Kollam

Aryankavu Sastha temple
Alternate Spellings:
Sree Dharma Sastha Temple. Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple
Listing Category
Significance:
For matrimonial boons | For relief from Sani Dosham
Location:
Aryankavu
Address:
8 Aeker, Karimpinthottam, Aryankavu (PO), NH744, Aryankavu, Puliyarai R.F. Part, Kerala
691309
District:
Kollam
Google Tag:
8.976493, 77.1513
Phone No:
0475 221 1566
Temple Timings:
Morning:6:00 AM to 11:00 PM Evening: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Temple Type:
Dewaswom
Presiding deity:
Lord Ayyappa | Lord Sastha
Sub Deities:
Valiyakadutha, Karuppaswami and Karuppayiamma
Festivals:
The temple has two main annual festivals mainly the Mandalapooja and Thirukalyanam (10th Dhanu).

The other noted festivals of the temple are Painguni Uthiram and Kumbhabhishekam.
History:
In prior days the Sourashtrians sold silk dresses to the Travancore ruler. One such specialist went to offer silk dresses to Travancore with his virgin little girl. On his way he achieved Aryankavu by night, so he needed to stay there.The next morning in the wake of freshening up he was prepared to begin when his little girl asked for him that she needed to remain back there and continue appealing to the Lord Ayyappan. She was awed by the Lord and committed to him. The general population of the place likewise recommended not to bring his little girl with him, as it was a thick woods adventure and they guaranteed to deal with the young lady. The agent inspired by his little girl’s bhakti towards Lord Ayyappan left her accountable for an archakar in that temple.

In the wake of finishing his business in Travancore he returned towards Aryankavu. As he was nearing Aryankavu, a major one horned elephant came undermining towards him. The representative was frightfully perplexed of this sudden appearance of the elephant and began supplicating boisterously ‘Ayyappa help and spare me’. Around then a well-assembled seeker showed up abruptly and yelled towards the elephant to go. On hearing that the elephant left like an enchantment The specialist was inspired and advised to the seeker,” you have spared my life and my family like a divine being”. In a token of gratefulness, the agent gave a rich silk fabric to the seeker. The seeker wearing the fabric around his neck asked the businessperson ‘How would I look?’. The specialist answered ‘You resemble an excellent bridegroom’.On hearing this seeker asked him, “will you wed your girl to me.?” For that, the businessperson said “why not? you have spared my life and on the off chance that you wish I will wed my little girl to you”.The seeker felt exceptionally cheerful and told that he will meet the specialist at the Aryankavu temple and he vanished. The agent was shocked that how could an outsider realize that I had a girl for marriage and with disarray, he achieved Aryankavu temple.

In the meantime the temple’s archakar had a fantasy in which Lord Ayyappan showed up and said “awaken my lover, a sourashtra specialist, is holding up at the passageway of the temple. As indicated by his desire I have joined his little girl Pushkaladevi with me. The young lady who was in your care is presently my better half and she is in a statue frame on the left half of me in the temple. I will show up alongside Pushkaladevi from today. Consistently I need the agent and his group to come here and commend this day as our marriage celebration. After that the Archakar woke up from his fantasy and went to the temple alongside individuals. There he saw the businessperson. As he opened the temple entryway he saw every one of the lights of the temple lit and a little statue of Pushkaladevi was seen close to the Lord, both in a wedded stance. The silk fabric given by the agent to the seeker was found around the neck of Ayyappan. On observing that the agent realized that it was the god who had spared his life in the timberland now his little girl was hitched to the god.

