SREEBALA SUBRAMANYA SWAMI TEMPLE, ULLOOR, TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, COMPILED. Dear friends,
The Ulloor Sree Bala Subramanya Swamy Temple is one of themost popular temples in Kerala dedicated to Lord Muruga, also known as BalaSubramanya. The temple complex includes a Shiva shrine, a Ganapathy shrine, andshrines to Goddess Yakshi Amma and Naga Raja. Today my posting is about this temple. Hope a divine reading. Gopalakrishnan 7-8-2025 Introduction This temple of SreeSubrahmanya swami at Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram dist. In Kerala is very famous.The temple is located near Kochulloor junction in Thiruvananthapuram, is alarge and peaceful temple with a rich history This temple was initially aSastha temple with Deity known as 'Annattu Sasthavu' and later the idol of SreeBalasubramanian also was established in the temple with the initiative fromNedumangad palace and became the main deity. Devotees Visitors appreciate theserene environment and unique features such as peacocks roaming around thetemple grounds and an elephant named Karthikeyan . Legend The temple complex is quite old and has Shiva, Shasta andKrishna deities in addition to the presiding deity of Balasubrahmanya. Thelegend has it that Tarakasura,during his fight with Lord Subrahmania hid in the thick forests, now the temple premises.Lord Subrahmaniya could not find Tarakasura, and Shasta, who had come to helphis brother in the fight, pitched in. His constant temple companion was a dog and this dog issupposed to have smelled the Asura every time the God could not see him. And it is asveneration to this legendary dog that the "nayaveyppu" is held everyyear. The "Naya"(dog)is taken out in a procession around the temple and installed in the shrinealong with the Shasta. Only that the dog looks more like a miniatureof an elephant. History This temple, situated at Uloor in Thiruvananthapuram, isbelieved to be more than 600 years old. Originally it was Lord Shastha who was consecrated here.The Lord was known as AnnaduShastha. The members of the Travancore Royal family used to visit thistemple, especially on Thrikarthika day. It was the royal family that took the initiative to installthe idol of Lord Subrahmanya here. Now Lord Subrahmanya is consecrated facing the east andLord Shastha facing the west. Lord Shiva, Ganapathy, Yakshi, Naga Raja and Brahma Rakshasare the sub deities. As per history, the temple was a Sastha temple and was knownas Annattu Sasthavu. The Sastha prathishta is inside a nalukettu. There was some untowardincident in the Nedumangad royal family. When astrologers were consultedas a solution they suggested prathishta of Subrahmanya Swami in the Sasthatemple in Ulloor. Special features 1 The annualKAVADI festival and Meena Mahotsavam 2 Explore a historic temple dedicated toLord Subramanya (Lord Muruga) with various other deities 3 Enjoy theserene environment surrounded by peacocks and witness an elephant namedKarthikeyan The temple pond in front of the temple which makes the templemore beautiful Deities. Now Sri Bala Subramniais chief deity and Sreedharma Sastha and Lord Siva are the important subdeities with separate Sreekovils outside Nalambalam. Chief deity This temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya, also known as Bala Subramanya, who is depicted asa young boy. It's one of the most popular temples in the region andholds a special place in the hearts of the local community. Ulloor Balasubramanya Swamy temple is located at Ulloor inThiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to the child form ofMurugan. The Darshanam of Ulloor Balasubramanya swamy is towards east. A uniqueaspect of Ulloor Balasubramanya Swamy murti is that he is not holding a lance(Vel). Poojas in the temple 5:00 AM: Nada Thurakkal5:15 AM: Abhisheka Deeparadhana 6:30 AM: Usha Pooja10:45 AM: Ucha Pooja TEMPLE CLOSES AT 11:00 AMTEMPLE OPENS AT 5:00 PM 6:15 PM: Deeparadhana7:45 PM: Athazha pooja TEMPLE CLOSES AT 8:00 PM Festivals : Thaipusam in the month of Makaram (Jan-Feb) iscelebrated with colourful kavadi procession of different types viz. Pookkavadi,Paalkkavadi, Peelikkavadi (Flower, Milk, Peacock feather) etc. to the templefrom another nearby temple. Agnikkavadi (jumping to the sacred fire by devoteeswith kavadi) is being performed with atmost care and supervision taken by theauthorities. Nine days annual festival also is celebrated with Aarattu onUthram day of month Meenam (Mar-Apr) and is completed on the next day (Atham)with the final Nayveypu function in front of Annattu Sreedharma Sastha. The annual festival begins with the ceremonial flagbeing raised by the temple high priest. The other highlights of the ten-dayfestival are the "Palliyannilavu". The deity, decked in all thefinery and taken out in a chariot around the temple three times and will beaccompanied by the traditional temple orchestra "panchavadyam". Oillamps lights up the whole temple complex during the pallinyannilavu procession.The "aarattu" or the procession is held on the 9th day and offeringsare made to the deity. The festival comes to an end with the ceremonial flagbeing lowered. And the devotees wait for next year for another festival,treasured with glowing memories of the last one The Meena Maholsavam celebrated at the Ulloor SreeBalasubramanya Swami Temple in Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, is a vibrantfestival dedicated to Lord Balasubramanya Swami. During this auspiciousoccasion, devotees participate in special rituals, processions, and cultural events,seeking blessings for prosperity, protection, and spiritual well-being. Vinayaka Chaturthi Vinayaka Chaturthi, also known as Ganesh Chaturthi, is asignificant Hindu festival celebrated in honour of Lord Ganesha. On thisauspicious day, devotees worship Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings forsuccess, prosperity, and obstacle removal. As part of the celebrations, theUlloor Sree Balasubramanya Swami Temple in Ulloor, Thiruvananthapuram, conductsAshtadravya Ganapathi Homam,a sacred fire ritual where Lord Ganesha is worshipped with offerings made fromeight different sacred materials. Kalamezhuthum-paattum (drawing the figure of deity withcolour powders and song) in front of Sastha kovil is celebrated during 41 daysMandala kalam of Vrichikam-Dhanu months. Aanayootu (feeding elephants with rice) by thedevotees itself on the same period is another attraction. As usual to Subrahmanya kovil, the Peacocks protected in thetemple is another charm and attraction for the kids. Akanda Namajapam (24hrs nonstop chanting of Sivamantram) in front of Sivan kovil during Shivaratri day is another templeritual. The day when dog rules thefaith Dogs too have a temple for them. Ignore the eyebrows thatrise at this. But that is the unique feature of the ten-day annualMeenamaholsava at the Ulloor Sree Balasubrahmaniya Swami Temple. Offerings Thenum-thinayum forSubrahmanya swami and Neeranjanam for Sastha. Other routine vazhipadu as usualto other temples. A unique offering in the shrine is honey mixed with batterknown as Thinamavu. Other important offerings include Malar Podi andUnniyappam. Aravana Payasam₹100vGanapathy Homam₹60 Kalabhabhishekam₹13000 Muzhukapp₹675 Navakam₹2500Neeranjanam₹30 Oru Divasathe Pooja₹890Palpayasam₹80 Panchamrutham₹400Theanum Thinayum₹72 Unniyappam₹100 Legend about Kaavadi The legends have it that Sage Agasthya, had wanted his favourite disciple,Hidumbasura, to bring two hillocks, from Kailasam, the abode of Lord Shiva.Hidumbasura, and the obedient disciple set out to Kailasam and plucked out thetwo hillocks after paying due obeisance to the Lord. He made a bow of wood andplaced the two hillocks on either side of it and balanced it across his mightyshoulders the first Kaavadi ever. He planned to bring it back to his Guru'sashrama, but destiny and the Lord Subrahmaniya had decided otherwise. As ill-luck would have it Hidumbasuran lost his way in thedense woods on his way back to his Guru's ashrama. Lord Subramanian came in the guise of a king and tookthe tired Hidumbasura to his kingdom. The tired asura slept off and whenhe woke, he could no longer lift the Kaavadi, with the two hillock. Thebewildered asura saw a small child playing on top of the hillock and with hispowers of penance understood that the child was indeed Lord Subrahmaniya whohad come to test him. He bowedbefore the Lord. The Lord blessed him and was relieved of all sins. This happened in the Pooyam (Poosam) day of the month Makaramon which day the Kaavadi festival is celebrated. The festival begins with the"Kappukettal"ceremony which falls twelve days before. The devoteeswho have decided to take the Kaavadi goes on a "vritha" of abstainingfrom violence, sex and non-vegetarian food. Most of them stay in the templepremises. There are mainly three types of Kaavadi at Ulloor of which the"agnikavadi" holds the centre stage. In agnikaavadi, the devoteejumps into the burning embers and come out unscathed as they put "it dueto Lord's grace". Facilities No specific vehicle parking area for the temple, still theapproach road sides can be used specifically in the West and North side steps. Location/Travel: The temple is in Ulloor, a major junction. in NH towardsQuilon- Alleppey- Ernakulam, around 7kmsfrom Bus station/Rly station of Thiruvananthapuram. From Ulloor around 300mtrsnorth towards Kazhakootam along NH road, a small junction. at Kochulloor, theGopuram of temple is visible. Address 140 A, Ulloor Gardens Rd, Ulloor Garden, Ulloor,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695011 Temple timings 5:30–11AM, 5–8PM Administration The temple is now under the Travancore Devaswom Board. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1731791465.1835232.1754546606721%40mail.yahoo.com.
