Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Ayyappa

Thamaramkulangara Sri Dharma Sastha Temple.

The Thamaramkulangara Sri Dharma Sastha temple is located at Tripunithura, near Ernakulam city.

The legend says that Sri Dharma Sastha followed one of the priests from His temple at Chamravattom (in Malappuram district) all the way to Tripunithura. This, He did without the priest's knowledge, sitting on his palm leaf umbrella in the form of a lizard. Ever since, Sri Dharma Sastha has been worshipped here. The deity here is in a rare sitting position, with His left leg folded flat on the ground & right leg upright.

The 6 day Makara Vilakku festival here is the most important, beginning 5 days prior to Makara Sankranti. Other festivals celebrated here are Panguni Uthram (birthday of Dharma Sastha), Vishu, Navaratri, Vijayadasami (Vidyarambham - beginning of formal education is considered very auspicious here) & Mandala Vilakku (lighting of lamps in the entire temple on the last day of Mandalam). Sasthaam Pattu - or songs in praise of Sastha sung to the accompaniment of a traditional Kerala drum called 'Udukku' is an important ritual conducted on the first Saturday of the Malayalam month of Vrischika (17 Nov-16 Dec).

May Aapadbandhava - the rescuer & friend in times of danger, bless one and all.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa