Sastha Temples36
The Ayyappa Temple of Cheruppulasseri is very ancient and more than 1000 years old. Cherpulassery Sri AyyappanKavu is also known as Women’s Sabarimala, Malabar’s Sabarimala, Valluvanad’s Sabarimala, etc. As these names indicate, it is a very major Ayyapa temple. Mandala Pooja and Theeyattu from the first vrichikom.
The main Ulsavam is celebrated for ten days in the Malayalam month of Kumbham. Main Prathistha or diety is Sree Ayyappan. Upaprathistas include Sree Ganapathy, Navagrahangal, Sree Brahma Rakshassu, Nagaraja, etc.. Event called Theeyattu starts on 1st of Vrichikam month of Malayalam calendar. It lasts for 40 days. Aarattu is on the 10th day of Uthram in Kumbham month
. Also used to have Kalam Paattu on these days.From November to January, tens of thousands of devotees from Palakkad, Malapuram and Thrissur districts reach Ayyappan Kavu to wear the Ayyappa mudra and to start their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. During this season, a number of Ayyappan Vilakku are also performed in front of the temple.
Cherpulassery Ayyappan Kavu is one of the few temples where marriages are performed in the presence of Lord Ayyappa. A traditional temple art called Thiyyattu is also performed at the temple during the 10-day festival season. A Swayambu kshetra and covered with a gold Kavacham. Ilayada Nivedhyam is the specialty of this temple.
The annual festival is observed in Malayalam Kumbham month (February – March). Cherpulassery Ayyappan Kavu festival starts with flag hosting and ends with Arattu on the last day. The annual festival is noted for various rituals including Thiyyattu.