Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Malappuram

Lord Ayyappan is worshipped as Dharam Sastha in this temple situated in Tripunithara which is also designated as the royal city. Besides the presiding deity of Dharma Sastha, there are other Upadvatas or associated deities which are represented by Lord Ganesha, Bhadrakali as well as the Nagaraja and the Brahmasrakshas. The pooja or propitiation before each God and the consequent good rituals that are performed for each one of them is most particular.

History of Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

Mythological beliefs have it that Lord Ayyappan in his form as Lord Dharma Sastha who had earlier been installed at Charavattom had taken a ride on the umbrella of one of his disciples. He altered his form to become a lizard and hitched a ride on the umbrella carried by one of the priests who was traveling from Morakkala Mana to Tripunithiru. The comfort and ease with which the Lord made transfer to the temple is also promised to all the devotees who pay their respects at the temple.

For most part the temple management and orientation as well as operations seemed under dispute.

At first it was owned by Morakkala Mana but the Cochin Maharaja was approached by the people to take the management of the temple into his own hands. Later on the king took over the taste of looking after the temple and ordered its renovation by 1930. It was under the King of Cochin that the daily prayers or ‘Mithya Nidham’ of the temple began to take place. It was under the financed sponsorship of the Nadumittom Devasom. This arrangement remained in place till much later in the post Independence India.

Much later in 1963 there was formed a youth organization to look after the affairs of the Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma. After about two decades the management of the temple changed hands yet again and passed on to the Kerala Uramia Devasevom Board of the KUDB.

All these successive changes and subsequently improvements and renovations gradually brought the temple into the limelight. Its popularity grew and gradually it gained centrestage for most devotees who began thronging to Ernakulum to pay their obeisance.

The renovations included coating the steps and door with brass sheets. The renovations extended to the covering of the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ayyappan with copper roofing. The copper roofing extends across also to the sanctum sanctorum of Bhadrakali, the Namashara mandapam as also the ‘Chutambalam’. The perambulatory walk around the temple called the ‘Praclakshina Vazhi’ was also laid with granite paving stones.

Festivals Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

The major festival of the temple is the annual Makaravilka. According to the Malayalam calendar the festival is held in January every year. It is a six-day festival beginning with the ceremony of Kodiyattam or flag hoisting and ends with the ceremonial rituals performed by the ‘Thantri’ or the chief priest. The festivities mark the first day of the month of Makaram.

Another important festival is the Navarathri festival that includes the Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadashmi which are all celebrated with great. Another popular festival of the temple is the Mandalavilakku which takes place usually on the forty first day of the ‘Mandalakaalam’ during which is held the fast or Mandala Uratham during which a visit or pilgrimage to the Lord Ayyappan temple is planned and under taken by devout pilgrims.

How to Reach Thamaramkulangara Sree Dharma Sastha Temple

By road it is easy to go through Ernakulum heading south on the railway station circuit for about 8 kilometers taking a left after Valanjambalam Jet. Then take a left turn and go six and a half kilometers and continue to follow the Etturmanoor through Ernakulum road after passing the KSEB Electrical substation and continue going onwards for from there to about one and a half kilometer turn left after Bank of Baroda to Thrippunithura which lies on the left destination will be on the left.

The main bus stand of Tripunithura in the main centre with buses plying to and fro. The National Highway forty nine passes through Karingachira and on the route of Ernakulum through Ettumanoor state Highway to Thrippunithura is recommended for travel to the temple. The Tripunithura rail ahead is the railway junction of Ernakulum on the Kottayam route with trains going all over.

Thamaramkulangara Ayyappa Seva Samithy Address: Thamaramkulangara, Tripunithura P.O – 682301, Ernakulum Dt, Kerala, India.
Contact no: +91 98470 58128
Email id: thamaramkulangara@yahoo.com