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Sri Kuralappa Perumal

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.

Timings

5 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8pm.

Entry Fee

No Entry Fee

  1. 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. 
  2. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early mediaeval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. 
  3. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, who is worshipped as Parthasarathy.
  4. Parthasarathy is the other name of Krishna on account of his role as Arjuna's Charioteer in the Mahabharata war. 
  5. It is one of the most important Krishna temples in Kerala, the others being at Guruvayur Temple, Trichambaram Temple, Thiruvarppu and Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple. 
  6. 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 by Sahadeva.
  7. 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. 
  8. 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.


PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE 1:



  1. This Divyadesam is constructed and devoted by Arjun, one among the Pancha Pandavas. 
  2. During the 18 day Kurukshetra battle in Mahabharata war, when Arjunan and Karnan were fighting, Karnan’s Chariot got stuck in the land. 
  3. He got down from the Chariot and tried to get the wheels out of the place. But, he could not do so. 
  4. At that time, Karnan asked Arjunan not to fight with him at that time and asked him to wait for sometime. 
  5. But, neglecting his words, Arjun killed Karna using his bow and arrow. 
  6. But, he felt very sad for his act and to get rid of this curse, he built this temple and devoted the perumal, Thirukkuralappan.
  7. The perumal is said to be the amsam of Vaamana. 
  8. Arjuna was able to get the seva of Sriman Narayanan as “Parthasarathy” during Mahabharatam and Vaaman in this sthalam.



PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE 2:


  1. According to the legend , the Pandavas , after crowning Prince Parikshit, left on a pilgrimage tour of India. 
  2. While travelling in the parts now known as Kerala, these Pandava brothers installed Sri Narayana on the banks of the Pampa and nearby places and offered worship. 
  3. It is said that Arjuna built this temple at a place called Nilackal near Sabarimala and the idol was brought here in a bamboo raft made of six pieces and hence the name Aranmula (six pieces of bamboo).


PURANIC SIGNIFICANCE 3:


  1. Once, Brahma devan lost his Gnana book and to regain it, he did a great tapas over this sthala perumal. 
  2. At that time, the Perumal showed his seva and blessed him that he will retain the Gnana book. 
  3. This is one of the historical stories said about this sthalam.


Temple administration 


  1. The temple is open from 4 am to 11:00 am and 5 pm to 8 pm and is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala. 
  2. The king of Travancore maintained the golden dress in the temple, offered to Sabarimala Ayyappan Temple. 
  3. The practice of offering the golden dress to Sabarimala temple annually is done by the board. 

Do's and Don'ts

  1. Dress Modestly: Wear respectful attire.
  2. Remove Footwear: Take off shoes before entering.
  3. Maintain Silence: Keep noise to a minimum.
  4. Follow Rituals: Observe and participate in temple practices.
  5. Offer Respect: Follow proper procedures for offerings and prayers.
  6. Donate Wisely: Use designated donation boxes.


  1. Avoid Loud Behaviour: Don’t speak loudly or create disturbances.
  2. Don’t Touch Sacred Objects: Avoid touching deity idols or sacred items.
  3. Don’t Bring Food: Refrain from bringing food or drinks into the temple.
  4. Don’t Take Photos: Follow rules on photography; many temples prohibit it.
  5. Don’t Enter Restricted Areas: Stay out of areas marked as off-limits.


Dress Code

  1. Women: Wear sarees, salwar kameez, or modest dresses. Avoid shorts and sleeveless tops.
  2. Men: Wear dhotis, lungis, or trousers with a shirt. Avoid shorts and sleeveless shirts.


How to reach

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By Train:

  1. From Mallapuzhaserry:
  2. Board a train from the nearest railway station (e.g., Palakkad Junction or Thrissur).
  3. Book a train to Chennai Egmore or Chennai Central.
  4. From Chennai Egmore or Chennai Central:
  5. Take a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or local bus to Parthasarathy Temple.


By Air:

  1. From Cochin International Airport:
  2. Take a flight to Chennai Airport.
  3. From Chennai Airport, take a taxi, auto-rickshaw, or local bus to Parthasarathy Temple.


By Road:

  1. Starting Point: Mallapuzhaserry, Kerala
  2. Destination: Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Nearby Cities and Rivers

Nearby Rivers:


Periyar River: 



One of the major rivers in Kerala, flowing through the central part of the state.


Pamba River: 




Originates in the Western Ghats and flows towards the south.


Bharathapuzha (Nila) River: 



Flows through the central and northern parts of Kerala.


Kadalundi River: 



Flows through the northern part of Kerala.


Nearby Cities:



  1. Kochi: A major city and port in the southwestern part of Kerala, known for its historic sites and cultural heritage.
  2. Thiruvananthapuram: The state capital located in the southern part of Kerala.
  3. Kottayam: A city in the central part of Kerala, known for its educational institutions and backwaters.
  4. Calicut (Kozhikode): A prominent city in the northern part of Kerala, known for its trade history and beaches.