Around the same time, the ruler of Trivandram had a fantasy in which the master told every one of the happenings and needed him to treat the Sourashtra specialist and his group as his “Sambanthis” and approached him to be the relative for Lord amid his marriage. The lord hurried to Aryankavu and felt happy that his fantasy was valid. He treated the businessperson regally. He additionally needed the agent to accompany his kin consistently and praise this celebration. The Lord requested that there ought to be an ‘Eleven-day stupendous celebration’ consistently and the traditions of the Sourashtra must be taken after for the marriage. So from that point onwards and till date, each year the Government of Kerala’s agents comes here as Lord’s relatives and the Sourashtra individuals as the sambanthi to the master, to celebrate. Consistently, on this occasion and all around finished Portrait of the last lord of Travancore, Balarama Varma is kept. Prior to this photograph, the engagement function happens. What’s more, in the temple, there is a 11-day celebration, with every day in the various stances of the ruler.
Updated on:
05/07/2019 by Komal
Kottankulangara Devi Temple
Listing Category
Significance:
Kottankulangara Devi Temple is a very ancient and holy center where thousands of believers derive mental condolence and peace of mind to tide over the miseries of life.
Location:
Kottankulangara
Address:
Major Sree Kottankulangara Devi Temple, Kottankulangara, Chavara Kollam, Kerala
691 583
District:
Kollam
Google Tag:
8.97958°N 76.53512°E
Phone No:
086928 83334
Email id:
enquiry@kottankulangaratemple.org
Temple Timings:
5am – 11am | 5pm – 8:30pm
Temple Type:
Dewaswom
Presiding deity:
Goddess Durga Bhagavathy or Aadi Shakthi
Sub Deities:
NA
Offerings:
Chamayavilakku
Anpolippara
Kottan Nivedyam
Payasam
Iratti madhuram
Aravana
Panthirunaazhi
Ornaments, Silk, Kumila
Akhandanaamom
Festivals:
The Kottankulangara Festival is an annual Hindu festival in Kerala, India in which thousands of men dress as women. The festival takes place at the Kottankulangara Devi temple at Chavara, Kerala which is sacred to the goddess Bhagavathy. Every year this festival is celebrated on the 10th and 11th day of Meenam.

On the festival day thousand of Devotees visit the Temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess Bhagavathy. The men dress up in the female attire of their choice. Some wear Set saari, Pattu saari, half saari or even dance costumes.

Festival begins on March 9 and will end on March 25. Around 4000 people were participated in the Chamayavilakku. The myth is a group of boys herding cows and during their play, they used to act as shy girls and offer flowers and a coconut dish called kottan to a stone. One of the boys had a divine reception from the Devi and subsequently a temple without an outer wall was constructed and the ritual of men dressed as women offering prayers to the Devi started.
History:
Kottankulangara Devi Temple is a very ancient and holy center where thousands of believers derive mental condolence and peace of mind to tide over the miseries of life.

The plot of land where the temple is situated at present was an attractive place full of natural beauty resembling the serene outlook of the forest. The thick growth of trees and plants and creepers always gave the quietness of mental tranquillity. On the northwest corner of the plot there existed a small deep pond known as Bhoothakulam. People believed that this place was a comfortable shelter for poisonous snakes. On the eastern side there was a huge extensive deep pond. During the days of rain, a stream originated from here and it would make the Kareelil Padom fertile and cultivable. As this place was full of thick growth of grass and pure water the teenagers of the neighbouring places used to assemble here with their cattle.

One day the cowboys got a coconut from this place. They found a stone on the southern part of Bhoothakulam. When they hit the coconut on the stone (with the intension of removing the husk), they all got alarmed and frightened as they found drops of blood dripping from the stone. They explained the wonderful phenomena to the elders. The astrologer suggested that the stone contained the supernatural powers of VANADURGA and poojas should be started immediately after constructing a temple. The elders and cowboys cooperated and constructed a temporary temple using poles, leaves and tender leaves of coconut palm. It was a custom in ancient days that BALIKAS used to prepare flower garlands, lit the pooja lamps in ancient Kudumba temples. Accepting this tradition, the cowboys wearing the dresses of women and girls, offered poojas in the temple. The milky liquid prepared from coconut kernel was boiled, the medicinal oil (Urukku Velichenna) extracted and solid substance taken (Kottan) was offered to the goddess as Naivedyam. The poojas continued without any break.

The temple which originated on the banks of the pond with Kottan as the first Naivedyam come to be known as Kottankulangara Temple. The annual temple ceremony comes toward the end of March every year. In order to commemorate the legend and origin of the temple, the model of the ancient temple is being constructed every year.

