Haripad Sree Subramanya Swami Temple

Haripad, Dist. Alappuzha.

Located in the heart of Haripad town in Alappuzha district of Kerala, Haripad Subrah-manya Swamy Temple is one of the most famous and revered Murugan temples in the state. Popularly known as the ”Kerala Palani” and the ”Southern Palani”, this sacred temple is dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya in his four-armed form. The temple also houses shrines dedicated to Ganapathi, Dakshinamurthy, Sri Krishna, Ayyappa, the Naga deities (Naga Devatas), Kuruthikaman, Panchami Devi and Yakshi Amma. Devotees lovingly worship the deity here by various names, including Harippadappan, Harigeethapuresan and Velayudha Swamy. The temple is rich in legends and traditions and is regarded as one of the seven great temples of the former Travancore kingdom. It is renowned for hav-ing Kerala’s largest idol of Lord Subrahmanya, a unique consecration that combines both Shaiva and Vaishnava concepts, the tallest golden flagstaff in Kerala and three annual flag-hoisting festivals. Combining spiritual grandeur, historical significance and a deeply devotional atmosphere, this sacred temple is presently administered by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Haripad Subrahmanya Swamy Temple is believed to be more than 5,000 years old. How-ever, there are no authentic historical records available at present to confirm this claim. In old records, the place is mentioned as ”Arippad” rather than the present-day name ”Haripad”. According to historical sources, the temple was originally under the direct control of the Odanad royal family, whose capital was at Kayamkulam. Later, when Maharaja Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma conquered Kayamkulam and annexed it to Travancore, the temple came under the administration of the Travancore kingdom. Several historical inscriptions written in ancient Tamil script have been discovered in the temple. The surviving inscriptions indicate that the famous Koothambalam of the temple was built in AD 1769. In Kollam Era 1096 (AD 1921), a devastating fire com-pletely destroyed the main sanctum and the Chuttambalam and most of the old records and palm-leaf manuscripts preserved in the temple were lost. Fortunately, the golden flagstaff and the Koothambalam escaped the fire. The temple was later rebuilt in its present form during the reign of Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of Travancore. The golden flagstaff, which had been dismantled as a precaution during the fire, was reinstalled in the temple in AD 1952.
According to legend, the eight-foot-tall four-armed idol of Lord Subrahmanya in the temple was once worshipped by Parashurama. It is believed that he later placed the idol in Jaladhivasa (ritual immersion in water) at Govindamuttam in the Kayamkulam backwaters. Many years later, the local chieftains and Namboodiris of the region are said to have received the same divine vision in a dream on the same night. Following this vision, they searched the backwaters, discovered the idol and brought it to Haripad by boat. It is believed that the famous Payippad Vallam Kali (boat race) is held today in remembrance of this event. Legend also says that while the idol was being brought to Haripad, it was placed for public worship for half a nazhika (about 12 minutes) beneath a banyan tree belonging to a Christian family. In memory of this event, a small shrine known as the ”Aranazhika Ambalam” still stands there today.
Many legends are associated with the temple. According to one belief, after defeating the Asura Tarakasura, Lord Subrahmanya was returning when Lord Vishnu (Hari) cameto welcome him and sang a hymn. It is believed that the place was first known as ”Harigeethapuram” and later came to be called ”Haripad” due to the gradual change in the name. Another legend says that the name ”Haripad” originated from ”Haripadam”, meaning the place where Lord Vishnu’s footprints were found.
Another popular belief is that a wealthy Brahmin devotee of Lord Subrahmanya, who had no children, donated all his wealth to the temple. However, after a dispute with the temple authorities, he became disappointed and left the temple through the west-ern entrance before taking his own life. Following this incident, it is believed that the western entrance of the temple was permanently closed due to the fear of a curse and it remains closed even today. As a traditional practice to remove this believed misfortune, when the festival procession passes in front of the Brahmin’s ancestral home, the musi-cal instruments are stopped and only the sound of the conch is played. There is also a belief that the ancient city of Ekachakra, where the Pandavas stayed during their period of exile in the Mahabharata, was the present-day Haripad. The nearby Pandavarkavu and the Ekachakra Sree Krishna Swamy Temple in Haripad town are often mentioned in connection with this belief.
When entering the temple through the eastern entrance, the main gateway of the temple, the first thing that catches the eye is the spacious elephant shed and the tallest golden flagstaff in Kerala standing majestically at its centre. The beautiful carvings at the base of the flagstaff attract the attention of visitors. After passing through the Balikkalpura, the walls before entering the Nalambalam display magnificent Kerala-style murals depicting stories from the Puranas. Built in the traditional Kerala architectural style, the temple has four beautiful gateways on all four sides. The spacious Koothambalam located at the south-eastern corner inside the temple premises is one of the largest Koothambalams in Kerala. The large temple pond known as ”Perumkulam”, spread across the northern side of the temple, is also one of the major attractions of this sacred temple.
