Maha Sastha temple of Chamravattom

Maha Sastha temple of Chamravattom

By

P.R.Ramachander

This is a famous temple of Sastha which is about 12-15 km from Thirur , in Malabar on the shores of Bharatha Puzha(Nila river) The name Chamravattom originates from Sambaravattom. It seems there was a saint called Sambara Maharshi  who used to meditate near the river Nila(BHaratha puzha) After years when the tapasya was over, he advised a brahmin that this is lord Ayyapa and  advised on the method of Pooja .

 The   temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa,  is situated 100 meters inward to the river Nila. Innumerable pilgrims visit the temple during Mandalakalam.

. The temple can also be reached by a country boat from Ponnani village , The temple is that of Sastha and is believed to be built by the legendary Perum Thachan. Sastha was the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and has two wives. These wives are called Poorna and Pushkala in some parts and Prabha and Sathyaka in other parts. Lord Ayyappa who is an incarnation of Sastha was the prince of Pandalam and remained Unmarried. Apart from Kerala there are many Sastha temples in Thirunel Veli district of Tamil Nadu. Except sastha,The presence of lord Vishnu, lord ganapathy, lord siva, goddess prabha, goddess durga, lord sathyaka is there in the main sanctum sanatorium. Besides lord ganapathy, lord sathyakan, goddess durga, goddess bhadrakali and lord siva are installed outside on the south western side of the shrine. poojas for there deities are done along with the ushapooja of sastha everyday.

Unlike other Hindu temples; the Sanctum sanctorum of the temple, where “murti ” of “lord Ayyappa” is installed, is below the ground level and the murti is installed in sand; as if the temple was built around the idol which was already there. The reason for this is believed to be that the idol was not installed by anyone but as a miracle emerged from the ground by itself and is still growing. This phenomena is names as “Swayambhu”, meaning Self-manifested or that which is created by its own accord. The method of worship also differs here slightly as, unlike other temples, bell is not used here for pooja During rainy season , the flood water enters the temple and sub merges the idol. There are several stories which describe the power of this God. People believe that worshipping God Sastha in Chamravattom on Saturdays would help them get rid of the evil effects of the bad times caused by the planet Saturn.

The main festivals of the temple is during the season of mandalam. Especially the last 11 days. ( 1st to 11th of Malayalam month dhanu ). There will be a chuttuvilakku during the ezhunnallippu but elephants are not used here. Other important day is PRATHISHADINAM. It is celebrated on ANIZHAM of the malayam month MAKARAM. On that day, there will be navakam

People believe that the Thamarakulangara Sastha temple near Tripunithura is an extension of this temple. There is also a belief that  it was a jain temple based  on archeological studies conducted there. Studies also suggest that Aryabhata , the great mathematician-astronomer from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy is from Chamravattam, which also may mean that Chamravattam was a part of old Jain kingdom.You can see a video of the tempe in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k91bczgorys