About the temple
Thiruvalla is a colloquial name for the place of
Sreevallabhapuram, named after the chief deity Sree Vallabha.
It is believed that the lord of this kshetra , Maha Vishnu
or Sree Vallabha was sculpted by Viswakarma at the behest of Lord Krishna and
was given to Satyaki at the end of Dwapara Yuga. After being safeguarded by Garuda
at netyravati river, Cheraman Perumal built the current temple at Thiruvalla in
B.C 59 (Kaliyugam 3043).
The Moolavar Lord is also known by the names of Vallabhan
and Kolapiran. This place is referred to as the ‘Vallabha Kshetram’.
The pooja system followed in this temple is unique and is
different from the tantric form of worship generally followed in Kerala.
A lot of historical insciptions are found inside the temple.
Thiruvalla temple is also referred to in Garuda and Matsya Puranams.
Stories referring to the temple.
Lord is said to have protected a spinster ( performing
ekadasi penance) from an Asura in the form of a Brahmachari by using his
Sudharsana chakra.. The Chakra is said to have fallen at the place where the
temple is situated currently.It is believed that the Lord here protects all the
devotees from evil forces.
Another story goes that KandaaKarnan, a Shiva devotee,
undertook penance invoking Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Vishnu appeared
before Kandaa Karnan and provided him darshan as Vallabhan.
This temple is also a Prarthana Sthalam for childless
couples-Performance of Kathakali is one of the main offerings made to the
God.There is also a tradition to present
12000 ripe bananas to the lord, half of which is distributed to the devotees.
Some time ago ,
ladies were allowed inside the temple only on a couple of specific occasions in
the year but this is no more the case. (Wikipedia-After
an incident of a woman getting salvation inside the shrine, ladies were more
attracted to the temple. A series of inauspicious events happened after a lady
who had been enchanted by beauty of the handsome idol entered the
sanctum-sanctorum to marry the Lord[1][11] and the administrators decided to
ban women from entering the temple after an astrological counseling. But on
request, they agreed to allow women twice a year during Thiruvathira of Dhanu
month and Vishu in Medam [13] when the Lord will be dressed up with mud, ashes,
torn clothes etc. to look ugly. The ban was removed in 1968.)
How to reach
Thiruvalla Railway station is located about 30kms South of
Kottayam on the Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayankulam rail route. The temple is roughly
2-3 kms from the railway station. Trivandrum is the nearest airport. This place
can also be reached from Kochi airport.
Temple is open in the mornings from 4 a.m. to noon 12 p.m and in the evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m
Temples in proximity
Thiru Puliyoor
Thiruchittaru
Aranmula
Thiruvanvandur
Thirukadithanam
