The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, is one of the 108 temples (108 divya deshams - Thiruvaaran vilai) of Lord Vishnu reverred by the 12 poet saints (Alwars), is located near Aranmula village in Pathanamthitta District where Lord Krishna is worshipped as Parthasarathy (divine charioteer of Arjuna who is also called as Partha).
The temple is on the banks of the river Pamba. The sacred jewels (Thiruvabharanam) of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala are taken in procession to Sabarimala
each year from Pandalam, and Aranmula Temple is one of the temporary halts on the
way. Meanwhile, the Thanka Anki (24ct golden attire) of Lord Ayyappa, donated by the King of Travancore, is stored here in the Aranmula temple and taken to Sabarimala during the
Mandala vilakku season (late December) as a procession.
Legend has it that the Pandava princes, after crowning prince Parikshit
left on a pilgrimage and reached Kerala. Each of the brothers
installed Lord Vishnu
on the banks of the Pamba and offered worship. It is one of the five ancient shrines of Kerala connected with the Pandavas. The Thrichittattu temple is related to Yuddhishtra, the Trippuliyur temple to Bheema, Aranmula to Arjuna, Thiruvanvandoor to Nakula and Trikkodithaanam to Sahadeva. It has been glorified by the Tamil hymns of Nammalwar.
The temple has four towers over its entrances on its outer wall. The
eastern tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps similar to Sabarimala. Descending 57
steps through the northern tower, one can reach the Pamba River. It
is said that the temple was actually built at Nilakkal near Sabarimala and was brought here in a raft made of six pieces of bamboo
to this site, and hence the name Aranmula (six pieces of bamboo). It is believed that Arjuna
built this temple, to expiate for the sin of having killed his brother Karna in the
battlefield, breaking all ideologies of killing an unarmed enemy. It is also
believed that Lord Vishnu here reinstate the knowledge of creation to Lord Brama, from whom the demons Madhu-kaidaba stole the Vedas.
Another story says that on the ninth day of the battle of Kurukshetra, the Kauravas reigned supreme under the leadership of Bheeshma,
when Krishna motivated Arjuna to take initiative and vanquish his foe.
Upon his hesitating to do so, Krishna jumped down in rage, and took up
his discus; seeing this sight Bheeshma surrendered to him and Arjuna
beseeched him not to kill Bheeshma, as it would have been against
Krishna's vow to take up arms in Kurukshetra battle.
Aranmula is also known for the
water sports involving a spectacular procession of snake boats called "Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali". It is
also linked with legends from the great epic, Mahabharata. A tradition of sending an offering of rice and
other material required for a feast from a nearby village, on a
waterboat relates to the origin of this festival and this tradition is
continued even today (this is related to a legend in which a devotee fed
a hungry pilgrim, who directed him to send food to Aranmula and
disappeared, revealing that he was none other than Lord Vishnu himself). Snake boats accompany the sacred boat. Snake boats from 39 Karas from Chennithala in the west to Ranni in the east participate in the watersport.
These boats assemble at dawn and sail in pairs for about 2 hours. A
snake boat (also called as Palliyodam) is about 103 feet in length. Each boat has about 4 helmsmen
100 oarsmen and 25 singers. After the watersport there is an elaborate
feast in the Aranmula temple (Aranmula Vallasadya) to the crew of Palliyodams (snake boats) which the devotees
consider a divine vessel of Lord Krishna. People from different palliodams reach the
temple in their respective boats to take part in the valla sadya. On the
valla sadya day, the oarsmen will come to the temple in the boat through
the river.
