SASTHAMCOTTA SREE DHARMA SASTHA TEMPLE

SASTHAMCOTTA SREE DHARMA SASTHA TEMPLE 

Dear friends, 

This posting is about the famous Sasthamkotta temple . Three sides of the temple are bounded by fresh-water Lake- The only fresh-water lake in Kerala. Sastha is as powerful as the one in Sabarimala. He is grihastha with wife Prabha and son Sathyaka .. Women of all ages are permitted in the temple. It is famous for monkey feeding. The information here are compiled from different websites

Sincerely,

Gopala Krishnan 9-7-2020

Introduction

Shri Dharma Sastha temple is in the village Sasthamkotta, near Karunagapalli , Kerala. Its three sides are bounded by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala, Sasthamkotta lake.  

It is well known for the habitat of  monkeys. The temple monkeys are believed to be the divine retinue of the prime deity. 

It is one of the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala - AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The concept of Dharma Sastha represents the unison of Vaishnava and Saiva beliefs.

The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Dharma Sastha, accompanied by his consort 'Prabha' and son 'Sathyaka'.

The Dharmasastha (deity) here is said to have the same powers as that of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimala and the place derives the name from the diety, the former name being Kota.

Lord Ganesha is also another deity in the temple. Yakshi, Rakshas, Muneeswaran, Madan swamy are also installed in separate temples . Lord Siva has  also been consecrated in a separate shrine .  

2 Legend

The legend of this temple stretches beyond the period of the Ramayana (Treta Yug). It is believed that Shri Rama along with his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and the whole vaanara sena, on their way back to Ayodhya after the victory over Ravana, visited Sasthamcotta to pay their reverence to Shri Dharma Sastha. 

Shri Rama offered pithru tharpan on the banks of the Sasthamcotta Lake, the water of which is supposed to be identical to Surya Raga Theertha of Manasa Sarovar. 

Lord Rama then deputed the chief architect of his vanara (monkey) team, Neelan to serve his host. Neelan is believed to be the predecessor of the prevailing monkey clan in this temple.

It is also believed that Lord Hanuman at the time flying to Lanka in search of Goddess Sita, halted at this place also, and since then this Temple is a shelter for Monkeys

The monkeys are devotee-friendly, and the thousands of devotees visiting the temple take pleasure in feeding these monkeys with nuts and fruits. A trust ensures that the monkeys are fed at all times. 

Folklore has that the idol consecrated at Sasthamcotta temple is none other than the swayambhu idol worshipped by Lord Ram during his trip to Lanka (Sri Lanka) in search of his consort, Sita.

3 History

The present temple was built by a prince of Pandalam Royal family

3  Utsavam (annual festival)

The utsavam lasts for ten days. The flag is hoisted on the first day heralding the utsavam. The utsavam culminates with the 'araattu'[ bath of deity] on 'Utram' in the month of Kumbham (February–March). The tenth day hosts the 'Kettukazhcha'-- a procession of various effigies of bullocks, horses, decorated chariots, etc. -- A number of elephants with their nettipattam (decorative head-dress) also come to the temple to pay reverence to the prime deity, who is mounted on caparisoned elephant at the temple courtyard, escorted with many other decorated elephants.

Shiva Prathishta Vaarshikom-The holy function of the installation of the idol of Lord Shiva (Shiva Prathishta) in the newly built shrine was conducted on Atham in the Malayalam month of Edavam (May-June). Hence this day is celebrated every year as Shiva Prathishta Vaarshikom.

3.1 Other Religious Festivals

Thiruvonam-Navaratri-Mandala Mahotsav (41 days)-Makara Sankrama pooja Sivaratri-Painkuni Utram-Pathamudayam-Karkidaka Vavu