Sastha Temples 6
Achankovil Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple and one of the 108 Sasthalayas, located in Pathanapuram tehsil of Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is also one among the famed Pancha Sastha temples in Kerala, the other four being Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Sabarimala and Kanthamala temples . An important river named after the locality, Achankovil river, originates near the temple.
As in Sabarimala temple, Achankovil temple also have eighteen steps.
Lord Ayyappa / Aiyanar presides there in the form of grihastha (householder) and the idol faces east. It is believed to installed by Lord Parasurama himself. The pratishta of Lord Ayyappa here is quite unique from that of other Sastha shrines in Kerala. The idol is known as Rudraksha sila. He is depicted as a grihasthashrami (one who leads a married life) along with his two consorts Poorna and Pushkala The temple is famed for curing poisonous Snakebites and thus Ayyappa is often portraited as a Mahavaidya (great physician). The right palm of the idol always keeps Chandanam (sandalwood paste) and Theertham (sacred waters) which is thought to have medicinal properties.
The temple is located near the banks of Achankovil river in the dense forest regions of eastern Kollam, about 50 km (31 mi) from Punalur, 85 km (53 mi) from Kollam and 62 km (39 mi) from Kulathupuzha via Aryankavu, Thenmala and Shenkottai. There is a route through the forest from Alimukku near Pathanapuram to the temple. The panoramic Kumbuvurutty and Manalar falls are on the route to this shrine.
The temple holds a number of sub-deities like Malikappurathamma, Durga, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Ganapathi, Muruga, Karuppaswami, Karuppayi amma, Cheppanimundan, Chappanimaadan, Madanthevan, Kalamadan, Kochattinarayanan, Shingali bhootathan and Arukola. The back portion of the temple has a Kavu where the Naga (serpent) deity is worshipped for the welfare and sake.