ARYANKAVU SRI DHARMASASTHA TEMPLE
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| Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha Temple |
Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha Temple situated about 73 km east of Kollam and 31 km from Punalur is the beautiful place at Aryankavu, one of the important pilgrim centers of Kollam district Kerala state. The main attraction of Aryankavu is the Ayyappa Temple alias Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha Temple dedicated to Lord Sastha, one among the five ancient Ayyappa Temples.The other four temples are Achankovil Sastha Temple, Kulathupuzha Temple, Kanthamala Temple and Sabarimala Temple. The unique feature of the Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha Temple is that it is built about 35 ft below the road level and has some fine structure and mural paintings. The legend behind the the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to Sree Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala .The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brought up by the Pandi Raja of Madhura and not the Raja of Pandalam.
The two main festivals of Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha Temple , Mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festival, celebrated in December draws thousands of pilgrims. It is believed that Swami Ayyappan married Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held every year in Aryankavu and the marriage rituals are according to the Sourashtra community .Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of 'Mandalapooja'. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. The Palaruvi waterfall is only 5 kms away from here.
The Story:
Swamy Ayyappan always has a predominant place in the Hindu religion. The main reason behind this is Swamy Ayyappan is the last Human Incarnation of god in kaliyug. Bhagawan Ayyappan is in married posture with Shri Pushkaladevi of Sourashtra community in Aryankavu. The marriage festival is held in Aryankavu every year and the marriage rituals are the same as in the Sourashtra community.Every year under the invitation of Trivancore king and Devasvam Board, the people of sourashtra under a sangam called 'Aryankavu Devasthan Sourashtra Mahajana Sangam', go as the sambanthi for the Lord Ayyappan. For the marriage they carry all the essential things as we carry for any marriage to Aryankuva from Madurai.
Incident at Aryankavu :
In earlier days the Sourashtrians sold silk dresses to the Trivancore king. One such business man went to sell silk dresses to Trivancore with his virgin daughter. On his way he reached Aryankavu by night, so he had to stay there.The next morning after freshing up he was ready to start, when his daughter requested him that she wanted to stay back there and keep praying to the Lord Ayyappan. She was impressed by the Lord and devoted to him. The people of the place also suggested not to take his daughter with, as it was a dense forest journey and they promised to take care of the girl. The businessman impressed by his daughter's bhakthi towards Lord Ayyappan, left her in charge of an archakar in that temple.
Lord Ayyapan's Dharshan :
After completing his business in Trivancore he returned towards Aryankavu. As he was nearing Aryankavu, a big one horned elephant came threatening towards him. The businessman was terribly afraid of this sudden appearance of the elephant and started praying loudly 'Ayyappa help and save me'. At that time a well-built hunter appeared suddenly and shouted towards the elephant to go. On hearing that the elephant went away like a magic The businessman was impressed and told to the hunter," you have saved my life and my family like a god". In a token of appreciation, the businessman gave a rich silk cloth to the hunter. The hunter wearing the cloth around his neck asked the businessman 'How do I look?'. The business man replied 'You look like a beautiful bridegroom'.On hearing this the hunter asked him, " will you marry your daughter to me.?" For that the business man said "why not? you have saved my life and if you wish I will marry my daughter to you".The hunter felt very happy and told that he will meet the businessman at the Aryankavu temple and he disappeared. The businessman was surprised that how could a stranger would know that I had a daughter for marriage and with confusion, he reached Aryankavu temple.
Archakar's Dream:
At the same time the temple's archakar had a dream in which Lord Ayyappan appeared and said ' wake up my devotee, a sourashtra business man, is waiting at the entrance of the temple. According to his wish I have united his daughter Pushkaladevi with me. The girl who was in your custody is now my wife and she is in a statue form on the left side of me in the temple. I will appear along with Pushkaladevi from today. Every year I want the businessman and his community to come here and celebrate this day as our marriage festival. After that the Archakar woke up from his dream and went to the temple along with people. There he saw the businessman. As he opened the temple door he saw all the lights of the temple lit and a small statue of Pushkaladevi was seen near the Lord, both in a married posture. The silk cloth given by the businessman to the hunter was found around the neck of Ayyappan. On seeing that the businessman knew that it was the god who had saved his life in the forest now his daughter was married to the god.
King'sDream Comes true :
On the same day the king of Trivandram had a dream in which lord told all the happenings and wanted him to treat the Sourashtra businessman and his community as his 'Sambanthis' and asked him to be the relative for Lord during his marriage.The king rushed to Aryankavu and felt happpy that his dream was true. He treated the businessman royally. He also wanted the businessman to come with his people every year and celebrate this festival. The king ordered that there should be a 'Eleven day grand festival' every year and the customs of the Sourashtra has to be followed for the marriage. So from then onwards and till date, every year the Government of Kerala's representatives come here as Lord's relatives and the Sourashtra people as the sambanthi to the lord, to celebrate. Every year, on this occassion a well decorated Portrait of the last king of Trivancore, Balarama Varma is kept. Before this photo the engagement ceremony takes place. And in the temple, there is a 11 day festival, with each day in different posture of the lord.
