Sree Dharmasastha Temple

Overview

Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha has an idol that goes back 5000 years. Karthikappally Taluk of Alappuzha is home to this divine abode. The significance of Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha Temple in the pilgrimage realm of Kerala becomes all the more evident at the fact that it is also known as ‘Padinjare Pathinettampadi’.

About The Temple

Lord Ayyappa and Dharmasastha are the incarnations of the same infinite power. Legends say that after achieving his birth goals, Lord Ayyappa merged into Dharmasastha. Sabarimala Ayyappa is also said to be an unparalleled power that the Thanthrik practices separated from Dharmasastha for the purpose of worship. Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha temple is believed to be the ‘moolasthaanam’ of Sabarimala Ayyappa. The festivals are conducted in the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam. Worshippers from distant places still pay visit to Thrikkunnappuzha Dharmasastha Temple by both land and water ways. Worshippers from Idappally have a rare observance. Their offerings include fishes, shells and ‘shoolam’ made of gold and silver. When the offerings are over, the main priest offers them paddy seeds. These devotees return to their home land and spill these paddy seeds over the back waters. Besides the main charismatic idol of Dharmasastha together with his wife and child, a whole lot of ‘upadevathas’ or subordinating deities too are installed at this temple. The idol of Balasubrahmania is installed in a circular abode called ‘srikovil’. This abode of the Balasubrahmania is supposed to be 2000 years antique. When offerings are made this deity receives as equal an importance as Dharmasastha. Durga, Yakshi, Bhadra, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Ganapathi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahmarakshass and Parashurama as Yogeshwara are the other subordinate gods here.

About The Deity

The captivating idol of Dharmasastha is most unique, astounding, mesmerizing and the only one of its kind. Archeologists say that the idol of Swamy here is more than 5000 years old. The 21 inch rare ‘Panchaloha’ idol of Dharmasastha together with the idols of his wife and son are being worshipped here. Dharmasastha is believed to be the ‘guarding god’ of Thrikkunnappuzha and four other adjacent villages.

History of the Temple

In a devastating flood, about 2/3rd of the village and the temple were lost. The idols were then recovered and installed in a temporary temple. In BC 232, king Mahindra, son of Emperor Ashoka, on his expedition to the southern states, arrived here. He happened to see these magnificent idols. Inspired by the glory of the idols, he setup an ideal worshipping place within an 18 acre compound and began worshipping. The followers of Ashoka dynasty regularly visited the temple and offered prayers and poojas. History says there was another temple consecrated by Lord Parasurama, which was about five furlong to the west of the present temple. It was renowned as ‘Paliyam Sasanam’ and was a symbol of the ancient architecture and crafts. As Dwaraka was eroded by great tidal waves, Paliyam sasanam and Sree moolavasam were lost to the sea. Offshore mining in the sea and other scientific explorations may help us to get solid proof, on the existence of such historical monuments. And such an exploration can find the famous flag staff of the temple made of 41 gold cylinders (Thanka Para) and other debris. In this temple, a great ‘Chuvar Chitra’ (wall picture made with natural materials) is seen, on the western wall of the ‘Sreekovil’, which is 1500 years old. The “Sastha temple” and “Sree Dharma Sastha swami” rule the land and shower blessings to a large number of devotees.

Festivals

The main festival at Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha temple is observed in the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam. The celebrations are devised in such a way that ‘Aaraattu’, the holy bath of the deity on the last day of the festival, usually occurs on the day of ‘Uthram’ in the month of Vrishchikam.

Offerings

The most prominent of all offerings at the Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha Temple is the ‘Kalabhaabhishekam’. The ‘Udayasthamaya pooja’, ‘Ada’, ‘Aravana appam’, ‘Mahaganapathi homam’, ‘Bhagavathi seva’, ‘Panchamritham’, ‘Dhaara’, ‘Thulaappayasam’ are other major offerings made at the Thrikkunnappuzha temple. The ‘Mahamrithyunjaya homam’ and ‘Shaneeshwara homam’ offered here perfect remedies for ‘grahadosha’ and ‘pithrudosha’.

Significance

Devotedness to Dharmasastha is believed to fetch one and one’s family peace, prosperity and harmony. The fact that people from even far distant locations come and offer their prayers from time to time, stand evidence to the divine radiance and might of the deity at Thrikkunnappuzha.

Accessibility

The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport. Karuvatta Halt Rail Way Station, Haripad Rail Way Station are the very nearby railway stations to Thrikkunnapuzha. However Alleppey Rail Way Station is major railway station 29 KM near to Thrikkunnapuzha. Thrikkunnappuzha is a small village in the Karthikappally Thaluk of Alappuzha District.

Temple Address

Sree Dharmasastha Temple,
Thrikkunnapuzha, Alappuzha,
Kerala, India,
Pincode – 690515.