VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple/ആറന്മുള ശ്രീ പാര്‍ത്ഥസാരഥി ക്ഷേത്രം, Mallapuzhassery, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala.

Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple/ആറന്മുള ശ്രീ പാര്‍ത്ഥസാരഥി ക്ഷേത്രം, Mallapuzhassery, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala.

The visit to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula was a part of the Malai Nadu Divya Desams visit from 10^th to 14^th June 2025, organized by Mantra Yatra (website). Thanks to Mr. Balaji Davey and his team of Mantra Yatra for the excellent arrangement and personal care. This place was called Thiruvaranvilai during Alwar’s period and is now called Aranmula. This place, the Aranmula, is on the banks of the Pampa River.

This is one of the 108 Divya Desam of Maha Vishnu, and Mangalasasanam was done by Nammalwar (3436-3446).

இன்பம் பயக்க எழில் மலர் மாதரும் தானும் இவ் ஏழ் உலகை,

இன்பம் பயக்க இனிது உடன் வீற்றிருந்து ஆள்கின்ற எங்கள் பிரான்,

அன்புற்று அமர்ந்து உறைகின்ற அணி பொழில் சூழ் திருவாறன்விளை,

அன்புற்று அமர்ந்து வலஞ்செய்து கைதொழும் நாள்களும் ஆகும்கொலோ!.

… நம்மாழ்வார்

Moolavar : Sree Parthasarathy, Thirukuralappan, Seshasana.

Thayar : Sree Padmasini Nachiyar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple faces east with 18 steps to climb to reach the entrance mandapa on the east side. Dwajasthambam and Balipeedam are after the entrance gopuram. The balipeedam is in a mandapam before the nalambalam entrance. The Nalambalam entrance is covered with brass plates. Krishna and Maha Vishnu are on both sides of the entrance to the Nalambala from Balipeeda Mandapa. A boat is kept in a glass cabinet on the way to the Namaskara Mandapam. Dwarapalakas are on the front and back sides of the Sree Kovil. Moolavar Parthasarathy is in a standing posture with a mustache. In the pradakshinapatha, Saptamatrikas and ashtadikpalakas.

In the Thiruchuttambalam/outer paraharam Dharma Sastha (Ayyappan), Yakshiamma, Erangavu Bhagavathy, Balabhadrarama (This temple is about 6 feet below the ground level) with a Vinayagar shrine, and Nagars.

ARCHITECTURE

This Sree Parthasarathy temple complex is on an elevated level with 18 steps to climb from the east side. The Sree kovil is circular in plan. The adhistanam was built with stone. The adhistanam consists of jagathy, vrudha kumuda, and kapotam with nasikudus. The bhitti is plain without any windows or pilasters. The bhitti was built with laterite stones and plastered. A conical, eka tala vimanam is on the prastaram. The vimanam is called Vamana Vimanam.

The namaskara mandapam has a pyramidal roof and is in front of the sanctum sanctorum, which is open on four sides and supported by 16 pillars. The nalambalam has entrances on all four sides and forms an enclosure for the Sree Kovil.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Since Nammalwar has sung Pasuram on Sree Parthasarathy of this temple, the temple might have existed before the 8^th Century CE, built by the Cheras. Later, the temple received contributions from Cheras, Pandyas, Venadu, Travancore Kings, etc.

The temple is under the control of the Travancore Devaswom Board.

LEGENDS

This Parthasarathy temple is one of the five ancient temples in and around Chengannur, Kerala. These five temples are connected with the Epic Mahabharata, where the Pancha Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each.

1. Sree Imaya Varappan Temple at Thrichittatt by Yudhishthira,

2. Sree Mayapiran Temple at Puliyur by Bheema,

3. Sree Parthasarathy/ Thirukuralappan Temple at Aranmula by Arjuna,

4. Sree Pambanaiappan/ Kamalanathan Temple at Thiruvanvandoor by Nakula and

5. Sree Atputha Narayanan/ Amrutha Narayanan Temple at Thrikodithanam by Sahadeva.

As per the legend, Arjuna built this temple to get rid of the dosha caused by killing Karna against the dharma (unarmed), on the Mahabharat battlefield.

It is said that the jewels meant for Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa are kept here.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Krishna Jayanthi, Ashtami Rohini day feast, a Boat Race called Aranmula Vallam Kali (as a mark of this a boat in a glass cabinet is kept in the nalambalam entrance), Procession of Sri Parthasarathy on Garuda vahana, in Pampa River in the month of Meenam, Khandavanadahanam, etc.