THakazhy Dharma Sastha Temple

Temple   where you can get a medicinal  oil called Valiyenna  , which is a medicine  for diseases   affecting manhood.

THakazhy  Dharma Sastha  Temple

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

(You can see a  video about this great temple https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4czPyzq2LkA)

  THakazhy the native place of the famous Malayalam writer  THakazhy Siva Sankara  Pillai also houses  a famous  Dharma Sastha temple. Thakazhi is a Village in Champakulam Taluk in Alappuzha District of Kerala State, India. It belongs to South Kerala Division . It is located 19 KM towards South from District head quarters Alappuzha. 7 KM from Champakkulam. 134 KM from State capital Thiruvananthapuram, The temple is only 6 km from Ambalapuzha temple and is managed by  Travancore  DEvaswaon board,  This is one of the 108 temples   consecrated  by Lord Parasurama,.

     This temple   was originally on a hill called Otharmala . It seems there was a huge rain   and the Idol of Dharma Sastha  got removed floated  in rain water and reached  THakazhy, Once the famous Vilwamangalam SWamiyar was  passing this way and saw a huge divine light and he found out the  idol of Dharma Sastha  in a pit (Called POthakuzhy in Malayalam)  with the help of a local magician called  Odiyan   and consecrated it there itself  . Initially the temple was called Pothakuzhiyil Dharma  Sasthavu  or otharodiyan Dharma Sasthvu. Due to the brilliant  luster  of the idol it was  also called  Udayarkkan (Sun of dawn) SAsthavu, and over time its name changed  in To Thakazhy  Dharma Sasthavu, Later the king of CHampakaserry  built a  temple there.

Later the area was captured by Travancore King and Champakasseri Raja left the place. As a result, functioning of the temple deteriorated. During that period, a native Nair used to teach young children alphabets in Kudippallikoodam. He, who was called as "Asan", was a strong devotee of Sastha and the always prayed to Lord Ayyappa of renovating the temple. But he was financially very weak.
Once in his dream, Lord Ayyappa appeared and instructed him to prepare a medicinal oil out of medicinal herbs and various other oils and to sell it at a low rate and use the money gained through this for temple renovation and for performing daily rites.Asan followed the Lord's instructions and Valyaenna became quite famous. Thus the temple was renovated and Asan was referred to as "Enna Valyachan". After the death of Enna Valyachan, his idol was made and was also installed in the temple. In 1979, Ashtabandhakalasam and Sathakodiyarchana were conducted in the temple.Previously this was done 40 years before.

 'Valiyenna'(a special type of medicinal oil meaning great oil) became a  speciality of this temple. Its believed that this oil has magical powers in taking away all the diseases from manhood. But there are some rules and regulations for feeding the medicine. These medicines are collected from 'Othar' hill. This oil is prepared only by members of the 'Aasan family  ', who belongs to a Nair family.

 Important Festivals Important Festivals

The main festival is in the month 'Kumbham'. Its an eight-day festival which ends with 'Arattu'. Also 'Kalamezhuthupattu' is celebrated in 41 days. 'Kalabhabhishekam' is celebrated from 1st Dhanu and ends after 11 days

The main festival is in the month 'Kumbham'. Its an eight-day festival which ends with 'Arattu'. Also 'Kalamezhuthupattu' is celebrated in 41 days. 'Kalabhabhishekam' is celebrated from 1st Dhanu and ends after 11 days

    The God there  faces the east and is with his wife and son.  There are five poojas  in the temple following the Manayathattu thantric rites.. The temple does not have   any other deities.

Important Festivals

The main festival is in the month 'Kumbham'. Its an eight-day festival which ends with 'Arattu'. Also 'Kalamezhuthupattu' is celebrated in 41 days. 'Kalabhabhishekam' is celebrated from 1st Dhanu and ends after 11 days