Sri Kaatkarai appan perumal temple, Thirukatkarai




About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Malai naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Kaatkarai appan in standing posture and gives darshan in the form of Vamana avatharam of Lord Vishnu with Shanku, chakram and Padma Hastam. Thayar is known as Perunchelva Nayaki. There is also a Shivan sannadhi besides the main sannadhi. The place is famous for Nenthram pazham -a variety of banana. When the trees planted by the king failed to grow big, the king offered a golden plantain tree to the Lord and the Lord was pleased by this. So, the Lord is said to have blessed the king with many such plantain trees in this place. 


How to reach

The temple is around 4 kms from Edapalli railway station and is easily accessible from Ernakulam. Ernakulam is well connected by road, rail and air with all major cities in India.

Temple pushkarni

The temple tank is called Kapila theertham.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 5 am to 11 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thiru Mozhikalam divyadesam

Sri Mozhikalathan perumal temple - Thiru Moozhikalam


About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Malainaatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Mozhikalathan in a standing posture and thayar is called Mathuraveni thayar. In the temple, Lakshmanan is worshipped as the Moola moorthy as he is said to have visited his place to repent for misunderstanding Bharata when he came to meet Lord Rama. One can easily cover Mozhikalam and Thirukakarai divyadesams in a single session if travelling by a taxi.


How to reach

The temple is around 30 kms from Eranakulam station and around 25 kms from Alwaye. One can easily reach the temple in an hour's time from these places.

Temple pushkarni and vimanam

The temple tank is called Shankha theertham and vimanam is called Soundarya vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 5 am to 11 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thirukatkarai divyadesam

Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple, Thiruvananthapuram




About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under the Malai naatu divyadesams that are spread all over Kerala state. The temple is among the most famous temples of Kerala apart from Guruvayoor and Sabarimala. The presiding deity is Sri Anantha Padmanabha swamy in Yoga nidhra posture and reclining on Adiseshan with one hand over Shivalingam. Its a huge temple and the Lord's idol made of Saligramam is also gigantic. There are three doors in the Otha kaal mandapam (made of a single stone) and one can see the Lord only through these doors. The temple continues to maintain the Kerala culture of not using electricity inside the Garba griham and only oil lamps are lit inside. Hence it is advisible to visit the temple in day light to have a better darshan of the Lord. Through the three doors, one can see the Lord's face, nabhi or navel and lotus feet. Besides the Lord on the two sides are Sreedevi Bhoodevi thayar and two sages who penanced there to have darshan of the Lord . Also Lord Brahma is present in the garbagriham connecting from the Lord's navel and several other devas in the sannadhi.


After a major fire accident in the temple few centuries back, Raja Marthanda Varma restored the temple and as per the Lord's wishes that were conveyed through the King's dream, the moolavar statue was made of 12000 sacred saligramam that arrived from the Himalayas on elephant back.

The goddess in the temple is known as Hari Lakshmi thayar and there is no seperate sannadhi in the temple for thayar. To the right of the main shrine is a shrine for Lord Narasimhar and on the left side are shrines to Sri Parthasarathy perumal and Lord Ramar. It is interesting to note that there is a statue of hanuman inside the Narasimhar sannadhi as if reciting Ramayana to cool off the Lord's anger after killing Hiranyakashapu. Continuous Ramayana recital is also done in the Narsimhar sannadhi. In the Ramar sannadhi, the Lord gives darshan in two forms -one as a king and one like he was when banished for 14 yrs along with Sita, Lakshmanan and Hanuman.


How to reach

The temple is about a km from the railway station and is easily accessible through autos or walk. Trivandrum is well connected to other important cities of India through train, air and road. Trivandrum also has an international airport few kms from the city.

Temple Pushkarni and vimanam

The temple tank is called Padma theertham and the vimanam is known as Hemakoota vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 4 am to 12.30 pm and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm with breaks in between for daily rituals.

Temples in proximity

Varkala Janardhana perumal temple, Thiruvattaru Adi Keseva perumal temple, Thiruvanparisaram, Kanyakumari amman temple

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