Cherpulassery Ayyapan Kavu temple is located at Cherpulassery in Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deity here is Ayyappa in swayambhu sankalpam (of divine origin). The temple is one among the 108 Ayyappan Kavukal in Kerala and is mentioned in Thottam Pattu.
The darshanam of Cherpulassery Ayyappankavu temple is towards west. The murti is covered in swarna kavacham – gold armor. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Shiva, Rakshas, Navagrahas and Nagaraja.
The 10-day annual festival begins on Uthram nakshatra day in Kumbham month (February – March). A traditional temple art called Thiyyattu is also performed at the temple during the 10-day festival season. The eighth day of the festival known as Ettam Vilakku is highly auspicious.
Thiyattu is performed in the temple by devotees to be blessed with a healthy child.
The temple is known as Sabarimala of woman and also the Sabarimala of Valluvanad.
From November 16 to January 20, thousands of devotees from Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur districts reach Ayyappan Kavu to wear the Ayyappa mudra and to start their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. During this season, a number of Ayyappan Vilakku are also performed in front of the temple.
Cherpulassery Ayyappan Kavu is one of the few temples where marriages are performed in the presence of Bhagavan Ayyappa.
Ilayada nivedyam is the speciality of this temple.
As per local belief, a Namboothiri of Cherpulassery Illam had sat on bhajanam at Peruvanam Thiruvullakkavu Sastha temple for being blessed with a child. When he returned back to Illam he saw Churika the weapon of Ayyappa in the courtyard of the Illam. The Churika was consecrated in the Illam.
When the Cherpulassery Illam became extinct, Umikunnathu Nair, who was the Karyasthan of the Illam, converted the Illam into a temple.
As per history, the temple was managed by the ruler of Nedungadu. The temple came under the control of Samoothiri during 17th century CE. The temple was under the administration of Madras government from 1928.
Kanni Niramala is held on the first day of Malayalam Kannimasam (September 17).