Achankoil Sastha Temple, is one among the
five important temples dedicated to Lord Sastha in Kerala. Lord Sastha is believed to be leading the Grihastha Ashrama (the family life). He is worshipped along with his two wives –
Purna and Pushkala. It is believed that the idol here was installed by Lord Parashurama.
The deity at Achan Kovil is much different from the legend of Ayyappa seen at Sabarimala where Sastha is worshipped as Nitya Brahmachari (ascetic virgin - in Dharmasastha form) and no woman is allowed to worship at Sabarimala between the age of 10 - 50 years (fertile women between the stages of menarche and menopause are not allowed). Hence Achankovil Temple is considered as a very important centre for worshiping Lord Sastha for ladies.
The Achankovil
Sastha Temple is famous for curing poisonous snake bites. The left hand
of the idol of Ayyappa at Achankoil Shastha Temple always holds
Chandanam (Sandalwood paste) and Theertham (holy water). The Chandanam
and Theertham are considered to have medicinal properties in curing
snake bites.
There is a narrow road with steep curves and hairpin bends leading to the temple, from Shencottah (Tamilnadu district). Two major functions are held in the temple - one is, two days prior to Mandalabhishekam, when ratholsavam(car festival) is held. A sword brought down from Kantha Mala by an ardent devotee of Achankoil Sastha and is regarded as Achankoil Pon Vaal placed for public exhibition on the day of Car Festival. The other is in honour of Swami Krishnaji, who had done yeoman service in bostering this temple, on Revathi star-day in the month of Thai, by offering Pushpanjali to the Lord Sastha.
The temple complex also contains other deities associated with the Sastha legend. The festivals and rituals held here have strong Tamil roots. The most important festival here is celebrated from the first to tenth day of Malayalam month Dhanu (December – January).
Achankoil Karuppan (Karuppa swamy), lieutenant of the Lord is worshipped with all gaiety here. Achankovil is not easily accessible from all major towns of Kerala. However it can be reached through some forest routes and generally all Sastha temples consecrated by Parasurama are inside dense hilly forest regions.
To reach this sacred temple from Thiruvananthapuram(the capital city of Kerala) just take MC road to Ayoor. Then take right route to Anchal. Then take deviation to Punalur. Now follow Alimukku-karavoor-Mullumala- Achankovil forest road. Total distance is 117 km. From Sabarimala it is just 109 km journey via Vadaserikara, Konni and Kalleli. From Kollam or from Kottayam the journey is via Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram/Punalur.
