Thiruvalla

Thiruvalla is a town-cum-Taluk located in Pathanamthitta district. Previously this town was spelled as Tiruvalla. The town is famous for its various religious festivals, schools, institutions etc.

The temple is not very big and can be easily covered in about 45 minutes. The temple is built in the typical kerala divyadesam structure , with a conical roof over the main sanctum and a stone platform in front of the sanctum. There is a spacious, open pragharam around the main sanctum. The thayar here is Sri Selva thirukkozhundhu nachiyar , also known as vatsalya devi. There is a temple tank nearby. The Lord here is in a standing position and goes by the names of Kolappiran, Thiruvazhmarban and Sri Vallabhan . A unique feature of this temple is that there is a sannidhi for Sri Chakrathalwar behind the sannidhi of Lord Vishnu .  It is not common to see a sannidhi for Sri Chakrathalwar in the Malainadu divyadesams. 

Legend has it that, a female devotee by the name of Shankara Mangalathammai used to religiously observe a fast every ekadesi day and then serve food to a brahmachari on the next day. A demon called Tolakasuran started harassing her and began creating hurdles in her religious practice. Lord Vishnu appeared as a brahmachari and slew the demon. In compliance with the wish of His devotee, Lord Vishnu stayed at this place with Sri Mahalakshmi visible on His chest to bless all those who come to worship at this shrine. Hence the name Sri Vallabhan for the Lord.


Another legend associated with this sthethram is that of a person named Ghantakarna. He was instructed by Lord Shiva to worship Lord Sri Vishnu through the eight-syllabled ashtakshara manthra. To avoid hearing any extraneous noises, Ghantakarna tied a bell to each of his ears and worshipped Lord Sri Vishnu and secured His Grace. The theertham in this divya desam is called Ghantakarna theertham.


It is also believed that the idol of the Lord here was installed by the sage Sri Durvasa, and that the sage visits  the temple every night to worship his Lord.

Thirumangai alwar and Nammalwar has sung praisin