Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Kerala, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram

Located at the beautiful village of Sasthamkotta, Kerala, Shri Dharma Sastha temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shri Dharma Sastha. It is one among the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala - AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The temple is surrounded three sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala, Sasthamkotta lake. The presiding deity, Shri Dharma Sastha is accompanied by his consort
'Prabha' and son 'Sathyaka'.

Legend

According to the legends, it is believed that after killing Ravana, Lord Ram along with his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and the whole vaanara sena, visited Sasthamkotta on their wayback to Ayodhya. Ram offered pithru tharpan on the banks of the Sasthamcotta Lake, which is supposed to be identical to Surya Raga Theertha of Manasa Sarovar. Lord Rama then deputedNeelam, the chief architect of his vanara team, to serve Shri Dharma Sastha. It is believed that Neelan is the predecessor of the prevailing monkey clan in the temple.

Architecture

Shri Dharma Sastha temple is built in Kerala style of architecture. The temple is surrounded by Sasthamkotta lake.

Darsan Info

Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is open from 4:30 AM to 11:30 AM and from 5 PM to 7:45 PM

One of the fascinating features of this temple is the abundance of monkeys that camp around. Lord Rama had deputed the chief architect of his vanara (monkey) team, Neelan to serve his host. Neelan is believed to be the predecessor of the prevailing monkey clan in this temple.

Darsan Dresscode

At Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Kerala Traditional dress is preffered

Famous Festival

February - Utsavam

March - Utsavam

The utsavam lasts for ten days. The flag is hoisted on the first day heralding the utsavam. The utsavam culminates with the 'araattu' on 'Utram' in the month of Kumbham (February-March). The tenth day hosts the 'Kettukazhcha'- a procession of various effigies of bullocks, horses, decorated chariots, etc. A number of elephants with their caparisons also come to the temple to pay reverence to the prime deity, who sits atop a caparisoned elephant at the temple courtyard.

Culture

Sasthamcotta is a well historic place where the Second World Religion Conference was held in 1971, in which the Global Religious Celebrities participated.

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Temple Rituals

The Sasthamcotta temple is one among the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala - AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The concept of Dharma Sastha represents the unison of Vaishnava and Saiva beliefs. The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Dharma Sastha, accompanied by his consort 'Prabha' and son 'Sathyaka'.