Aryankavu temple is situated in the Kollam district in Kerala and is one of the prominent shrines of Lord Sastha and is one of the five important Sastha shrines which shares the list with Sabarimala, Achankovil, Kulathupuzha and Pandalam. The most important festival of this temple is the Thirukkalyana Uthsavam (Sacred Marriage Festival) of the Lord occurring in the month of Dhanu also called as Margazhi by Tamilians and is from 15th December to 15th January.
The rituals and poojas followed at Aryankavu Sastha Temple is that of
Tamil tradition. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has idols of Lord Sastha, Goddess Devi(consort of Sastha) and Lord Shiva. Sastha sits on top of an elephant (about to go for his marriage with Devi) and hence called as 'Kalyana Roopa' or an young charming man who is ready for his marriage. Devi is also seen on the
left side and with Shiva linga on the right side of the main idol. In the outer prakaram, one can see the shrines of Lord Ganapathi, Serpent Gods etc. In the temple we can also see several bhootha ganas or Parivara moorthies of Lord Sastha like Indilayappa, Karupayya etc.
On that day sacred marriage of the Lord takes place with a young lady belonging to the Sowrashtra sect in a very grand manner. The family of the Travancore Maharaja would represent the bridegroom side and the people belonging to the Sowrashtra sect representing the bride. The bride’s side would bring all the traditional gifts for the marriage. Devi was born in one of the Sowrashtra family belonging to Madurai, finally got merged with the Lord Sastha of Aryankavu according to the legends.
In those days, the people belonging to the Sowrashtra sect settled in Tamil Nadu were mainly engaged in the business of weaving of silk clothes. Like Brahmins they too wear the sacred thread. So they were called Pattu Nool Brahmins. One such merchant of silk had a daughter who had extreme love and attachment towards Lord Sastha. Once that silk merchant embarked upon a journey to Trivandrum carrying silk clothes specially woven for the King of Travancore. Since he was traveling through the Kerala area, his daughter, too expressed her desire to accompany him and she too joined him in the journey.
During the journey they reached a forest area where they came across the temple of Aryankavu. Both the father and daughter reached the temple and had a view of the Lord. As the merchant about to leave the temple, the girl firmly declined to continue the journey any further. Since all his pleadings with the daughter failed to change her decision, the merchant entrusted her to the safe custody of the Melsanthi of the temple and continued with his journey.
After completing the business when the merchant was returning back he was chased by a wild elephant in the forest area. A hunter suddenly appeared on the scene from nowhere. He looked at the charging mad elephant and shouted aloud. For the merchant's amazement the elephant back traced its steps within a moment and finally vanished from the scene. Pleased with the timely help of the hunter who saved his life from the wild elephant, the merchant presented the silk shawl he readily had in his hand to the hunter and said his story. The hunter queried whether the merchant will give his consent to marry his daughter. Without any second thoughts the merchant gave his consent. Hunter told that he will meet him at Aryankavu temple when the merchant reaches there.
On that day sacred marriage of the Lord takes place with a young lady belonging to the Sowrashtra sect in a very grand manner. The family of the Travancore Maharaja would represent the bridegroom side and the people belonging to the Sowrashtra sect representing the bride. The bride’s side would bring all the traditional gifts for the marriage. Devi was born in one of the Sowrashtra family belonging to Madurai, finally got merged with the Lord Sastha of Aryankavu according to the legends.
In those days, the people belonging to the Sowrashtra sect settled in Tamil Nadu were mainly engaged in the business of weaving of silk clothes. Like Brahmins they too wear the sacred thread. So they were called Pattu Nool Brahmins. One such merchant of silk had a daughter who had extreme love and attachment towards Lord Sastha. Once that silk merchant embarked upon a journey to Trivandrum carrying silk clothes specially woven for the King of Travancore. Since he was traveling through the Kerala area, his daughter, too expressed her desire to accompany him and she too joined him in the journey.
During the journey they reached a forest area where they came across the temple of Aryankavu. Both the father and daughter reached the temple and had a view of the Lord. As the merchant about to leave the temple, the girl firmly declined to continue the journey any further. Since all his pleadings with the daughter failed to change her decision, the merchant entrusted her to the safe custody of the Melsanthi of the temple and continued with his journey.
After completing the business when the merchant was returning back he was chased by a wild elephant in the forest area. A hunter suddenly appeared on the scene from nowhere. He looked at the charging mad elephant and shouted aloud. For the merchant's amazement the elephant back traced its steps within a moment and finally vanished from the scene. Pleased with the timely help of the hunter who saved his life from the wild elephant, the merchant presented the silk shawl he readily had in his hand to the hunter and said his story. The hunter queried whether the merchant will give his consent to marry his daughter. Without any second thoughts the merchant gave his consent. Hunter told that he will meet him at Aryankavu temple when the merchant reaches there.
The very next morning, the merchant reached the temple. He searched for his
daughter but could not find her. When the chief priest
of the temple heard about it, he rushed to the temple and opened the
doors of the sanctum sanctorum. There, Lord Aryanathan, Sastha of Aryankavu,
appeared as 'Kalyana Roopa' (charming bridegroom) wearing the shining silk shawl given to the hunter by the merchant. This made it very clear,
beyond doubts, as to who came as the hunter on the previous day. This
also solved the mystery of the missing girl. The Lord had accepted merchant's daughter as his consort who was now seen in the form of a small
idol by his side.
The temple is located amidst a dense forest about 100 ft below the Kollam - Shengottai National Highway. Aryankavu was in existence even before the Sabarimala temple was built. There even exists a belief and opinion that the services rendered by Lord Sastha as a servant of the Pandya king in the guise as Ayyappa and the incidence of bringing the Tiger’s milk took place in the city of Madurai and not at Pandalam. It is also believed that the members of the family of the Pandya king stayed back at Pandalam when Ayyappa merged with the Sastha idol at Sabarimala and one of the Pandya king later became the ruler of Pandalam.
The temple is located amidst a dense forest about 100 ft below the Kollam - Shengottai National Highway. Aryankavu was in existence even before the Sabarimala temple was built. There even exists a belief and opinion that the services rendered by Lord Sastha as a servant of the Pandya king in the guise as Ayyappa and the incidence of bringing the Tiger’s milk took place in the city of Madurai and not at Pandalam. It is also believed that the members of the family of the Pandya king stayed back at Pandalam when Ayyappa merged with the Sastha idol at Sabarimala and one of the Pandya king later became the ruler of Pandalam.
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