Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the most famous Templs in Kerala,Besides this is also one of the 108 most celebrated Vishnu Temples.This Temple is in the newly formed Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.An airport also planned here .But in relation to the existence and controversies arose out of it the Airport is stilln hanging in balance. This Great Temple ids dedicated to Parthasarathy a role of Mahavishnu as the Charioteer in the Mahabharath war according to legends.The temple is on the bank of Pampa river which is also famous in relation to Sabarimala Temple.The sacred jwels of Lord Sastha taken from Panthalam passes through the Parthsarathy Temple.Similarly Thanka Angiis also sated to be storedv here every year in the month of December which is known as Mandalam season beginning.Aranmula is also famous for Aranmula mirror,which serves as medium of gift offered to VIPs visiting the state of Kerala. Aranmula is even oterwise famous for Water Sports known as Aranmula Vallam kali which involves Snake boats or Palloyodams.Guruvayur,Ambalapuzha,Thrichambaram,Thiruvarppu,ShriPadmanabha swamy Temple ,Trivadrum,P)oornathreyasi Templer,ThripuniyhuraAnd Vamanamoorthy Temple at Thrikkakkara are the other famous Vishnu Temples in Kerala and neighbouring plces.Aranmula is a small village but has been recognized by the Discovery Channel.Pathasarathy Temples all over Kerala has a dual role toplay beingba Visnu T%emple aswell as a Pachapandave Templse known as those at THRICHTAT,THIRUPULIYOOR,THIRUVARNMULA,THIRUVANVANDUR &THRIKKODITHANAM.dedicated respectively to Yudhishtira,Bheema,Arjuna,Nakula and Sahadeva.It is also said that Arjuna built a Temple at Nilkkal near Sabarimala in order to get relieved from the Sin of Killing his own brother Karna who was in the enemy side but unarmed. ARANMULA GRAMAM is one of the 64 Bhramin Gammas in which Parthasarathy Temples exist.Aranmul is the biggest Grama Temple among all Grama Temples.There is one dedicated to Parthasarathy at Guruvayur which was forcibly taken over Kerala Government recently against strong agitations staged by people.They while doing so even forgot the basis for the Constitution of India which proclaims OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE..Alll those who forget this would appear to be sinners against the Constitution of India. The Aranmula Temple has Golden Flagstaffand has four towers over the four entrances on the outer wallsThe huge and beautiful Eastern tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps.Descending 57 steps through northern tower,one can reach the Pampa river.Aranmula Temple is a perfect example of Kerala Temple Architecture and most similar tob the EttumanurMahadeva Temple.Parthasarathy is supposed to be owner of 39 villages in and around Aranmula.People living in these villages consider Parthsarathy as their protector.Very wise people indeed! There are many legends in association with Prthasarathy Temple at Aranmula.Some of them are associated with the famous Uthrttathi vallam Kali{Snake boat race}nd THIRUVONATHONI The idol of The idol of Lord Parthasarathy was brought to this place from Nilakkal in a raft made of six pieces of Bamboo.Several Chundanvallams{ snake boats}accompanies the procession through Pampa River.The idol was installed in the Temple on Uthrattathi day of Malayalam month Chingam{August-September}.Uthrattathi in Chingam is the birthday of Arjuna.Tocelebrate tese events people of Aranmula started the famous snakeboatrace called Utthrattathi Vallamkali. Festivals in the Aranmula Temple are vallamkali,Khandavana dahanam and Aarattu . The water carnival is during Onam festival.There is a tradition of sending an offering of rice and other material required for a feast from a nearby village on a water boat.The legendelating to the sending rice by boats relates to a story.It says a devotee once fed a hungry Pilgrim who directed the devotee to send food to Aranmula and disappeared.It is believed that the devotee was none other than Lord Visnu . Snake boats accompany the sacred boat.The snake boats are from Chennithala to Ranni in the east participate in the water sport called Vallamkali.These boats assemble at dawn and sail in pairs for about 2 hours.A snake boat is about 103 feet in length. Each boat has about 4 helmsmen 100 rowers and 25 singers.After the water sport there is anelaborate feast in the Aranmula Temple. Another festival celebrated in Aranmula Temple is known as Khandavanadahanam in the malayalam month of Dhanu.For this Festival a model of a forest is made in front of the Temple with dried out plants,leaves and twigs.Thus a Bonfire is lit as a representation of the original Khandavanam forest fire mentioned in Mahabharatha.The malayalam month of /Meenamwitnesses a festival where Aranmula Parthasarathy is takenin a grand procession on the Garudamount to the Pampa river bank. where the image of Bhagavathy from nearby Punnamthode Temple is brought in procession for the aarattu festival. The offerings in the Temple:The main offering in the Temple is Vallasadya.The village which is offered the commitment of sadya will conduct a boatb race in Pampa river and will have a feast in the TempleThe feast will have Hundreds of items also including sweets.The particular feature of this Sadya when originally performed was that it was not meant for Bhraminc and Nair community alone was supposed to take part in the feast But along with Time ,this condition would appear to have changed and all people are taking part in the feast. Incidentally , recentally as a challenge to this Feast in relation to the number of dishes involved a Sadya was conducted in a college in Irinjalakkuda by certain cultural and educational organization in plantain leaf as in Aranmula.This ,however,did not become a controversian issue for which all should be grateful to Aranmula lord Parthasarathy. In fact nowadays th Aranmula Valla sadya is virtually a ritual feast.This is so because it lasts sixty days and contain morethan sixty exclusive and Exquisite dishes to relish.This is a unique mass feast with strong devotional basis offered to the crew of Palliyodams which devotees consider as a divine vessel of Lord Krishna.This sadya is dedicated to any of the Snake boat{Palliyodam} taking part in the sadya on the day of valla sadyaThe oarsmen (the crew} will come to the Temple through the riverin the boatThey come to thev Nadapandal of the presiding Diety Parthasarathy to offer Nirapara.They perform the Pradakshina of the Temple by singing and chanting Krishbhajans known generally as Vanchipattu.This is highly rhythmic in praise of Lord Krishna. Ont he Ashtami Rohini day the birthday of Lord Krishna also the divine sadya is offered to more than one lakh of devotees from all part of the nations.This also serves the purpose of Annadanams and Oottu in other Temples of Kerala. No doubt to raise water in mouth the main sweet dishes, besides all other vegiterian Dishe, are Adapradhaman, Aravana payasam,Aval mixed with jaggery,Ellunda,Kadalipazham payasam,,Kalkkandam,Parippu pradhaman,Pazhapradhaman,Palpayasam(the most favourite dish of Lord Krishna in Guruvayur and Ambala puzha),Unniyappam are generally served in Plaintain leaves with utmost devotion.In order to complete the taste of the sadya and with a view to filling watwer in mouth the other dishes served in Aranmula sadya areBanana Chips,Sarkkara upperi,Chammanthi,curd,friebanana,curry,Ginger curry,Ghee,Kalan,olan,erisseri(Elisseri)Pulisseri,Pachamoru,Pulisseri kari,Rasan,Sambar,Red cheera Thoran,Thakarathoran,Holy water from Pampa,Chukkuvellam,fried pappadam and many more addedattrractions of modern cookery are served here to relish and get themselves satisfied .Now let us all take rest after a magnificent feast which one would get rarely an opportunity to enjoy such divine taste of feast before announcing that the AArattu of Aranmula Temple falls on 18th January 2018 (Thursday next)! OHM!NAMO NARAYANAYA! Sreedharan Mundanat, 16th of January2018 at Thrissur