The Aandoor Yakshi Sametha Sri Gandhava Swami temple is situated in Andoorkara in Maramgattupilly village at Kottayam district and is located 200 metres south of 'Illickal-Thazhe' stop in Pala – Vaikom route.
It is a very rare Gandharva temple as the presiding deity in the main sanctum is Yakshi Sametha Gandhava Swami or (Gandharva with Yakshi on his laps) and is a rareity of this temple. Besides the presiding deity there are sub-deities such as Goddess Bhagavathi facing west, Sastha, Rakshas and Guru facing east.
The century’s old temple is believed to be built by the then local Nair chieftains of Pallattu family. The temple and its properties are preserved and maintained by four families of the ancient Pallattu family. A committee of devotees are also present and this committee looks after the day to day activities of the temple.
Usually the temple is opened for poojas in two days in a month on the star day Thiruvonam for Thiruvona pooja and on the end of every Malayalam month for Samkranthi pooja. The Samkranthi pooja has a very special significance as it is believed that if a woman continuously attend and worship 12 samkranthi poojas she can get through the obstacles in getting married. Attending samkranthi pooja also helps to remove Sani dosha (problems from saturn), Sathru Dosha (problems from enemies) and obstacles in education.
The main poojas besides the usual poojas are Ashtami Rohini in the month of Chingam, four days of poojas in connection with the ‘Navarathri’ in the month of Kanni, Mandala pooja which begins in the month of Vrichikam, 5 days of pooja and rituals such as ‘Kalamezhuthu’ and 'Gandharvan pattu’ in connection with the Vishu festival, Prathishta Day in the 6th of Medam, Ramayana month poojas in the month of Karkkidaka.
A Sarpa kavu (abode of serpent gods) is also there near the premise of the temple. Sarpa pooja is also performed in an auspicious occasion in between the Vishu festival and ‘Pathamudayam’. Though the temple open for poojas in two days only, arrangements have been made for special poojas in the star days of devotees, if any one wants.
It is a very rare Gandharva temple as the presiding deity in the main sanctum is Yakshi Sametha Gandhava Swami or (Gandharva with Yakshi on his laps) and is a rareity of this temple. Besides the presiding deity there are sub-deities such as Goddess Bhagavathi facing west, Sastha, Rakshas and Guru facing east.
The century’s old temple is believed to be built by the then local Nair chieftains of Pallattu family. The temple and its properties are preserved and maintained by four families of the ancient Pallattu family. A committee of devotees are also present and this committee looks after the day to day activities of the temple.
Usually the temple is opened for poojas in two days in a month on the star day Thiruvonam for Thiruvona pooja and on the end of every Malayalam month for Samkranthi pooja. The Samkranthi pooja has a very special significance as it is believed that if a woman continuously attend and worship 12 samkranthi poojas she can get through the obstacles in getting married. Attending samkranthi pooja also helps to remove Sani dosha (problems from saturn), Sathru Dosha (problems from enemies) and obstacles in education.
The main poojas besides the usual poojas are Ashtami Rohini in the month of Chingam, four days of poojas in connection with the ‘Navarathri’ in the month of Kanni, Mandala pooja which begins in the month of Vrichikam, 5 days of pooja and rituals such as ‘Kalamezhuthu’ and 'Gandharvan pattu’ in connection with the Vishu festival, Prathishta Day in the 6th of Medam, Ramayana month poojas in the month of Karkkidaka.
A Sarpa kavu (abode of serpent gods) is also there near the premise of the temple. Sarpa pooja is also performed in an auspicious occasion in between the Vishu festival and ‘Pathamudayam’. Though the temple open for poojas in two days only, arrangements have been made for special poojas in the star days of devotees, if any one wants.
