Sree Narayanmangalam Dharmasastha Temple

Sree Narayanamangalam Dharma Sastha Temple dates back to 55 years, was founded by Sree T.K Narayanan Nair, Thazhemannil House, Elanthoor is considered to be an ancestral shrine. Sree Ramachandran Nair son of Late T. K. Narayanan Nair, is the present priest and custodian of the temple. He took charge of the temple on 1 September, 1983. It is believed that Sree T.K. Narayanan Nair had climbed the holly hillock of Sabarimala and worshiped Lord Ayyappa 67 times. Lore is there that, being an ardent devotee of Lord Ayyappa, Sree T.K.Narayanan Nair constructed this temple hoping that it should facilitate him to worship Lord Ayyappa (presiding deity of this temple) at a later stage when he becomes senile (old) and in invalid (sick) to climb the holly hill of Sabarimala.

Lord Ayyappa is the presiding deity of this temple. The holly idol was installed and consecrated according to the strict adherence of the rules of Tantra Shastra and Shadadhara. Ganapati, Devi, Maladeva, Nagaraja and Nagayakshiamma are the sub-deities. One can see 19 balikkallu here. There is a holly mast and an ancient natural pond in the temple precinct. The ritualistic Aarattu of Sree Bhagavathikkunnu Devi is performed in this holly pond. The customary pujas and rituals of this temple are not performed by specially appointed priest or Nampoothiris.

Every year the kodiyettu, holly flag hosting, of the seven day festival will be held on the 14 day the Malayalam month makaram and draws to a close on 20th. The temple authorities have plans to extent this seven day festival to 10 day. The devotees on each day of festival offer annadanam, para-ezhunnallippu and perform other cultural activities. On the sixth day of the festival pettathullal is performed. The pettathullal is taken out as a procession from Dharmashastha temple to Ganapati Temple. The main procession is observed on the seventh day, marking the culmination of the festival. A procession with the accompaniment of a golden caparisoned elephant set off afternoon from the main temple and reaches at Kuranthatti Kottaram (Kuranthatti Palace) at 5 p.m. and back up to the Dharma Sastha temple at 11 a.m. The return journey to the temple from the palace will be devoid of pomb and ostentations. The main part of a ritual is a grant procession of foot carrying the idol of Dharmasastha atop the golden caparisoned elephant. At Kuranthatti palace devotees engaged in prayers to receive Dharmasastha. Thousands of devotees attached to the Dharmasastha temple engage in prayers and austensities to accompany the Dharmasastha idol to Kuranthatti palace.

Every year on the first day of medom the Malayalam month a ritualistic kalam pooja (earthen vessel Pooja) is done. The Aalavattom (ornamental fan made of peacock feathers), Anki, Nettippattom (golden caparison) are under the full ownership of temple authorities and they are only used in this annual festival. Besides Sree Kovil the temple has a wide chuttambalam (second enclosure) and Aanakkottil.