The devotees stand long lines from Kunjalummoodu to Arattukadavu at the time of the Devi’s journey from Kunjalummoodu. Seeing this spiritual procession, the devotees derive unlimited amount of spiritual joy and believe this sight would help them all to have comfort and mental pleasure and redressed from the unforeseen miseries of life.
Updated on:
05/07/2019 by Komal
Oachira Parabrahma Temple
Alternate Spellings:
Dakshina Kashi
Listing Category
Location:
Oachira
Address:
Oachira Rd, Oachira, Kerala
District:
Kollam
Google Tag:
9.1360°N 76.5102°E
Phone No:
+91 476 269 0721 098470 74125
Email id:
info@oachiraparabrahmatemple.com
Temple Timings:
4 AM to 8 AM and from 5 PM to 8.30 PM
Temple Type:
Other
If Other is Chosen, pls specify:
Temple Trust
Presiding deity:
Parabrahma | Lord Shiva
Sub Deities:
NA
Festivals:
Oachirakali, Panthrandu Vilakku, Eruvathiyetam Onam
History:
The legend says that once there lived a Brahmin saint. The Brahman was a true devotee and was always involved in prayers and meditation. He had a helper named Unnikkoran. Unnikkoran always had the urge to understand the practices of the saint for him to adopt and worship the almighty but was a little hesitant to ask the saint.

Once, unable to suppress his desire Unnikkoran asked the saint what good can meditation bring, how to meditate? What was God? How was he? The saint was surprised by Unnikkoran’s curiosity but thought of Unnikkoran as an illiterate fool and did not have the patience to explain. Selfish, the saint answered so that he gave out nothing worth understanding that he worshiped the non-idol and supreme power of the Universe. Unnikkoran was all the more curious. “What does it look like Guru?” he inquired.

The saint was all the more irritated, “like that bull over there”, he pointed to a wild bull that was grazing far away. Unnikkoran was overcome with devotion; he joined his palms in devotion and prayer to the wild bull and tracked the bull at his sight until it went far into the forest. The saint was amused by this funny scene and laughed out inwardly at the foolishness of the young man and at the intelligence of his own.

During the next days, Unnikkoran started worshiping the bull everytime the bull came out of the forest for grazing.

The Saint one day decided to travel to Kanyakumari. He asked Unnikkoran to pack for the trip and to join him. Unnikkoran packed for the two with food and clothes. The bags were heavy and Unnikkoran had assumed and packed the bags in such a manner that each bag was heavy enough for one to carry. However, on the day of travel the saint asked Unnikkoran to carry both the bags. The saint, free of burden walked ahead at high speed and poor Unnikkoran with the burden of both the heavy bundles heaved behind him. The saint indifferent to the pain undertaken by Unnikkoran didn’t even care to rest for a while and Unnikkoran was nearly fainting now.

“A white bull follows you, hang the bundles on its back”, someone whispered.

Unnikkoran turned around but found no one other than his idol bull that was following him. Without ado Unnikkoran rested the bundles upon the white bull and walked freely behind the saint with the bull following him. They traveled far distance and finally reached the forest in Oachira. The grooves were full of intervening wines and the bull got stuck among the wines. Unnikkoran carefully untangled the wines and made way for the bull to pass freely. “Come this way and you will not get tangled. Be careful”, the saint stopped for the first time.

“Who are talking to Unnikkoran?” he inquired.

“To the bull, Guru”

“Which bull?” the saint was surprised.

“The bull which carries our bundles, he got tangled in the wines, I see him every day in the forest, he came to my help with the bundles”, Unnikkoran replied innocently.

“Unnikkoran! I see only two bundles suspended in the air! What magic holds them!, Where is the Bull?”, the saint was taken aback.

“Undikkavil ( It is here in this groove)”, Unnikkoran was surprised as well.

The saint, realizing his mistake, fell on his legs and cried in agony. “What sin have I done O God, Forgive me for I tried to fool this poor soul and today he has experienced the darshan of your supremacy”. Realizing the true devotion of Unnikkoran the saint bowed before him in guilt and pleaded to be Unnikkoran’s disciple. The essence of the supreme in the form of bull was propounded far and wide and the groove where the saint felt the power of devotion became the temple premises of Oachira. But when the dispute arose as where to build the Temple it was revealed that the Divine exuberance of the groove can’t be restricted under a single roof and hence the entire premise of the groove became the place of worship.

