Sri Vallaba Kshetra

There was once a pious woman in Sankaramangalam village who was respected for her devotion to her husband. She would observe the Ekadasi fast, visit the temple next day and feed the ascetics. Tolakasuran, a demon, would trouble her on the way to the temple. She constantly prayed to Perumal for protection. Once she was passing through the forest area to go to the temple when she saw a Brahmachari fighting valiantly. Soon the sounds of the fight stopped. When Ammayar reached the temple, she saw the same Brahmachari youth she had seen in the forest. She then understood that the Lord had come to protect her. Perumal doesn't wear an angavastram in this temple like Brahmacharis. Also in this temple, devotees seek the darshan of Perumal's chest (the abode of Sri Mahalakshmi or Tiru) rather than his feet. Therefore, Perumal is known as Tiru Vazh Marban. This temple is praised in the Mangalasasanam of Nammazhwar as well as the hymns of Tirumangai Azhwar. Devotees who seek to be blessed with children organize Kathakali performances in the temple. This is known as Nerchai. These performance take place each day in the temple, performed by a troupe called Kalakshetra.