Wayanad district, Kerala: Seetha Lava Kusha Temple Dinesh King Rama had banished his pregnant wife Sita, and sent her away to live in the forest, where she her was brought by Lakshmana and Hanuman and left in the then forest village of Pulpalli in the hermitage of Valmiki. The Sita idol here is known as Jadayattakavu Amma or Chedathinkavu. It is believed that Lava and Kusha were born here in Valmiki Ashrama and grew up in this place under the tutelage of the sage Valmiki. The main shrine here is dedicated to Sita and flanked by shrines of her sons, Lava and Kusha (known locally as Murikannmar). Did you know that the Seetha Lava Kusha known as Kerala Varma and was also known as Temple in Pulpalli, north-west of Sultan's Cotiote Rajah and Pychy Rajah, and who was a Bathery in Wayanad district, Kerala is where staunch devotee of Goddess Sita. It is also said during the epic days of Ramayana, Sita, wife of that during the Pazhassi rebellion, Pazhassi Raja Rama lived with her two sons? sought refuge in this temple precicnts of Pulpalli The Seetha Lava Kusha Temple in Pulpalli, a forest. He managed the temple for many years. Grama Panchayath town now 25 km north-west The meetings and discussions with his army of Sultan's Bathery town in Wayanad, Kerala, is chieftains were held in the courtyard of this unique and probably the only one of its kind, temple. Later the management of this temple entirely dedicated to Sita and her sons Lava and came in the hands of the Kuppathode family and Kusha of the epic Ramayana vintage. King Rama the renowned Nair family in Wayanad. had banished his pregnant wife Sita, and sent her away to live in the forest, where she her was The Sita idol here is known as Jadayattakavu brought by Lakshmana and Hanuman and left in Amma or Chedathinkavu. It is believed that Lava the then forest village of Pulpalli in the and Kusha were born here in Valmiki Ashrama hermitage of Valmiki. A large number of termite and grew up in this place under the tutelage of mounds (Valmeekam) are seen at different spots the sage Valmiki. It is also believed that even the in this village; this is associated with the sage name Pulpally is connected to the bed of Darba Valmiki (huge anthills formed around Agni grass (Kusha grass) on which Kusha is believed Sharma who was perfroming penance for a long to have played as a child. This sacred place was time and this earned him the name of Valmiki), also known as Sisumala. who authored the epic Ramayana. The main shrine here is dedicated to Sita and flanked by A story connected with this temple, is dated to shrines of her sons, Lava and Kusha (known 18th century when Tipu Sultan of Mysore locally as Murikannmar). Kingdom invaded Wayanad and established his Sultan Bathery and the fort near here. It is said Local legends connect Pulpalli region with many that Tippu Sultan wanted to demolish this important episodes from the Ramayana. It was temple but the act failed as Sita with her built by Pazhassi Raja (January 1753 – November supreme power, created darkness in noon around 1805), of the Kottayam royal clan, who was the temple which made Tippu Sultan's army to A TO Z INDIA NOVEMBER 2022 PAGE 27