This famous Temple is situated at Thiruvalla Sub district.
The exact location of this temple is ½km south of Ramapuram vegetable market on
the Thiruvalla - Kayamkulam Main Road. The present Thiruvalla was known as Sree
Vallabhapuram in the past and was an important place of Pilgrimage in South
India.
Being one among 108 Divya Desams Sreevallabha temple has
been glorified by Alvars and many other ancient works. It is considered to be
the vallabha kshethram.
Vallabha idol is bearing a conch, a discus and a lotus. The
Sudarshana Chakram seen through the west cardinal door of the sanctum is held
in worship and is believed to have been installed in the 13th century. Sandalwood
paste is offered as the prasadam in the Vallabha shrine, while vibhooti or the
sacred ash is offered as prasadam in the Chakra sign on the other side of the
sanctum.
The Dwaja stamba of this temple is a monolithic structure of
black granite 50 feet in height. At the top of this staff is an image of
Garuda.
The rule for darshan at this temple is - first offer prayers
to Ganapathy, Sastha, Bhagavathy and Kurayappan swami outside the nalambalam.
Then visit Ilavanthi Theertham and offer prayers to Sage Vyasa. Then offer
prayers to Sage Durvasa and then to Garuda at the top of the dwaja. Then enter inside
the nalambalam and offer prayers to Vishwaksena, Dakshinamoorthy and reach
infront of the sreekovil. Then offer prayers to Lakshmi Devi, bhumi Devi and
Lord Sree Vallabha. Then start the pradakshinam inside the nalambalam and offer
prayers to Lord sudarsana in the west nada.
Daily five main pooja are being performed with thee
naivedyam and three sreebali. It starts with palliyunarthal or awakening the
Lord followed by abhishekam or bathing with 12 pots of water sanctified with
vedic chantings. This is followed by malar naivedyam. Afterwards Usha Pooja
which is Purusha sukta pradhana starts. At this time, the idol will be dressed
up like a brahmachari in 18 feet long white mundu with uthareeyam and two
flower garlands. Then main nivedyam is done followed by usha deepaaradhana.
First sreebali(sacrificing food to all crew of the deity) follows this.
Pantheeradi pooja starts after a short interval in which the Lord is dressed up
in Saffron-yellow mundu, angavastram, tulasi garland only. No ornaments are
used during this as the Lord is assumed as a Yogeeshwara. This is also called
as Purushanarayana pooja. Then follows Madhyahna/ ucha pooja or noon pooja in
which Lord is assumed to be thriloka chakravarthi i.e. emperor of three worlds,
grihastha bhava, adorned with all ornaments and garlands especially
kesaadipaadam garlands. Ucha pooja is completed in three parts one inside
sanctum-sanctorum, another one at navaka pooja and third being the paala
namaskaaram. At this time ucha nivedyam and paala namaskaaram are done followed
by sreebali and temple closes. Evening temple opens and deeparaadhana or lamp
worship is done after sometime. Then follows the fourth pooja in which the Lord
is assumed to be sreemad naarayanan and these two pooja are in Sthithi
sankalpa. Soon athazha pooja/5th pooja is done in which Sreevallabha is assumed
to be Parabrahma. Now the Lord will be dressed up in a single saffron colour
mundu and a tulasi garland only. After third sreebali, Lakshminarayana pooja is
done as a part of the Sleeping ceremony and sanctum-sanctorum is closed keeping
necessary articles for a pooja inside for Sage Durvasa along with Saptarishi, who
come at midnight daily for ardhayaama pooja. Sage Durvasa is believed to
perform always naivedya also and hence prasanna pooja is open and naivedyam is
done closed. Devotees also should never use vibuthi inside the temple, even
though it is the prasada given. They shall use it outside only. Male devotees
are not allowed to wear shirt, t-shirts etc.
Temple Timings: morning 4 a.m. to noon 12 p.m. and evening 5
p.m. to 8 p.m.
