5 Temples of Sabarimala Pilgrimage Circuit

Location:- Swami Ayyappa Temple is located in Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is working on a pilgrimage circuit that will connect five temples with legendary ties to Sabarimala’s Lord Ayyappa temple. The Sastha temples at Pandalam, Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Achankovil, and Erumeli are included in the circuit. These shrines have a historical connection to Lord Ayyappa’s life.

It is said that the infant who later became Lord Ayyappa was found from the forest area at Kulathupuzha by the Pandalam Kings. The Pandalam Sastha temple is linked to the Pandalam royal family, where the Lord spent his childhood. The Lord’s adolescence is linked to the Aryankavu temple. Young Ayyappa studied archery with a Sourashtra Brahmin household in Madurai. Lord Ayyappa is said to have fallen in love with his guru’s daughter. Despite the fact that their marriage was set, it had to be postponed because the girl’s menstrual cycle started on that day. The fifth temple in Erumeli is associated with Ayyappa’s battle with the Maravappada and Mahisha’s death.

The Valiakoikkal Temple at Pandalam:-

Architecture:- Traditional Kerala style, created by Raja Rajasekhara.

This temple is linked to Lord Ayyappa’s childhood.

The Pandalam Royal Family’s Valiakoikkal Temple is located within the Pandalam Palace grounds in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. Every year, before the Makaravilakku festival, the Thiruvabharanam (Sacred Ornaments) procession to the Sabarimala shrine begins at the Valiyakoikkal temple. During the Makaravilakku festival season, millions of worshippers flock to this temple.

The Kulathupuzha Temple :-

Architecture:- Traditional Kerala style

The Temple is situated in the Kulathupuzha taluka, Kollam district, Kerala on the banks of the Kulathupuzha River, which is a tributary of the Kallada River. It is also one of Kerala’s 108 Sastha shrines, as well as one of the Pancha Sastha shrines. The idol, which is made up of eight pieces of stone, is thought to have been placed by Lord Parashurama.

Lord Ayyappa in the avatar of Balasastha (Ayyappa’s infant form), also known as ‘Kulathupuzha Balakan,’ is the presiding deity there. The deity is both ferocious (ugramrti) and auspicious (mangalapradyakan) in this painting. Shiva, Yakshi, Vishnu, Ganapathi, Boothathan, Nagar, and Karuppaswami are the other subordinate deities in the temple.

The Aryankavu Temple:-

Architecture:- Traditional Kerala style

Festivals:- Mandala pooja (Dhanu), Trikalyanam, Pandiyamudippu, Kumbhabhishekam.

The name ‘Aryankavu’ is believed to have come from the terms “Aryan,” which refers to the deity Sastha, and “Kavu,” which refers to the place where he is worshipped. The deity here is also known as Tiru Aryan. The temple has separate shrines for Valiyakadutha, Karuppaswami, and Karuppayiamma.

The Sastha in this temple is represented as a young boy sitting on an elephant with his right leg hanging and his left leg folded, with his bride Prabha on the left and Lord Shiva on the right.

Aryankavu Sastha Temple is one of the 108 Sastha shrines as well as one of the Pancha Sastha temples in Pathanapuram tehsil, Kollam district, Kerala. Sage Parashurama is said to have enshrined the idol here.

The Achankovil DharmaSastha Temple:-

Architecture:- Traditional Kerala style

Festivals:- Mandala pooja (Dhanu), Revathi pooja (Makaram), Chariot festival.

The Achankovil Sastha Temple is located in Pathanapuram tehsil, Kollam district, Kerala.It is also one of Kerala’s 108 Sastha shrines, as well as one of the Pancha Sastha shrines.

Lord Ayyappa, is portrayed as a grihasthashrami (one who lives a married life), along with his two wives Poorna and Pushkala. Lord Ayyappa’s pratishta is considerably different from that of other Sastha shrines in Kerala. Rudraksha sila is the name of the idol, which faces east. As a result of the temple’s reputation for treating venomous snakebites, Ayyappa is commonly portrayed as a Mahavaidya (great physician). The idol’s right palm is always filled with Chandanam (Sandalpaste) and Theertham (holy water), both of which are believed to have healing virtues.

Malikappurathamma, Durga, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Ganapathi, Muruga, Karuppaswami, Karuppayi amma, Cheppanimundan, Chappanimaadan, Madanthevan, Kalamadan, Kochattinarayanan, Shingali bhootathan, and Arukola are among the temple’s sub-deities. The Naga (serpent) god is worshipped in a Kavu at the temple’s back section for the welfare and sake of the people.

The Erumeli Sastha Temple :-

Architecture:- Traditional Kerala style

Festivals:-Thiruulsavam (Kumbham) is hosted in the month of February for 10 days.

The Achankovil Sastha Temple is located in  Erumely town, Kottayam district, Kerala. It is also one of Kerala’s 108 Sastha shrines, as well as one of the Pancha Sastha shrines.

The Erumeli Sastha Temple is associated with Ayyappa’s battle with the Maravappada and Mahisha’s death. In Erumely town, there are two temples known as the Valiyambalam and the Kochambalam. During the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the famed Erumely Pettathullal is performed near the Valiyambalam and Kochambalam.

Sources

1. Featured Image by AnjanaMenon at Malayalam Wikipedia
2. Valiyakoyikkal Temple
3. Kulathupuzha
4. Aryankavu Sastha Temple
5. Achankovil Sastha Temple
6. Kochambalam Temple