Kulathupuzha Ayyappa Temple is one of the five major Ayyappan Temples in Kerala, India. Numerous devotees visiting Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple also visit Kulathupuzha Temple as part of their pilgrimage during Mandala Pooja season. The temple is located near Thenmala in Kollam District. The deity is also referred as Sree Dharmashasta.
The Sastha temple in Kulathupuzha is very ancient and lies on the banks of Kulathu Puzha, a tributary of Kallada River. Lord Ayyappa is worshiped here as Manikandan, the child form of Ayyappan. The temple is believed to be built by the Raja of Pandalam. It is said that the idol of Ayyappa was found by a Brahmin from Kottarakkara and he started worshiping the idol and performed daily pooja there.
Other deities worshiped in the temple are Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Devi, and Nagaraja. Feeding to the fishes in the nearby river is an important ‘vazhipadu’ in the temple.
Festivals
The Vishu Mahotsavam in April/May is the most important festival. Special poojas are held during the Mandala Pooja / Makaravilakku Festival occasion.
How to Reach
Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is situated on a forest range on the Thiruvananthapuram – Shenkottai Road. Frequent buses are available from Kollam to Kulathupuzha. Kulathupuzha is 60 km north-east of Trivandrum city.
Thenmala Railway Station is the nearest railway station, just 10 km from the temple. Kollam Railway Station is the next major railhead.
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Aryankavu Ayyappa Temple
Achankovil Ayyappa Temple
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