Maruthorvattom Sri Dhanwanthari Temple

Kerala, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram

Maruthorvattom Sri Dhanwanthari Temple is a famous temple in Alappuzha dedicated to Lord Dhanwanthari. It is the first temple in South Kerala to have Lord Dhanwanthari as the presiding deity.

Legend

According to the legends, the idol of Lord Dhanwanthari installed in the temple was the one worshiped in the pooja room of a Kerala Brahmin by name Vellod Moos. Vellodu Moos was a famous ayurvedic practitioner. The idol was donated to him by a Kshathriya devotee from Vayalar, a place some 8 KM away from Maruthorvattom. According to the legends, once Vellod Moos was suffering from a chronic ailment and he got a revelation in his dream that he would get permanent relief from his chronic ailment, if he recovered the idol lay hidden in a temple pond and donated it to a deserving brahmin. Cheerattumon Moos, another ayurvedic practitioner, who happened to see the idol was very much impressed by its divine vibrance and suggested that a temple should be constructed for the idol, for which he offered financial assistance too. Thus the Dhanwanthari temple at Maruthorvattom was constructed jointly by the two families.

Architecture

Dhanwanthari temple has a copper-roofed round Sreekovil encompassing a square 'Garbha Griha' in which the principal deity is installed. There is a 'mandapam' in front of Sreekovil, where idol of Garuda, is installed facing the Lord Dhanwanthari and it is also copper-roofed. The temple faces westwards and has a tile-roofed outer square temple (Nalambalam) surrounding a spacious inner lawn which is granite tiled. There is an 'Utsava Bali Mandapam' on the right side of the Sreekovil.The inner Lawn contains the temple well, the water from which alone is used for preparing Nevedyas. The temple mast (Dhwaja) is made of Bronze.On the left side of the Naalampalam, there is oottupura and kitchen for sadya. On the right, there is a spacious Seva Pandal which is a boon for 'Ezhunnallippu' during annual festival in rainy months.

Darsan Info

Details Not available

Darsan Dresscode

Devotees are advised to dress conservatively.

Famous Festival

Astami Rohini
Dhanwanthari Jayanthi
Mandala Bhajan and Sree Rama Pattabhishekam
Maha ganapathi Homam and Bhagavatha Sapthaham
Navarathri Sangeetholsav and Navaham
Vavu Pooja and Samkrama Pooja
Thiru Onam Pooja

Culture

Alappuzha is described as the one of the places known as the "Venice of the East". It is a city with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons.The Backwaters of Alappuzha are the most popular tourist
attraction in Kerala.