Thakazhi Sastha Temple is situated at Thakazhi just six kilometers away from Ambalapuzha in Aalappuzha district. The presiding deity is Lord Sastha (worshipped as Vaidya Sastha), with his consort Prabha and son Satyaka, faces east. There are no other sub deities in this temple.
For the well being of Keralites, Lord Parasurama installed 108 Sastha Temples at different places in Kerala, one of which was at Otharmala at Thiruvalla. But, as Sree Vallabha temple gained importance, the dignity of Sastha Temple decreased. Devotees at that time did not care for the temple and eventually the temple was dilapidated and only the idol was left.
Later in a flood, the idol floated and moved away and finally fell into a pit in a paddy field near Thakazhy. As time passed, Vilwamangalath Swamiyar who came by that way in a canoe saw a divine glow at that region near the paddy field and according to his instructions, Brahmins of that place took out a Sastha idol and installed it. It was called as 'Pothakuzhiyil Sasthavu' which after frequent usage became 'Thakazhiyil Sasthavu'. Then according to the instructions of Chempakassery Raja, a temple was built there for Lord Sastha worship and routine functioning of the temple was looked after properly. In another legend says that an Odiyan (ill spirited magician) in that place found out the idol and gave it to Vilwamangalam Swamiyar for installation and he gave it to a sage named Udhayarkkan and it is he who installed the idol. Hence the temple is also called as 'Othalodiyan kavu' by village folks.
Later the area came under the Travancore King and as a result functioning of the temple deteriorated. During that period, a native Nair used to teach young children alphabets in Kudippallikoodam. He, who was called as Aasan, was a strong devotee of Sastha and he always prayed to Lord for renovating the temple although he was financially very weak.
Once in his dream, Lord Ayyappa appeared and instructed him to prepare a medicinal oil out of some peculiar medicinal herbs and certain typical oils and to sell it at a low rate and use the money gained through this for temple renovation and for performing daily rites. Aasan followed the Lord's instructions and Thakazhi Valyaenna became quite famous. Its believed that this oil has divine powers in taking away all the diseases. But there are some rules and regulations in feeding the medicine. Thus the temple was renovated and Aasan was referred to as Enna Valyachan. After the death of Enna Valyachan, his idol was made and is also worshipped in this temple. In 1979, Ashtabandhakalasam and Sathakodiyarchana were conducted in the temple.
The main festival is in the month of Kumbham. Its an eight-day festival which ends with Arattu. Also 'Kalamezhuthum pattum' is celebrated for 41 days. 'Kalabhabhishekam' is celebrated from 1st of Dhanu and lasts for 11 days.
Later in a flood, the idol floated and moved away and finally fell into a pit in a paddy field near Thakazhy. As time passed, Vilwamangalath Swamiyar who came by that way in a canoe saw a divine glow at that region near the paddy field and according to his instructions, Brahmins of that place took out a Sastha idol and installed it. It was called as 'Pothakuzhiyil Sasthavu' which after frequent usage became 'Thakazhiyil Sasthavu'. Then according to the instructions of Chempakassery Raja, a temple was built there for Lord Sastha worship and routine functioning of the temple was looked after properly. In another legend says that an Odiyan (ill spirited magician) in that place found out the idol and gave it to Vilwamangalam Swamiyar for installation and he gave it to a sage named Udhayarkkan and it is he who installed the idol. Hence the temple is also called as 'Othalodiyan kavu' by village folks.
Later the area came under the Travancore King and as a result functioning of the temple deteriorated. During that period, a native Nair used to teach young children alphabets in Kudippallikoodam. He, who was called as Aasan, was a strong devotee of Sastha and he always prayed to Lord for renovating the temple although he was financially very weak.
Once in his dream, Lord Ayyappa appeared and instructed him to prepare a medicinal oil out of some peculiar medicinal herbs and certain typical oils and to sell it at a low rate and use the money gained through this for temple renovation and for performing daily rites. Aasan followed the Lord's instructions and Thakazhi Valyaenna became quite famous. Its believed that this oil has divine powers in taking away all the diseases. But there are some rules and regulations in feeding the medicine. Thus the temple was renovated and Aasan was referred to as Enna Valyachan. After the death of Enna Valyachan, his idol was made and is also worshipped in this temple. In 1979, Ashtabandhakalasam and Sathakodiyarchana were conducted in the temple.
The main festival is in the month of Kumbham. Its an eight-day festival which ends with Arattu. Also 'Kalamezhuthum pattum' is celebrated for 41 days. 'Kalabhabhishekam' is celebrated from 1st of Dhanu and lasts for 11 days.
