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Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple – Festivals – Facts – History

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Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple is located at Haripad in Alappuzha district, Kerala. In a year four important festivals are held in the temple. Here is a look at some of the important facts and history of the temple.

Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple Facts

  1. The deity worshipped in the main sanctum sanctorum is has four hands – Chatur Bahu. One hand holds vel, another holds a vajrayudha, the third is in blessing posture and the final one rests on the thighs. The murti is more than six feet tall.
  2. The sankalpam of Subramanian here is that of Velayudha Swamy.
  3. The same murti is given the Sankalpam of Shiva and Vishnu and festivals are held in honor of both the deities. It is believed that Vishnu had appeared in the form of a saint to consecrate the murti on Pooyam nakshatra in Makaram month.
  4. The main deity in the temple faces east.
  5. The temple has one of the tallest flag posts in Kerala.
  6. The temple has a round sanctum sanctorum (vatta sreekovil) and its roof is covered using copper sheets.
  7. The puja in the temple should be performed by pujaris from Pulloor village. Tantri should be present during Uccha Pooja. The temple earlier had purapeda shanty (priest who used to stay in the temple).
  8. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Dakshinamurthy, Ganapati, Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna and Sastha.
  9. The koothambalam of the temple is famous for its sculptures. Koothambalam is made out of granite stones and wooden sculptures are fixed on the pillars.
  10. There is a large oottupura on the north side and there is also a huge temple pond. The pond is known as Perumkulam and extends nearly 5 acres.
  11. There are two Anakottil in the temple one is inside and other is outside.
  12. The temple has peacocks as it is the vehicle of Muruga.
  13. The main prasadam and offering in the temple is Thula Payasam.

 Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple History

The local belief is that the murti was worshipped by Parashurama avatar of Vishnu. Later all local people of the region had a dream about a vigraham in Govinda Muttom area of Kayamkulam lake. A search was done for the vigraham and it was retrieved from the lake and brought ashore at Nelpura Kadavu. For this reason, a boat race is held annually during onam period known as Payippad Vallamkali. The arattu of the temple is also held in the lake.

Legend has it that the murti after retrieving from the lake was kept for public viewing for Ara Nazhika (half an hour) under a banyan tree that belonged to a Christian family, Tharakanmar. There still exists a small temple where the murti was kept known as Ara Nazhika Ambalam.

The temple had caught fire in 1921 CE. It was later renovated by King Sree Chithira Thirunal Rama Varma.

Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple Festivals

The first festival in the temple is dedicated to Mahavishnu and is held for 10 days and concludes on the Thiruvonam nakshatra day in Chingam month (August – September) with Arattu.

The second festival is dedicated to Shiva and is held for 10 days and concludes on the Thiruvathira nakshatra day in Dhanu Masam (December – January) with arattu.

The Kavadiyattam festival held on Thaipooyam day in Makaram month is one of the biggest Kavadiyattams in Kerala.

The fourth festival is dedicated to Velayudha form of Muruga and this 10-day festival begins on Vishu in Medam month (April).

Another important festival in the temple is the Thrikarthika in Vrischikam month. The temple is completely lit with lamps and it is an awe-inspiring sight.