Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple — Attraction in Kozhencherry

The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars located near Aranmula, a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, South India. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, who is worshipped as Parthasarathy (Partha's charioteer). The nearest railway station to the temple is located in Chengannur, while the nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport.

Parthasarathy is the other name of Krishna on account of his role as Arjuna's Charioteer in the Mahabharata war. It is one of the most important Krishna temples in Kerala, the others being at Guruvayur Temple, Trichambaram Temple, Tiruvarppu and Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple. It is one of the five ancient shrines in the Chengannur area of Kerala, connected with the legend of Mahabharata, where the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Thrichittatt Maha Vishnu Temple by Yudhishthira, Puliyur Mahavishnu Temple by Bheema, Aranmula by Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor Mahavishnu Temple by Nakula and Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple to Sahadeva.

The sacred jewels, called Thiruvabharanam of Ayyappan are taken in procession to Sabarimala each year from Pandalam, and Aranmula Temple is one of the stops on the way. Also, the Thanka Anki, golden attire of Ayyappa, donated by the king of Travancore, is stored here and taken to Sabarimala during the Mandala season of late December. Aranmula is also known for snake boat race held every year during Onam linked to the legends of the Mahabharata. The temple has four towers over its entrances on its outer wall. The Eastern tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps and the Northern tower entrance flight through 57 steps leads to the Pampa River. It is believed that Dushasana is the guardian of the eastern Gopuram of the temple. The temples has paintings on its walls dating back to early 18 century.

The temple is open from 4 am to 11:00 am and 5 pm to 8 pm and is administered by Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.

The annual Utsavam commences on the Atham Nakshatra in the month of Makara and concludes ten days later on the Thiruvonam day. Garuda Vahanam Ezhunellippu is the main event during this ten day festival. This event falls on the fifth day of the annual festival and is also called Anchaam Purappadu. The deity is taken out from the sanctum sanctorum mounted on Garuda. It is believed that all 33 million Gods and Demi-Gods would be present in the temple at that time to witness Lord Krishna riding on his...

One among the five most famous Sreekrishna temples in Kerala. Guruvayoor, Ambalapuzha, Thrichemmaram and Thiruvaarpu are the other four temples. The idol of Krishna was brought from Nilackal through Pamba river to a down stream place, on a floating body made with six bamboo trees and hence the arrival place was named as Aranmula. History: After mahabhart war, the Pandavas were travelling through out India as pilgrims and the prince Arjunan came to Nilackal and placed his personal Thevaramoorthi (Sreekrishna) with in a temple there at Narayanapuram. On later periods, Nilackal was to abandon due to wild life inhabitation, the locals were forced to move downstream of Pamba with their Deity to reach Aranmula and settled there. Temple: It is big Temple facing east direction and Pamba river flowing through the north side. There are around 18 steps in the front side to the temple floor and 57 steps to the Pamba river. Deity: Viswaroopam of Parthasarathi with four arms holding, sudarsana chakram, sanghu, gadha and lotus respectively. Mahalakshmi and Bhoomidevi are sitting sidewise. Sreekovil in circular shape covered with copper sheets. Festivals: Main festival with Aarattu from Atham to Thiruvonam during month Makaram (Jan-feb). On uthrittathi day of chingam (Aug-sept), the famous Aranmula boat race is being celebrated. The day is the birthday of Pandava prince Arjunan and also it is believed that on the same day, the idol was placed and started worshipping in the temple. Eventhough the country boat race is a religious ritual, now it is being celebrated with the charm of a regional celebration. The celebration of boat race is centered with a Devaswam country boat named Thiruvonathoni. It is the part of a temple ritual that the materials for Thiruvona sadhya to the temple are brought from Kattoor madam around 10km away through Pamba in decorated Thiruvonathoni escorted with other country boats. Later the escorting boats started racing competetion. Vallasadhya is another charm in the temple. It is mainly celebrated on Astamirohini day of month Chingam, serving sadhya to rowers of country boats and devotees. Another attraction is a peculier mirror called Aranmula kannadi designed and started manufacturing in Aranmula. It is basically a metal mirror with main ingradients of copper, lead, silver etc. Metallergy of the same is still known to few families only who were the reason to devise the combination during the construction of the temple. Location/Travel: Aranmula is in Pathanamthitta dist of Kerala state around 10km east to Chenganoor, a main town in State highway having Railway station and ksrtc bus stand. Facility: Limited parking space on the road side only...

It is one of the most important Krishna temples in Kerala and is one of the five ancient shrines in Kerala, connected with the legend of the Mahabharata, where the five Pandavas are believed to have built one temple each; Aranmula is built by the Pandava prince Arjuna.

The sacred jewels, called Thiruvabharanam of Ayyappan are taken in procession to Sabarimala each year from Pandalam, and Aranmula Temple is one of the stops on the way. Also, the Thanka Anki, golden attire of Ayyappan, donated by the king of Travancore, is stored here and taken to Sabarimala during the Mandala season of late December.

Aranmula is also known for snake boat race held every year during Onam linked to the legends of the Mahabharata. The temple has four towers over its entrances on its outer wall. The Eastern tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps and the Northern tower entrance flight through 57 steps leads to the Pamba River. The temples has paintings on its walls dating back to early 18th century.

The temple is open from 4 am to 11:00 am and 5 pm to 8 pm and is administered by Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.

arrows fired from Bhishma's bow breached the defenses of Arjuna and inflicted wounds to his body by penetrating his armour. The string of Arjuna's bow, the Gandiva was snapped during the battle. Seeing Arjuna's plight, Krishna jumped down in rage, and took up his discus charging towards Bhishma. Bhishma was overfilled with joy and surrendered to Krishna. Meanwhile, Arjuna beseeched Krishna not to kill Bhishma, as it would have been against Krishna's vow to take up arms in his battle. It is believed that it is this image of Krishna that is enshrined here, with a discus. This symbolizes the Lord's act of compassion to both his devotees on either side of the battle. Krishna broke his vow to protect Arjuna and also to fulfill the promise that his ardent devotee Bhishma had made.

Krishna presiding here in the Vishvarupa form is considered as "Annadana Prabhu" (The Lord who provides food) along with other temples like Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and Sabarimala. It is believed that those whose Annaprashana is performed at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple would never be affected by the pangs of poverty throughout their life.

Aranmula Mirror is also related to the history of this temple.

The king of Travancore wanted to donate a crown made of rare metal to the temple and he found a rare combination of copper and lead.

It is believed as per the tradition that preparing the metal polished mirror was produced only by a family. In modern times, the College of Fine Arts have started producing it on...