Thiruvithuvakodu Perumal Temple, in Thiruvithuvakodu in Kerala, honours Abhayapradhaya Perumal (Vishnu), also called Uyyavantha Perumal, with consort Vithuvakoduvalli. It is also known as Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple, Uyyavantha Perumal Temple, Thiruvithuvakkodu.
The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints; the Vishnu form here, Abhayapradhaya Perumal, was celebrated in verse by Kulasekara Alvar. The complex is also counted among Kerala's traditional Shiva temples associated with Parashurama, reflecting a shared Vaishnava-Shaiva sanctity at the same site. Kerala temple tradition credits the founding of this temple complex to the sage Parashurama.
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 |
Sources give slightly different timings, one lists 5:00 AM to 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:15 PM instead; not independently confirmed with the temple administration.
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Thiruvonam festival | Malayalam month of Chingam (August/September) | Celebrated as a major festival at the temple. |
| Vaikunta Ekadasi | Tamil month of Thai (January/February) | Observed as a significant festival day at the Vishnu shrine. |
| Annual festival | Ten days during the Malayalam month of Medam (April/May) | The temple's main annual festival, spanning ten days. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Built in Kerala temple architectural style; the complex is known as Anchumoorthi (five deities) and contains five separate shrines, for Shiva, Vishnu as Abhayapradhaya/Uyyavantha Perumal, his consort Vithuvakoduvalli, Ganapati and Ayyappan, along with a dwajasthambam (flagpost), nalambalam (pillared corridors) and namaskara mandapam. The temple also holds a rare Chola-era inscription attributed to Emperor Rajendra I, who reigned circa 1012 to 1044 CE.
History
Kerala temple tradition credits the founding of this temple complex to the sage Parashurama. The Vishnu shrine here is also associated in local legend with the Pandavas of the Mahabharata and with King Ambarisha, who is said to have attained spiritual liberation at this site through Vishnu's four manifestations as Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. The temple is administered by the Malabar Devaswom Board of the Government of Kerala.
Planning your visit
How to reach
The temple is located at Thirumittacode near Pattambi in Palakkad district. The Palakkad-Shornur-Kozhikode railway line passes through Pattambi, about 5 km away.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Deity names (Abhayapradhaya/Uyyavantha Perumal) and consort name (Vithuvakoduvalli) are corroborated across sources, but timings conflict between sources, and entry fee/dress code/exact founding date could not be verified; the Parashurama founding legend is documented for the temple complex as a whole rather than confirmed as specific to the Vishnu shrine alone