Vishnu / Krishna · Pathanamthitta District, Kerala
Aranmula Sri Parthasarathy Temple
Aranmula Kshetram
A Divya Desam on the Pamba river, home of the snake-boat race and the Aranmula mirror.
- Deity
- Lord Krishna as Parthasarathy, Arjuna's charioteer
- Location
- Aranmula, Kerala
- Best time
- Onam (Aug–Sep) for the boat race, or the Utsavam (Jan–Feb)
- Nearest rail
- Chengannur Railway Station, about 10–11 km
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram (about 116 km) or Cochin International (about 124 km)
Still to add: Legend (Sthala Purana), History.
Kshetram
About the temple
The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples praised by the Alvar saints of the Tamil Vaishnava tradition. It stands on the banks of the Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district.
Vishesham
What's unique about this temple
- Installed by Arjuna. Legend says the idol was installed by Arjuna of the Mahabharata.
- Six bamboo pieces. The name Aranmula is said to come from aaru (six) and mula (bamboo pieces): the deity was brought here on a raft of six bamboo sticks.
- Snake boats for the Lord. The Aranmula boat race during Onam is held in the deity's honour, followed by the Valla Sadya feast.
- 18th-century murals. The temple walls carry fine 18th-century paintings.
Moolavar
The deity
- Lord Krishna as Parthasarathy, meaning the charioteer of Partha (Arjuna).
- Subsidiary shrines: Balarama, Bhagavathy, Sastha, Nagaraja and Yakshi.
Utsavam
Festivals
Begins on Atham nakshatra in the month of Makaram and runs ten days, ending on Thiruvonam.
The Kerala new year.
The ritual feast offered to the snake-boat crews, including on Ashtami Rohini, Krishna's birthday.
Snake boats race on the Pamba during Onam, as an offering to the deity.
Best time to visit: Onam (Aug–Sep) for the boat race, or the Utsavam (Jan–Feb). See every temple month by month in the yatra calendar.
Darshan
Darshan timings
Yatra
Getting there
- By train
- Chengannur Railway Station is about 10–11 km away.
- By air
- Thiruvananthapuram International (about 116 km) or Cochin International (about 124 km), depending on route.
Of this place
Aranmula Kannadi
Aranmula is the home of the Aranmula Kannadi, a hand-made mirror cast from a metal alloy and polished to reflect from its front surface. Only a few families of artisans still make it, and it carries a Geographical Indication tag.
Darshan in pictures