Sastha Temples 7
Shree Kulathupuzha Bala Saasthaa Temple
Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple located on the banks of Kulathupuzha river, a tributary of Kallada River It is located in Kulathupuzha in Punalur taluk of Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala.
The presiding deity there is Lord Ayyappa in the form of Balasastha. It is also one among the pancha sastha shrines and one of the 108 Sastha shrines in Kerala.
The idol there is believed to be installed by Lord Parashurama, and is made up of eight pieces of stones. The temple is constructed as per Kerala style of Temple Architecture.
Lord Ayyappa is the principal deity. He is in the form of Balasastha (child form of Ayyappa) and commonly known as 'Kulathupuzha Balakan'.
There is a popular song titled 'Kulathupuzhayile Balakane' praising the deity of this temple, along with the deities of Achankovil, Aryankavu, Sasthamcotta, Chamravattom and Sabarimala temples.
The temple is located by the shores of Kallada River within Kulathupuzha Reserve Forest range at the east part of Kollam district. The Hill Highway that pass through Kulathupuzha connects temple with Punalur, Anchal and Kollam.
The deity here is in a fierce mood (ugramūrti) as well as in auspicious mood (mangalapradāyakan). Shiva, Yakshi, Vishnu, Ganapathi, Boothathan, Nagar, and Karuppaswami are the other subordinate deities in the temple.