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Home > Temples of Kerala > idukki district idukki district(a)Devikulam taluk The Subramanya temple, Munnar is worth mentioning, the important vazhipaat being bhasmaabhishekam. The Aanauachal Dharma Saastha temple in the picturesque background of Chenkulam reservoir (near Chithirapuram) is important, though it was consecrated only in 1957. The important offerings are neyyabhishekam and appam. The Siva temple at Kovilakadavu (on the boundary between Marayur and Kanthalloor villages) and the Saastha temple at Devikulam are famous and large number of devotees assemble here during festive occasions. (b)Udumbanchola taluk Two Ganapathi temples (one at Saanthanpara and the other at Udumbanchola) and the Saastha koil at Vantanmetu are the prominent temples in the taluk, the main offerings being breaking of coconuts and appam. (c)Thodupuzha taluk The Ayyappa temple, known as Saastha temple at Arakkulam has important offerings like katum-paayasam, koottu-paayasam, paal-paayasam and pushpaanjali and the deity is regarded as very poweful by ardent devotees. The Saramkutthi kaavu (in Kudayathur village), also dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is associated with the Arakkulam temple and offerings are similar. At the Sree Narasirilha temple, Manakkal, the important vazhipaats are paanakam to the deity and participating in kaavatiaattam. The Bhagavathi temple at Karikk5d (the ancient seat of Vatakkumkiir Rajas) is famous and the Patahadi uthsavam of the temple on the Kumbha-Bharani day attracts a large number of devotees. The Kanjiramattam Siva temple and the Annamalai Siva temple (built in Chola style of architecture) deserve special mention. The main vazhipaat in these temples is dhaara. The Sree Krishna temples on the banks of Thodupuzha river, a tributary of Muvattupuzha river, are important places of worship. The main offering is paal-paayasam. The Meena-Bharani at Chandrappith kaavu at Kotikulam is important. (d)Peermade taluk (peerumet taluk) The Mangala Devi temple, situated on the top of a high peak (at a height of 1436 metres) within the dense forest of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (formerly Periyar Game Sanctuary) is accessible via Thekkadi (Thekkati). There are four shrines in dilapidated condition. The original shrine of Kannaki, now in ruins, faces towards south. As guardians of Sree Kannaki three shrines are there, two facing east viz. one dedicated to Goddess Parvathi and the other of Lord Siva (as evident from the peethtam of the idol) while the Ganapathi shrine faces north. Major portion of the temple complex (including all shrines) with an extent of 58 cents lie in Kerala and once formed part of Poonjar royal family, but now under the possession of the Kerala Forest Department. The well of the temple lies outside the northern gopura and in the valleys of the peak at the otherside of the watershed line and in Tamil Nadu. The temple opens only on festival days and the pilgrims mostly hail from Tamil Nadu and they take the route via Thekkati. The idols are not in good condition and not properly installed. The offerings depend on the discretion of the devotees during festival days as no regular pooja is done in the temple. The Peruvanthnam Sree Bhagavathi temple is also ancient and the main offering is raktha-pushpaanjali and katum-paaysam.The Saastha. temple at Vantiperiyar, which belongs to Pooniar royalfamily also deserves special mention.
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