Kumarakom Dharmasastha and Murugan temple is located at Kumarakom in Kottayam district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Ayyappa or Sastha and Subrahmanya or Muruga. The shrine is famous the annual Thaipooyam festival in Makaram month (January – February).
It is believed that in the beginning this was a Subrahmanya or Murugan temple. Sastha prathishta was done later. Today the temple is famous for the Sastha murti.
Kumarakom Dharmasastha and Murugan temple are located inside the same compound. It is believed that the Murugan Temple was the first Hindu temple in Kumarakom and was constructed by Vadakkumkoor king, about 1800 years ago. As per local history, Vadakkumkoor king, during a break in a journey at the place where the temples are located, had a dream in which he felt the presence of Muruga. A temple has constructed after this revelation and the shrine has a pavilion made out of a single stone.
One of the names of Subramanya is Kumara and the place gets the name Kumarakom from the deity. The words ‘kumara’ and ‘akam’ is a combination word and it means ‘home of Bhagavan Subrahmanya’.
Thaipooyam is the major festival here. It falls in the Malayalam month of Makaram (January - February). The ritualistic procession of kavadi-carrying devotees is the major attraction of the festival.
Temple music, various types of Kavadis, Shoolam, and Kavadiyattam are part of the colorful festival.
The Sree Dharma Sastha Temple was consecrated about 1200 years ago. The main deity is Sastha or Ayyappan. The deity is worshipped in a sitting posture.
The main festival of the temple falls in the month of Makaram (January - February). Musical rituals such as the Udukku pattu and the Villadichan pattu are held during the festival.
Both Sastha and Subrahmanya face east in the temple. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Bhoothathan.