also when we went around the temple pond.

I would like to do the Nalambala yatra some day in the future; ie starting with Triprayar (Sree Raman), then Koodalmanikyam and Moozhikkulam (Lakshmanan) and ending at Shatrughna temple at Payammel.
There is also a Sreekrishna temple called Elambalakkattu at Edakulam while going to the Shathrugna temple.