Sastha Temples 1
Lord Ayyappa and Dharmasastha are the incarnations of the same infinite power. Legends say that after achieving his birth goals, Lord Ayyappa merged into Dharmasastha. Sabarimala Ayyappa is also said to be an unparalleled power that the Thanthrik practices separated from Dharmasastha for the purpose of worship. Thrikkunnappuzha Sree Dharmasastha temple is believed to be the ‘moolasthaanam’ of Sabarimala Ayyappa. The festivals are conducted in the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam.
Worshippers from distant places still pay visit to Thrikkunnappuzha Dharmasastha Temple by both land and water ways. Worshippers from Idappally have a rare observance. Their offerings include fishes, shells and ‘shoolam’ made of gold and silver. When the offerings are over, the main priest offers them paddy seeds. These devotees return to their home land and spill these paddy seeds over the back waters.
Besides the main charismatic idol of Dharmasastha together with his wife and child, a whole lot of ‘upadevathas’ or subordinating deities too are installed at this temple. The idol of Balasubrahmania is installed in a circular abode called ‘srikovil’. This abode of the Balasubrahmania is supposed to be 2000 years antique. When offerings are made this deity receives as equal an importance as Dharmasastha. Durga, Yakshi, Bhadra, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Ganapathi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahmarakshass and Parashurama as Yogeshwara are the other subordinate gods here.
The captivating idol of Dharmasastha is most unique, astounding, mesmerizing and the only one of its kind. Archeologists say that the idol of Swamy here is more than 5000 years old. The 21 inch rare ‘Panchaloha’ idol of Dharmasastha together with the idols of his wife and son are being worshipped here. Dharmasastha is believed to be the ‘guarding god’ of Thrikkunnappuzha and four other adjacent villages.