Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Kerala, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram

Situated in Idukki, Arakulam Ayyappa Temple is a famous temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The temple is now administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board.

Legend

According to the legends, one of the earlier priests of Sree Sabarimala Dharma Sastha temple belonged to Karott madam. When the priest became old, he could not trek the hill to reach the Sabarimala temple and perform the poojas. So he ardently prayed for the Lord's blessings. The Lord blessed him in his dream saying that His presence will always be there at the courtyard of his illam. Next day when the priest came back, he saw an arrow secured firmly on the ground in upright position and vibrating. The priest thus felt the presence of the Lord and installed an idol at that point and started worshipping it. The present sanctum-sanctorum is at the same place of the courtyad. As the illam had a very large granary(ara) and a pond (kulam) the place got the name Arakkulam.

Architecture

The structures in Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple are twin sree-kovil complexes, sub-shrines, nata-pandal and office-complex. The main, Lord Sashta complex, faces east with granite walls and tiled roof with two Tazhika-kutams with copper stoopikas over it. The sopanam has four direct steps with banisters on sides. The sub-shrine of Lord Ganapati is at southwest. On the northwest there is a sub-shrine of Goddess Malikappurathamma facing west. The naga-thara is at the northwestern side of the sub-shrine of Goddess Malikappurathamma. On the southwestern corner of the pradakshina-vazhi is the famous sub-shrine of Karinaga Yakshi. The Lord Shiva complex also faces east. The adhishthanam and sopanam are similar to the Sree sasta complex.A sila Nandi is installed separately at the front besides a sila deepastambham having five layers of lamps.

Darsan Info

Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is open from 5 AM to 10:30 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Darsan Dresscode

At Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple , Traditional Kerala attire is preferred.

Famous Festival

January/Februaray : Seven day Festival

November/December : Mandala Season

The main rituals of the festival are kalasam and guruti. One peculiar feature is that for this festival the flag used for Aratt of Sabarimala Dharma Sasta temple is brought to Arakkulam. All other auspicious days like Mandala period, Sivaratri etc are also observed. Guruti is performed in the shrine of Goddess Malikappurathamma during the Mandalam season and this is done after the guruti in nearby Nettikkatt Devi temple.

Culture

Idukki is a bordering district of Kerala on Tamil Nadu side and so the influence of Tamil culture along with that of the indigenous tribal cultures become very evident here.

Temple Rituals

In Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, sila idol of Lord Sastha is in sitting pose. The idol of Lord Ganapati in sitting pose. Goddess Malikapputathamma is in the panchaloha mirror type idol form and various Naga idols and the Karinaga Yakshi are in sila idols.

Special Rituals

In 2001, a deva-prasna (a study of astrological signs) was held in the temple in which it was revealed that the age-old idol has both powers of Lord Siva and Lord Sastha. Accordingly, the tantri(priest) immersed the age-old idol in the Kulamav dam after avahana (special ritual) and consecrated two new idols of Lord Siva and Lord Sastha at Arakkulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.