Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple
Thrikalyana Mandapam
Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple
Situated about 73 km east of Kollam and 31 km from Punalur is the beautiful place Aryankavu, one of the important pilgrim centers of the district. The main attraction of Aryankavu is the Ayyappa Temple alias Aryankavu Sastha Temple dedicated to Lord Sastha, one among the five ancient Ayyappa temples. The unique feature of the temple is that it is built about 35 ft below the road level and has some fine structure and mural paintings. The legend behind the the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to that of Sree Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala .The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brought up by the Pandi Raja of Madhura and not the Raja of Pandalam. The two main festivals of this temple, Mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festival, celebrated in ecember draws thousands of pilgrims. It is believed that Swami Ayyappan married Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held every year in Aryankavu and the marriage rituals are according to the Sourashtra community .Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of Mandalapooja'. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. The Palaruvi waterfall is only 4kms away from here.
Achankovil Ayyappa Temple
The Temple here at Achankovil is known as Achenkovil Sastha temple, and this is dedicated to the god Ayyappa, and these famous Achenkovil Sastha temple is on the route to the other famous ayyappa temble city of sabarimala.The Devotees of this Achankovil belives that this temble is consecrated by the lord Parasumram himself.During the Season of Ayyappa Devotees towards sabarimala, this sastha temble is also getting the devotees.
Achenkovil Sastha temple is believed to be built by Lord parasurama, to the god Ayyappa, and it's in the thick forest of Kandamala which is a part of Kerala's Kollam District, Lord parasurama got the 'Darshan' From the God Ayyappa, leads to the creation of this Temple which is named as Satha Kovil temple .The Idol of Ayyappa at this Sastha Temble is known as "Rudraksha sila" Which Believed to be made with ruthraksha's and this Idol is believed to be having Miraculous Properties with it's sandal paste Especially snake venom is believed to be cured with that sandal
Kulathupuzha Ayyappa Temple
The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Kulathupuzha near Thenmala in Kollam District of Kerala is an important shrine visited by Ayyappa devotees especially during the Mandala-Makaravilaku season. This Shasta shrine is located on the banks of Kulathu Puzha, a tributary of Kallada River, and is in the reserve forest. The deity here is Manikantan or the child form of Lord Ayyappa.
The deity is popularly referred as Dharma Shasta. There are two main deities in this small temple – Lord Shiva and Shasta. Shiva is in the form of Shiva Linga and that of Shasta or Ayyappa is a stone image.The shrine also houses an elaborately carved idol of Lord Vishnu. There are also shrines of Ganesha and Devi in the compound.
There is an interesting legend regarding the origin of the AyyappaTemple at Kulathupuzha. Once and elderly Brahmin returning from his Rameshwaram pilgrimage camped on the Kallada Riverbank. His servants started the preparation for the evening meal and they looked out for stones to create the makeshift oven.
They found a fixed stone nearby and brought two stones to create the oven. But the fixed stone was bigger than the two stones. The servants placed two stones on top of other to adjust the height. Suddenly, the first stone grew a bit taller. The poor servants raised the level of the two stones again but the fixed stone again grew a bit taller. This exercise of adjusting the height continued for awhile.
Finally frustrated with the fixed stone, one of the servants hit the fixed stone with another stone. Suddenly blood gushed out of the fixed stone and the scared servants ran and reported the matter to the Brahmin. The Brahmin sprinkled some tirtha (sacred water) brought from Rameshwaram on the bleeding fixed stone. Soon, Lord Ayyappa appeared in the form of child before the Brahmin and his servants.
The local chief who came to know about this incident built at temple for the deity.Kulathupuzha town is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottai road. Kulathupuzha is 60 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram and 64 km east of Kollam. Nearest railway station is at Punalur.It must be noted that the meter gauge railway line from Kollam to Shenkottai is non-functional due to the upgrading work taking place.
Situated about 73 km east of Kollam and 31 km from Punalur is the beautiful place Aryankavu, one of the important pilgrim centers of the district. The main attraction of Aryankavu is the Ayyappa Temple alias Aryankavu Sastha Temple dedicated to Lord Sastha, one among the five ancient Ayyappa temples. The unique feature of the temple is that it is built about 35 ft below the road level and has some fine structure and mural paintings. The legend behind the the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to that of Sree Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala .The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brought up by the Pandi Raja of Madhura and not the Raja of Pandalam. The two main festivals of this temple, Mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festival, celebrated in ecember draws thousands of pilgrims. It is believed that Swami Ayyappan married Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held every year in Aryankavu and the marriage rituals are according to the Sourashtra community .Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of Mandalapooja'. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. The Palaruvi waterfall is only 4kms away from here.
Achankovil Ayyappa Temple
The Temple here at Achankovil is known as Achenkovil Sastha temple, and this is dedicated to the god Ayyappa, and these famous Achenkovil Sastha temple is on the route to the other famous ayyappa temble city of sabarimala.The Devotees of this Achankovil belives that this temble is consecrated by the lord Parasumram himself.During the Season of Ayyappa Devotees towards sabarimala, this sastha temble is also getting the devotees.
Achenkovil Sastha temple is believed to be built by Lord parasurama, to the god Ayyappa, and it's in the thick forest of Kandamala which is a part of Kerala's Kollam District, Lord parasurama got the 'Darshan' From the God Ayyappa, leads to the creation of this Temple which is named as Satha Kovil temple .The Idol of Ayyappa at this Sastha Temble is known as "Rudraksha sila" Which Believed to be made with ruthraksha's and this Idol is believed to be having Miraculous Properties with it's sandal paste Especially snake venom is believed to be cured with that sandal
Kulathupuzha Ayyappa Temple
The Lord Ayyappa Temple at Kulathupuzha near Thenmala in Kollam District of Kerala is an important shrine visited by Ayyappa devotees especially during the Mandala-Makaravilaku season. This Shasta shrine is located on the banks of Kulathu Puzha, a tributary of Kallada River, and is in the reserve forest. The deity here is Manikantan or the child form of Lord Ayyappa.
The deity is popularly referred as Dharma Shasta. There are two main deities in this small temple – Lord Shiva and Shasta. Shiva is in the form of Shiva Linga and that of Shasta or Ayyappa is a stone image.The shrine also houses an elaborately carved idol of Lord Vishnu. There are also shrines of Ganesha and Devi in the compound.
There is an interesting legend regarding the origin of the AyyappaTemple at Kulathupuzha. Once and elderly Brahmin returning from his Rameshwaram pilgrimage camped on the Kallada Riverbank. His servants started the preparation for the evening meal and they looked out for stones to create the makeshift oven.
They found a fixed stone nearby and brought two stones to create the oven. But the fixed stone was bigger than the two stones. The servants placed two stones on top of other to adjust the height. Suddenly, the first stone grew a bit taller. The poor servants raised the level of the two stones again but the fixed stone again grew a bit taller. This exercise of adjusting the height continued for awhile.
Finally frustrated with the fixed stone, one of the servants hit the fixed stone with another stone. Suddenly blood gushed out of the fixed stone and the scared servants ran and reported the matter to the Brahmin. The Brahmin sprinkled some tirtha (sacred water) brought from Rameshwaram on the bleeding fixed stone. Soon, Lord Ayyappa appeared in the form of child before the Brahmin and his servants.
The local chief who came to know about this incident built at temple for the deity.Kulathupuzha town is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottai road. Kulathupuzha is 60 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram and 64 km east of Kollam. Nearest railway station is at Punalur.It must be noted that the meter gauge railway line from Kollam to Shenkottai is non-functional due to the upgrading work taking place.
