Thiruvaranvilai

Thiruvaranvilai is traditionally enumerated as number 86 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.

This divya desa is also known as Thiruvaranvilai. It lies six miles to the east of Chengannoor. The moolavar is known as Thirukkuralappan, more popularly known as Parthasarathi. Th: consort is known as Padmasini Nachiar. The moolavar is seen 11: a standing posture facing east. The theertha is known as Vedavyasa theertha as also Pampa theertha. The vimana is known as Vamana vimana and Lord is believed to have given dharshan to Brahma and Vedavyasa.

Aramula, Chengannoor and Thiruvalla are three well known holy places in the erstwhile Travancore State. They are not only religious centres but also historical and cultural centres and economically very prosperous with fertile lands. Amongst the three, Thiruvalla is an active commercial centre and the town reflects the prosperity that flows out of it. Chengannoor takes the second place. Aramula though lower in the economic scale occupies the top place so far as cultural traditions are concerned. The scenic beauty of Aramula with the hillocks in the north is more breathtaking than that of the other two places. The captivating scene of the quiet flowing river Pampa at Aramula along with the verdant paddy and sugarcane fields and thick bamboo groves is so bewitching and inviting that people refer it a visit to Aramula as a tryst with nature. The soil is very fertile so much so one of the mythological stories connected with this divya desa says that when the boatmen discarded the bamboo poles used as a catamaran to reach God to Aramula on the sandy banks near the shore itself, those bamboos took roots and grew into luscious bamboo fields. Itis from those bamboo groves that one long pole is cut and brought as flagmast for a festival in the temple.

The great temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is believed to have been constructed on a plateau-like formation raised at the behest of the Lord Himself by the demons overnight for providing the area required for constructing the temple. More about this story later on in this chapter..

There are four gopurams on the four sides of this temple. The eastern tower of the temple is the main and most impressive