Thiruvalla Sreevallabha Temple

History

Thiruvalla is a key rail and road hub on the Sabarimala corridor; Kerala Tourism lists Sreevallabha as a principal Vaishnava temple of central Kerala.

The temple’s ritual arts traditions are highlighted on the state tourism spirituality pages.

Stories

The Old Woman, the Ekadashi Fast and the Golden Pole

Temple legend tells of an elderly woman, Antharjanam, who kept the Ekadashi fast faithfully though she could not read the calendar and was mocked for it. In her old age a demon, Thukalasuran, terrorised the region, and a young Brahmin boy with a golden pole came asking for food.

The boy is said to have killed the demon, with the pole becoming the Sudarshana Chakra. The story holds that he was Vishnu himself, and the temple grew from her devotion. This is traditional legend and the dates given for it cannot be checked.

A Temple Where Kathakali Is an Offering

Kathakali is performed at Sreevallabha as an offering to the deity. Temple tradition links this to the saint Vilwamangalam, who is said to have felt the god absent from the sanctum while a dance troupe performed, then saw a young Brahmin in the audience whom he recognised as Vishnu.

The god, the story says, vanished into the shrine, saying that the saint had disturbed his favourite dance. After that Kathakali was held regularly. The story is a temple tradition, though the practice of performing Kathakali there continues.

Five Daily Pujas, Dressed in Different Forms

Sreevallabha Temple, in Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district, is one of the 108 Divya Desams and is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board. It follows the Pancharatra mode of worship, with five pujas through the day.

In the morning the deity is dressed as a celibate student in a long white mundu, at noon as a householder, and in the evening in saffron with a tulasi garland, as the supreme being. Women were once barred from entering the shrine, and the restriction ended in 1968.

Good to know

Major Vishnu shrine at Thiruvalla — Kerala Tourism listed

Kathakali offering tradition

Near Sabarimala rail corridor (Chengannur / Thiruvalla)

Getting there

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport (COK). Thiruvalla railway station serves the town.