The oarsmen will offer nirapara to the presiding deity at the nadappanthal in front of the golden temple mast and circumambulate the temple chanting Vanchipattu (canoe songs). The feast will begin immediately after the ucha pooja (offering at noon) at the temple. Rice with 45 side dishes were served at the Sadya on banana leaves including the following side dishes such as Adaprathaman (a typical Pudding), Aravana payasam. (Pudding made from rice, jaggery and ghee), Aval (flattened rice), Avial (Mixed vegetable curry), Banana chips, Chammanthi powder (Chutney powder), dried ginger water, Curd, Ellunda (gingelly ball), Fried banana, Ghee, Ginger curry, holy water from river Pampa, Kaalhen (curry made from curds), Kadalipazham payasam (Pudding made of Kadali banana), Kalkandam (Sugar candy), Kadala Prathaman (pudding made of nengal gram), Kichadi (a curry made of rice and gram), Mango curry, Munthiri pachadi (a curry made of grapes), Olen(a typical vegetable mixed curry), Pachadi (another vegetable curry), Paal payasm (Pudding made of Milk), Pachamoru (diluted buttermilk), Pulisserry (curry prepared with thick and sour buttermilk), Rasam(a typical diluted vegetable soup), Cheera Thoran (made with a variety of amaranthus); Sambar(a typical thick vegetable soup), Thakara Thoran (Thoran with cassia tora) and Unniappam.
(Two above photos courtesy : http://www.p4panorama.com/panos/Aranmula/index.html)
The oarsmen will offer nirapara to the presiding deity at the nadappanthal in front of the golden temple mast and circumambulate the temple chanting Vanchipattu (canoe songs). The feast will begin immediately after the ucha pooja (offering at noon) at the temple. Rice with 45 side dishes were served at the Sadya on banana leaves including the following side dishes such as Adaprathaman (a typical Pudding), Aravana payasam. (Pudding made from rice, jaggery and ghee), Aval (flattened rice), Avial (Mixed vegetable curry), Banana chips, Chammanthi powder (Chutney powder), dried ginger water, Curd, Ellunda (gingelly ball), Fried banana, Ghee, Ginger curry, holy water from river Pampa, Kaalhen (curry made from curds), Kadalipazham payasam (Pudding made of Kadali banana), Kalkandam (Sugar candy), Kadala Prathaman (pudding made of nengal gram), Kichadi (a curry made of rice and gram), Mango curry, Munthiri pachadi (a curry made of grapes), Olen(a typical vegetable mixed curry), Pachadi (another vegetable curry), Paal payasm (Pudding made of Milk), Pachamoru (diluted buttermilk), Pulisserry (curry prepared with thick and sour buttermilk), Rasam(a typical diluted vegetable soup), Cheera Thoran (made with a variety of amaranthus); Sambar(a typical thick vegetable soup), Thakara Thoran (Thoran with cassia tora) and Unniappam.
(Two above photos courtesy : http://www.p4panorama.com/panos/Aranmula/index.html)
Another festival celebrated here is the "Khandavanadahanam" celebrated in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. For this festival, a replica of a forest is created in front of the temple with dried plants, leaves and twigs. This bonfire is lit, symbolic of the Khanda forest fire of the Mahabharata.
The Malayalam month of Meenam
witnesses Aarattu festival where Aranmula Parthasarathy is taken with a grand
procession on his garuda mount to the Pampa river bank, where Punnamthode bhagavathi is also brought in procession for the festival ceremonies.
The famous Aranmula Kannadi is made in Aranmula village by the traditional craftsmen. It is not made of glass but with bell metal. This is a unique art which is not found any where else in the world. Its techniques is handed down from generation to generation. The Aranmula Metal Mirror is a unique object, mysterious in its creation unequalled in its beauty. The metal mirror, a marvel in the annals of metallurgy was in vogue long before the appearance of today's silicon synthetic glass mirror. It was in use far off Egypt and Bagdad. The origin of metal mirror of Amnmula is closely connected with the Aranmula Padhasarathy Temple which is deemed to be the nerve centre cf Pamba valley civilization.
The legend has it, that eight families of expert in temple arts and craft had been brought by the local Royal Chief of Amnmula from Sankarankoil situated in the present day Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu in connection with certain works in the Parthasarathy Temple centuries ago. While working with the bronze to make a crown for the Lord Parthasarathy, to their surprise the artisans discovered the reflective property of one particular copper-tin alley. However they failed to reproduce the compositions. The oral history continues to say that a divine interference came from Parvathi Amma, a widow of community, through a dream. She received a secret ratio of the alley. There is a story in Puranas, that, the mirror of Godess Parvathi , is a diva Vasthu which symbolizes pact with God.
