Ayyappan is a Hindu deity popular in the Southern India, particularly in the state of Kerala. Ayyappa is also known as the Hindu god of self-control. Ayyapa is considered as the son of Mohini (Vishnu) and Shiva and step son of Mother Parvati. He is considered to be the epitome of dharma, truth and righteousness and is often called upon to obliterate evil. The worship of Ayyappa has become very popular in the state of Kerala by members of all communities, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The deity is mentioned in various scriptures and is revered in south Indian Hindu traditions.
The Sabarimala Temple (Malayalam pronunciation: [ ʃabəɾimala]; Malayalam: ശബരിമല ക്ഷേത്രം) is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world with an estimate of over 40 to 50 million devotees visiting every year. The temple is dedicated to a Hindu Brahmachari (Celibate) deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Shasta, who according to belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Vishnu. The traditions of Sabarimala are a confluence of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and other Śramaṇa traditions.
Pallom is a block situated 6.5 km south of Kottayam town and 12.4 km north of Changanassery, in the Kerala State. The nearest airport is the Cochin Nedumbassery International Airport which can be reached within 2 hours. Nearest local railway station is Chingavanam (3.6 km) and Major railway station is Kottayam (6 km).
Cherpu is a suburb of Thrissur city, in Kerala state in south India. It is 12 kilometres south of Thrissur town and is on the Thriprayar road. It is dotted by a number of temples and has quite a few rivers flowing by its vicinity.
Vilwadrinatha Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur district of Kerala. Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and his brother Lord Lakshmana are the main deities of this temple. This is one of the four major temples in Kerala dedicated to Lord Rama, the other three being Thriprayar, Kadavallur and Thiruvangad temples, and also one of the rarest temples in India itself which houses Lord Lakshmana. The temple is situated on the middle of Thiruvilwamala village, on the top of a hill 100 ft above the sea level. Bharathappuzha, the second largest river in Kerala, flows through the northern side around 3 km away from the temple, and as the temple is situated on the top of a hill, the river can be clearly seen from the temple.
Erumely, also spelt "Erumeli" is a panchayat in the southeast part of Kottayam district in Kerala state, India. Erumely is situated 49 km east of Kottayam town and 133 km North of capital city Trivandrum. It is situated on the way to Sabarimala and also an important halting place (idathavalam) for the Sabarimala pilgrims. Erumely is famed for its religious harmony and prosperity between Hindus and Muslims which existed from the early periods. It is a place which have strong roots in legends and myths associated with lord Ayyappa. A new airport has been proposed in Erumeli. The village is nourished by Manimala River.
Devaswom are socio-religious trusts in India whose members are nominated by both government and community. They oversee Hindu temples and their assets to ensure their smooth operation in accordance with traditional rituals and customs. The devaswom system notably exists in the state of Kerala, where most temples are either managed by Government of Kerala-controlled devaswoms or formed by private bodies/families. The properties of each temple are deemed to be the personal property of the presiding deity of the temple and are managed through a body of trustees who bear allegiance to that deity.
The following temples are in Hyderabad
Vamanapuram is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. It is the location of Shri 'Vamana', one of the ten incarnations of Maha Vishnu. The Lord Vamana temple is located here, and hence the name Vamanapuram, meaning 'the city of the lord Vamana'.
The following are temples located in Tirunelveli, India.
Gurunathanmukadi Sri Ayyappaguru temple is situated on a hill in a beautiful landscape, near the banks of Achankovil River, on the opposite side of Pandalam Sri Valiyakoickal Dharma Sastha temple. The legend of Ayyappaguru temple is intertwined with Pandalam kingdom. The legend says when Sri Manikandan was brought up at Pandalam palace, he learned ‘vidya’ from the guru called Sri Gurunathan who was an incarnations of Sivachaithanya and was a Mahayogi. Sri Gurunathan reached Pandalam as guided by Lord Siva in a dream.
Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi Temple is a Hindu temple in Thottam, Manacaud, Manacaud P.O, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is about 1.8 kilometres to the southwest of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram city.
Thopramkudy is a village in Vathikudy Gram panchayat, in Idukki Taluk located in Idukki district in the State of Kerala in South India. Spread over an area of 27.94 km2 (10.79 sq mi), it is one of the spices market in the state of Kerala. The town has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from highs of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in the summer to a low of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in the winter, with a healthy rainfall of 3,040 mm (120 in). Thopramkudy is trying to become a village. State Highway 40 (Kerala) and State Highway 42 (Kerala) and a new highway Kalvary Mount-Munnar is passing through Thopramkudy. The hamlet is mentioned in the 2009 Malayalam movie Loudspeaker
Karthyayani Devi Temple, Cherthala is a famous Hindu temple located at Cherthala. Iratti and Thadi are the famous vazhipadu, Cherthala pooram is the second famous pooram in Kerala. Kalabham, in familywise, can be held on there, kalabham is a famous vazhipadu.
Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India. It is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue in Anna Nagar.
The Sasthamangalam Mahadevar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated near Paipinmood Junction in the Sasthamangalam ward of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, Kerala State, India. It is located on top of a hill away from the city centre, thus preserving the spiritual tranquility of the shrine. The temple is more than 700 years old according to the available records, and was regularly visited by the Kings of Travancore. It is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Andoor Kandan Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is one of the renowned Sastha Temples in south Kerala. It is situated 13 km east of Neyyattinkara i.e. 32 km south-east of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The God Kandan Sree Dharma Sastha is the main deity of this temple. It is considered to be one of the rarest temples in Kerala having the God Sastha facing the west.
Kilimarathukavu Siva Parvathy Temple and in Malayalam as കിളിമരത്തുകാവ് ക്ഷേത്രം, is located in Kadakkal, Kollam, Kerala, India. It is one of the most famous centuries old temple in South India. This temple is very special in its deities. One of the specialty is that it has two Lord Shiva deities one is the main Shiva and the other is Mahanadan. It is also well known for the biggest Cult image of 'Dharma Sastha' who is Lord Ayyappan. Lord Hanuman temple is located at the center of temple pond. Also may be one of its kind in the world, elliptical Navagraha temple is another special deity temple in Kilimarathukavu. Non-Hindus are allowed in the temple. The temple (puja) routines are strictly followed.
Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple located on the banks of Kulathupuzha river, a tributary of Kallada River. It is located in Kulathupuzha in Punalur taluk of Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. The presiding deity there is Lord Ayyappa in the form of Balasastha. It is also one among the pancha sastha shrines and one of the 108 Sastha shrines in Kerala. The idol there is believed to be installed by Lord Parashurama, and is made up of eight pieces of stones. The temple is constructed as per Kerala style of Temple Architecture.
Achankovil Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple and one of the 108 Sasthalayas, located in Pathanapuram tehsil of Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is also one among the famed Pancha Sastha temples in Kerala, the other four being Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Sabarimala and Kanthamala temples. An important river named after the locality, Achankovil river, originates near the temple.
