Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple stands in Aranmula, Kerala, honours Kuralappan Perumal, worshipped as Parthasarathy, Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer, with consort Padmasani Nachiyar. It is also known as Thiruvaranmula Temple, Thirukkuralappan Temple, Kuralappan Temple.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints. Nammalvar praised the deity here as Thirukkurallappa Perumal and the consort as Padmasani Nachiyar, and Thirumangai Alvar offered eleven hymns in its honor. The temple is also the storage site for the sacred ornaments (Thiruvabharanam) of Ayyappa before their annual procession to Sabarimala, and it is closely tied to the traditional craft of the Aranmula Kannadi metal mirror. Temple legend holds that the Pandava prince Arjuna built the temple after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura, to expiate the sin of killing the unarmed warrior Karna during the Mahabharata war.
Kerala carries a distinct temple identity of its own: God's Own Country, where copper-roofed shrines and centuries-old rituals draw pilgrims to Vishnu, Krishna and Ayyappa.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 4:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali (Aranmula Boat Race) | Onam season, on Uthrattathi nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August/September), the last day of the Onam festival period | A snake boat race held on the Pamba river near the temple, using long ceremonial boats called Palliyodams whose design is attributed to Krishna. It draws over a hundred rowers and singers per boat and is closely linked in local tradition to the temple deity. |
| Aranmula Temple Utsavam | Ten days from Atham to Thiruvonam nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Makaram | The temple's own annual festival, including a Garuda Vahanam procession (Ezhunellippu) on the fifth day. |
| Arattu Festival | Malayalam month of Meenam | A festival procession in which the deity Bhagawati from the nearby Punnamthode temple is brought to Aranmula. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Kerala temple architecture on an eastern axis; a two storeyed gopuram; a rectangular outer wall (Kshetra Madilluka) with gateways on four sides, the eastern tower reached by 18 steps and the northern tower by 57 steps; a circular sreekovil sanctum with a conical terracotta tiled roof; wall paintings dated to the early 18th century; the temple stands on the southern bank of the Pamba river
History
Temple legend holds that the Pandava prince Arjuna built the temple after crowning Parikshit as king of Hastinapura, to expiate the sin of killing the unarmed warrior Karna during the Mahabharata war. The main deity image is said to have arrived on a raft made of six bamboo pieces, giving the village its name, Aranmula, meaning six bamboos. The temple is administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located in Aranmula village on the southern bank of the Pamba river, Pathanamthitta district. Nearest railway station is Chengannur, about 10-11 km away; nearest airports are Trivandrum International Airport and Cochin International Airport, both around 115-125 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Construction date is legendary, not historically verified; entry fee, dress code and official website could not be confirmed