Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Tmp1.jpg|upright=1.5|right|thumbnail|alt=Shri Dharma Sastha Temple.|Sasthamcotta temple: Shri Dharma Sastha Temple located at Sasthamcotta ]] |
[[Image:Tmp1.jpg|upright=1.5|right|thumbnail|alt=Shri Dharma Sastha Temple.|Sasthamcotta temple: Shri Dharma Sastha Temple located at Sasthamcotta ]] |
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The '''Shri Dharma Sastha temple''' located at Sasthamcotta is surrounded three sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala –‘Sasthamcotta lake’. The temple here is well-known |
The '''Shri Dharma Sastha temple''' located at Sasthamcotta is surrounded three sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala –‘Sasthamcotta lake’. The temple here is well-known for the inhabitance of monkeys. The temple monkeys are believed to be the divine retinue of the prime deity. The Sasthamcotta temple is one among the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala-- AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The concept of Dharma Sastha represents the unison of Vaishnava and Saiva beliefs. The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Dharma Sastha, accompanied by his consort ‘Prabha’ and son ‘Sathyaka’. |
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'''Legend''' |
'''Legend''' |
Revision as of 17:41, 9 August 2010
![Shri Dharma Sastha Temple.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/Tmp1.jpg/330px-Tmp1.jpg)
The Shri Dharma Sastha temple located at Sasthamcotta is surrounded three sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala –‘Sasthamcotta lake’. The temple here is well-known for the inhabitance of monkeys. The temple monkeys are believed to be the divine retinue of the prime deity. The Sasthamcotta temple is one among the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala-- AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The concept of Dharma Sastha represents the unison of Vaishnava and Saiva beliefs. The presiding deity of the temple is Shri Dharma Sastha, accompanied by his consort ‘Prabha’ and son ‘Sathyaka’.
Legend
The legend of this temple stretches beyond the period of the Ramayana (Thretha Yug). It is believed that Shri Rama along with his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and the whole vaanara sena, on their way back to Ayodhya after the victory over Ravana, visited Sasthamcotta to pay their reverence to Shri Dharma Sastha. Shri Rama offered ‘pithru tharpan’ on the banks of the Sasthamcotta Lake, the water of which is supposed to be identical to ‘Surya Raga Theertha’ of Manasa Sarovar. Lord Rama then deputed the chief architect of his vanara (monkey) team, ‘Neelan’ to serve his host. Neelan is believed to be the predecessor of the prevailing monkey clan in this temple.
In addition to the Shri Dharma Sastha temple, Sasthamcotta has got its relevance in various facets. The fresh water lake- Sasthamcotta Lake holds value both as a source of fresh water as well as a spot of natural beauty.
From times unknown, Sasthamcotta has been a haven to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Ayurvedic scholars doted on this place for rare species of florae used for Ayurvedic treatments as well as for the preparation of medicines.
The Second World Parliament of Religions (1971) was hosted at this place.
The Sasthamcotta market is another place that deserves special mention. Business flourished here even during the times of the colonial rule.
Sasthamcotta is also known for the Devaswom Board College affiliated to the University of Kerala and managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board. It is situated close to the temple on the banks of the Sasthamcotta Lake.