Dheshikalaya temple, popular known as Ala Sree Sankara Narayana temple, is located on National Highway 17 and is 5 km north of Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple in Thrissur district, Kerala. Ala Sree Sankaranarayana Temple annual festival begins Karthika nakshatra in Meenam month. The festival ends on Ayilyam nakshatra.
The annual festival is famous procession and the thidambu of the murti is carried atop caparisoned elephants. Nearly 7 elephants accompany the thidambu. Fireworks, colorful procession carrying muthukuda etc are part of the festival. The festival ends with arattu.
Another important festival is observed on Pooyam nakshatra in Makaram month. Skanda Sashti in Thulam month is another important festival here.
The murti worshipped in the temple is Sankaranarayana – combined form of Shiva and Vishnu. The deity faces east. The puja performed here is known as saparivara puja.
The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Subrahmanya, Ganapathi and Ayyappan.
The temple was built in 1927 AD based on the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru. Koru Aashan, Pappy Shanthi, Thilakan Shanthi and Kuttan Shanthi, disciples of Sree Narayana Guru practiced and taught Vedic and Tantric techniques of worship in the temple. Their current disciples teach and instruct the Tantric and Vedic acts and techniques inside the temple even now.
Ala Sree Sankaranarayana temple is considered to be auspicious for performing Pithru Tharpanam. People visit the shrine for performing Vavu Bali. Pithru Tharpanam is also performed in the months of Kumbham, Karkidakam, and Thulam Masam in the temple.