When entering the Nalambalam, the first thing that catches the eye is the main sanctum, which is built in a circular shape. This sanctum reflects the beauty of traditional Kerala architecture and in front of it stands the Namaskara Mandapam decorated with beautiful carvings. Inside the sanctum, devotees can have the darshan of Lord Subrahmanya in his four-armed form. The idol, made of Anjana stone and about eight feet tall, is depicted holding a Vel in one hand and a Vajrayudha in another, while the other two hands rest on the thighs in the Kadibaddha Mudra. Devotees believe that the deity here represents a unique combination of the qualities of the Trinity — Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
On the southern side of the main sanctum, the shrines of Dakshinamurthy and Ganapathi can be seen. Outside the Nalambalam, the Thiruvambadi Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is situated at the north-western corner and nearby is the Keezh Thrikkovil Subrahmanya shrine. The Sastha shrine at the south-western corner and the Naga deity shrine located in the sacred grove on the north-western side are also important places of worship for devotees. While walking through the temple premises, devotees can also visit the sub-shrines dedicated to Kuruthikaman, Panchami Devi, Yakshi Amma and Lord Hanuman.
One of the most remarkable features of the temple is that three flag-hoisting festivals are celebrated every year. These festivals represent the Shaiva, Vaishnava and Subrahmanyaaspects of the deity. The Chithira festival in the month of Medam is the most impor-tant annual festival of the temple. Beginning with the flag hoisting on Vishu day and concluding with the holy bath (Aarattu) on Pathamudayam day, this festival represents the Subrahmanya aspect of the Lord. The procession of the deity on the golden peacock vehicle during the festival is a major attraction. The Avani festival, which begins on the Atham star day in the month of Chingam and concludes on Thiruvonam day, represents the Vaishnava aspect of the deity. The Markazhi festival, which begins in the month of Dhanu and ends on the Thiruvathira star day, represents the Shaiva aspect.
Apart from these, Thaipooyam, Skanda Sashti and the Prathishta Day celebrations are also observed here with great devotion. The Karthika Deepam, where thousands of lamps are lit around the temple on the Karthika star day in the month of Vrischikam, along with the Karpura Aazhi ritual, is one of the major highlights of the festival. The Prathishta Day rituals are held on the Atham star day in the month of Edavam, while special poojas and offerings are performed for the deity on every Shukla Paksha Sashti day of the month.
Among the offerings made at the temple, Thulapayasam is the most important and famous one. This special payasam, prepared with ingredients such as rice, green gram, jaggery, coconut, ghee, banana, black grapes, rock sugar and cardamom, is offered to the Lord. Other important payasam offerings such as Idichu Pizhinha Payasam, Kadumpayasam, Palpayasam and payasam made with coconut milk are also performed by devotees with great devotion.
The offering of a garland made of lemons to Lord Subrahmanya, known as Narangamala Charthal, is another popular offering here. Devotees perform this offering to remove obstacles and fulfil their wishes. Panchamritham, prepared with fruits, honey, ghee and rock sugar, is offered to the Lord as both a sacred offering and as part of the Abhishekam. Various abhishekams such as milk abhishekam, ghee abhishekam, bhasma abhishekam, tender coconut water abhishekam and kalabham abhishekam also hold great importance here. Neyyappam and Ilayada are among the main sweet offerings made to the Lord. Devotees also offer special rituals to the other deities, including Palpayasam to Thiru-vambadi Krishna, Appam to Ganapathi and Neeranjanam and ghee abhishekam to Lord Ayyappa.
The temple remains open for devotees every day from 04:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm. The morning rituals begin with the opening of the sanctum and the Nirmalya Darshan. This is followed by Abhishekam, Ushapooja, Ethirettu Pooja, Seeveli, Panthiradi Pooja, Navakabhishekam and Uchapooja in order. After the Uchapooja, spe-cial offerings including the famous Thulapayasam are made to the Lord and the morning rituals conclude with the Ucha Seeveli. The temple reopens at 05:00 pm for the evening darshan. The Deeparadhana held in the evening is one of the most important rituals of the temple. This is followed by the Athazha Pooja and offering of sacred food to the deity. After the night Seeveli, the temple doors are closed around 08:00 pm with the chanting of Harivarasanam. The timings of the rituals may vary during special days and festival occasions.

Key highlight :-

• Located approximately 2 km from Haripad town and Haripad Railway Station.
• KSRTC and local buses are available to Harippad from major cities and nearbytowns.
• Well-maintained pay-and-park facilities are available near the temple.
• Women may wear a saree, set mundu, or churidar with a dupatta.
• Men must remove their shirts and vests before entering the Nalambalam, and wear-ing a mundu is mandatory.
• Accommodation and food facilities are available in the nearby town.