Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shasta, located in Kulathupuzha in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the five important Sastha temples in Kerala, the others being Aryankavu, Achankovil, Sabarimala and Kanthamala.[1] The idol there is believed to have been installed by Parashurama and is made up of eight pieces of stone.[1] The temple is known for the Meenoottu (fish feeding) offering.[2] The temple is governed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.[3]
| Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple | |
|---|---|
 The temple in 2005 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kollam |
| Deity | Shasta |
| Festivals |
|
| Governing body | Travancore Devaswom Board |
| Location | |
| Location | Kulathupuzha |
| State | Kerala |
| Country | India |
  Location in Kerala  Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple (India) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 8°54′03″N 77°03′32″E / 8.90083°N 77.05889°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Traditional Kerala style |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Elevation | 128 m (420 ft) |
Location
editThe temple is located in Kulathupuzha in the tehsil of Punalur in Kollam district. It is situated about 64 km (40 mi) from Kollam on the banks of the Kulathupuzha River, a tributary of the Kallada River.[1][4]
Legend
editAccording to the legend, the Kulathupuzha temple is one of the five Sastha temples founded by Parashurama.[5] It is also believed that Sastha allowed a Jala Kanyaka (mermaid), who had a lust for him, to live in the temple pond in the form of a fish.[6] A common belief is that the temple was founded by the Raja of Pandalam,[7] but the idol of Sastha was founded by a Brahmin from Kottarakkara. Earlier, the temple was in the possession of the king of Kottarakkara. It was later handed over to the Travancore Devaswom Board. The tantric rights of the temple are held by the Kokkalathu Mutt.
Deities
editThe principal deity of the temple is Shasta. He is in the form of Balasastha (child form) and is commonly known as Kulathupuzha Balakan.[1] There is a popular song titled "Kulathupuzhayile Balakane" praising the deity of the temple. The deity here is in a fierce mood (ugramūrti) as well as in an auspicious mood (mangalapradāyakan). Shiva, Yakshi, Vishnu, Ganesha, Boothathan, Nāga, and Karuppu Sami are the subordinate deities.[8][9]
Offerings
editThe temple pond preserves a number of fish, as they are considered to be the favorites of Shasta. Devotees offer Meenoottu (fish feeding) for healing the warts in the skin.[10] The fish are known as Thirumakkal (divine children).[6] Most of them belong to the species Tor khudree and Hypselobarbus thomassi, which are at risk of extinction.[11] Fishing is also strictly prohibited here.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Pereira, Ignatius (18 December 2013). "The mountain trails of a divine legend". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ Rajappan, T. K. (15 November 2018). "കാട്ടിൽ മറഞ്ഞ കാന്തമല; അദ്ഭുതങ്ങളുടെ ആ അഞ്ച് ക്ഷേത്രം". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ Kumar, R. Sanjeev (16 January 2019). "ശാസ്താവിന്റെ ആറ് വിശിഷ്ട ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളും ദർശനഫലവും". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ Infokerala Communications Pvt Ltd (31 August 2018). "Kollam". Kerala Tradition & Fascinating Destinations 2018. Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd. p. 198. ISBN 9788193456743.
- ^ Ghosh, Debjani (2021). "18 Steps To Victory". Life in Twilight. India: Kavya Publications. p. 39. ISBN 978-93-90707-53-9.
- ^ a b P. Ananthan, Anukumar (11 July 2022). ശ്രീധർമ്മശാസ്താവ് [Sree Dharmasastha]. Manimandapavum Thankadwajavum (in Malayalam). India: Blue Rose Publishers. p. 19.
- ^ C. V., Nidheesh. "Junior Health Inspector Grade II". Kerala Devaswom Board Previous Year Question Paper 2006 To 2022 (in Malayalam). Nidheesh C. V. p. 131.
- ^ a b "Welcome to Sabarimalaayyappa.org". sabarimalaayyappa.org. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ "Kulathupuzha Ayyappa Temple - MyTemple | DailyHunt". DailyHunt. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
- ^ "കൊടുങ്കാടിനുള്ളിൽ എവിടെയോ മറഞ്ഞ കിടക്കുന്ന അയ്യപ്പ ക്ഷേത്രം കാന്തമല ; അസാധാരണ സവിശേഷതകളുമായി അഞ്ച് അയ്യപ്പ ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങൾ". Janam TV (in Malayalam). 15 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
- ^ "India Biodiversity Portal". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 16 October 2021.