CATEGORY : PILGRIM TOURISM, TEMPLES
Sreevallabha Temple , a highly orthodox [ Hindu
Temple dedicated to Purusha as LordSreevallabhan, is one among the oldest and
biggest Temples of Kerala and a major destination for devotees all over India
for centuries. Located in Thiruvalla town of Pathanamthitta district, this
ocean of orthodoxy is well known for its architectural grandeur and unique
customs that can be found in no other temples. The stone-wooden carvings and
fine mural paintings inside the temple are worth seeing. Being one among 108
Divya Desams, Sreevallabha temple has
been glorified by Alvars and many other ancient works. 
It is considered to be
the vallabha kshethram mentioned in Garuda Purana and Matsya Purana. Kathakali
is played daily in the temple as an offering, pushing it to the top in India in
terms of places where Kathakali is staged in largest number of days per year. Lord
Vishnu appeared here as Sreevallabhan for sage Durvasa and Khandakarnan.
Pleased by prayers of an old Brahmin lady Sreevallabhan incarnated as a
brahmachari and killed the demon Thokalaasuran. Later the idol of
Sreevallabhanworshipped by Lakshmi and Krishna has been installed in the temple
in 59 BC. From then till date, the temple follows its own worship protocol that
is known to be followed nowhere else yet. Sage Durvasa and Saptarishi are said
to reach the temple every midnight for worshipping the Lord. The temple had
governed one of the biggest educational institutions in ancient time and
heavily contributed to the cultural and educational developments of Kerala.
http://srivallabhatemple.org/