Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla

Introduction

Sreevallabha Temple is one of the most ancient and largest temples of Kerala. This is a Vishnu temple, which is also regarded as a Divyadesam, one that has been glorified in the Tamil Divyaprabhandham compositions of the Azhwar saints. It is located in the Thiruvalla town in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, on the banks of the river Manimala. Lord Vishnu is worshipped as Sreevallabha, here. As per belief, the temple was built by the Bhoothaganas, the servants of the Lord in a single night, and remains perhaps the only temple to enshrine Vishnu and his discus weapon Sudarsana under the same roof. The Kathakali dance is performed daily as an offering to the Lord. This town was once the center of learning and development and had its own Ayurveda school and hospitals.

Temple Legends

Scriptures like Garuda Purana and Matsya Purana refer to this temple as Vallabha Kshetram. It is believed that Lord Vishnu appeared for the sake of sage Durvasa and that he also took the form of a young boy and destroyed the demon Thokalaasuran. The Sreevallabha idol worshipped by Krishna and Lakshmi is said to have been installed in the temple in 59 BCE. There is a belief that Durvasa and the Saptarishis worship this Lord at midnight, even today.

The temple was under the control of ten Brahmin families known as 'Thiruvalla Pattillathil Pottimar' till 1752-1753. It later emerged as one of India's important spiritual centers, with hundreds of priests to take care of the worships and rituals. Once, it also provided facilities for staying and food to devotees, students, teachers, and pilgrims. The temple was said to be so wealthy that food was served on golden banana leaves, and those were thrown away after the food was consumed!

The architecture of Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla

This Kerala style temple covers almost 8.5 acres of land and is enclosed in a massive, granite compound wall. It has two entrances, with a two-story Raja Gopuram, the entrance towers on both sides. Four small Aankottils or altars are placed on four sides of the temple, where the divine idols would be placed for circumambulation. In the sanctum sanctorum known as the Sreekovil, Lord Sreevallabha is housed along with Sudarshana Chakra. The Lord holds the conch, discus, and a lotus in 3 of his hands and has kept the fourth hand on his waist. The idol, which is 7 feet tall and placed at a 10-foot height, is really imposing. Vishnu, Shiva, Parvati, and Murugan idols also form part of Naalambalam, the double-walled structure, built around the Sanctum, while there are also shrines for Ganapathi and Ayyappan. The temple flag will be hoisted in the flag mast Garuda Dhvaja Sthambam on special days. Balikkalpura is the chamber dedicated to sacrifices, while Oottupura is the huge dining hall, here. Jalavanthi or Khandakarna Theerthem is the temple tank, which is believed to have 64 hidden idols of Vishnu in it. Many stone and wooden carvings and mural paintings add to the artistic value of this temple.

Temple Festivals

Uthra Sreebali is perhaps the most important festival here. It is conducted in the Malayalam month Meenam (March-April), when Goddesses from Alumthuruthy, Karunaatu Kavu, and Padappadu temples come to worship Sreevallabha here. Taking part in the Uthara Sreebali festival, it is believed, can wipe away the sins of all births. Thiruvonam in Chingam month, Ardra in Dhanu month, and Vishu in Medam month are some of the other important festivals of the temple.

Benefits of worshipping Lord Sreevallabha

The greatness of the Lord and the mystical powers of this shrine are said to be boundless. Pooja Santhana Gopalam worship is performed here to beget children, Pooja Duryodhana Vadham, to overcome the wrath of the enemies, and Kuchela Vrutham, to enhance abundance and money flow. Many devotees visit this temple to improve their prosperity and welfare.