The place where Unnikkoran showed the bull to the saint became the renowned groove “Undikkaav”. Later two banyan grooves were constructed in the premise for shade as well as an abstract form for worship. Various small structures rose to provide shelter to the weary wanderers. And today the Oachira Parabrahma temple resides as a symbol of worship of the Supreme with prime importance to bulls in honor of the bull form that appeared to Unnikkoran. The temple premise also includes the Yakshikkaav where a Yakshi “female nymph form” has been believed to have dwelt nailed into a tree.
Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple
Alternate Spellings:
Poruvazhi Peruviruthy Malanada
Listing Category
Significance:
Only Duryodhana Temple in South India.
Location:
Poruvazhy
Address:
Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Devaswom Kadampanad, Edakkad, Kerala
691552
District:
Kollam
Google Tag:
9.10197°N 76.657147°E
Phone No:
0476 2820338
Email id:
secretary@malanadatemple.com
Temple Type:
Dewaswom
Presiding deity:
Duryodhana
Sub Deities:
NA
Offerings:
Pattu
Karuppu Kacha
Adukku Murukkan
Kozhi
Archana
Kalasam (Kallu)
Unniyappam
Payasam
Mala Pooja
Aravana
Vilakku
Moorthi Pooja
Ghee Vilakku
Naalikeram
Thulabharam
Thookam (Malakuda Festival Day only)
Festivals:
Malakkuda Festival | Pallipaana
History:
Malanada – There is a Nada (Temple) on the Mala (Hill). Unlike other temples, there is no deity, nor a ‘Sreekovil’ as such in Malanada. Down the hill on the south and west we see vast low lying paddy fields and on the east and north habitated agricultural land. In place of Sreekovil and deity we could see only a raised platform called ‘Althara’ or ‘Mandapam’. In the absence of an idol, devotees submit themselves to a divine power (of their imagination/understanding) through a mental process of ‘Sankalpam’.

It is believed that the ‘Sankalpa Moorthy ‘at Malanada is ‘Duryodhanan’, the Great Epic Hero of Mahabharatham. The concept is unique in Indian history in as much as ‘Duryodhanan’, the Kaurava King known for his ‘Thamoguna’ driven thoughts and actions, being adored as the principal deity in a temple. Enduring beliefs assimilate into personal value system. The myth unravels: as part of his efforts to trace out the ‘Pandavas’ in exile, Duryodhanan traversed the forests in the south and reached Malanada hill. By that time he was much tired and went to a nearby house on the north west of Malanada and asked for drinking water. It was Kaduthamsserry Kottaram, where Malanada Appoppan, the priest and ruler of the land was staying. An elderly woman gave him toddy which was customary at that time as a mark of respect. The king enjoyed the drink, but realized after seeing the ‘Kurathali’ worn by the woman that she belonged to an untouchable lower cast by name ‘Kurava’. The king consoled himself and appreciated the divinity of the place and its people who possessed supernatural powers (Siddha). Thereafter, in furtherance of his ‘Rajadharma’, the king sat on the hill and worshipped Lord Siva, praying for the welfare of his people (the prajas). As an act of charity he gave away 100s of acres of agricultural land and paddy fields as freehold to the ‘Devasthanam’. Even now the land tax of the above property is being levied in the name of ‘Duryodhanan’.

The king also ensured that Gandhari, the Royal Mother, Dussala,his sister, Karnan, his close associate and ‘Angarajan’, Dronar, his ‘Guru’ and the other members of his family were properly and adequately aboded and worshipped in the nearby places and members of the ‘Kurava’ caste are poojaris in all such places.
Updated on:
05/07/2019 by Komal
Puttingal Devi Temple
Listing Category
Significance:
500 year old
Location:
Paravur
Address:
Puttingal Devi Temple, Paravur, Kollam, Kerala
691301
District:
Kollam
Google Tag:
8°48′45.43″N 76°39′51.97″E
Phone No:
+91-474-2513000 9567017510
Email id:
info@puttingaltemple.org
Temple Timings:
5am – 10am | 5pm – 7:30pm
Temple Type:
Dewaswom
Presiding deity:
Goddess Puttingal | Sree Kovil | Sastha | Marutha
Sub Deities:
NA
Updated on:
05/07/2019 by Komal