Have you been to Thottuva Sree Dhanwanthari Temple ?

Thottuva Sree Dhanwanthari Temple is one of the few Lord Dhanvantari Temples in Kerala, India. The presiding deity is Adi Dhanwanthiri and the idol is almost six feet tall and facing east. On the right hand the lord holds Amrith and with the left hand the lord holds Atta, Shanku and Chakra. Sub deities are Ayyappan, Ganapathy, Bhadrakali and Rakshas. 


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Fresh un-boiled milk is offered here, the important offering is butter.
The idol of Thottuva Sree Dhanwantahri Temple was laid by Parasurama 5000 years ago as per the legend and hence the deity is known by the name Adi Dhanwanthiri. Then over the years the temple was managed by a Namboodiri (Kerala Brahmin) family called Korumbur Mana.The temple had lots of landed property in the olden times. Sree Sankaracharya used to worship here regularly. Lord Dhanwanthari is the Lord of Ayurveda - the herbal medical science.



In the Thottuva Sree Dhanwanthari temple the devotees who pray with complete faith used to get the desired results. It is customary to bathe in the canal (Thodu) near the river before offering prayers. Those who are not blessed with children offer Palpayasam (Milk Pudding) for seven consecutive days and they are blessed with a child. Those who have contracted chronic diseases use the oil used for anointing the idol as medicine. Those with skin disease offer yam and salt and get cured.
History
The main deity is Adi Dhanwanthari, and this is the only temple in Kerala where it is so. It is declared that this temple is more than 1000 years ancient. The legend is that several years ago three Namboodiri families living in the hills of Malayatoor were closely related to this temple



. These families has Shiva, Bhagawathy and Vishnu as their family deities. In those days Sankaracharya happened to visit these Namboodiri families. He was not offered food or alms. This made him unhappy and so there was a curse on these families. The family was ruined and so they left the place and traveled to a place called 'Kodanad'. When they felt hungry, they prepared food in three different pots. They used bamboo as firewood for cooking. Two of them lighted the bamboo turning upwards and one turned it downwards.




 The two Brahmins who had lighted the bamboo by keeping it upwards were able to cook the food very quickly and they continued their journey. All the places through which they travailed became their own. The other Brahmin was unable to cook the food soon because he had lighted the bamboo turning it downwards. Since he was late, he started his journey slowly therefore he did not get any property. Feeling very unhappy he reached the place where at present the temple is situated.



Keeping his umbrella (Olakuda) on the ground he began preparing 'Nivedyam' for the evening Pooja. After having food, feeling mentally upset, he went to sleep and the Namboodiri heard the Divine voice of Lord Dhanwanthari telling him not to worry and that he will be able to manage with His Devotees. The place where the Namboodiri had kept his palmleaf umbrella came to be known as 'Kudappadom'.
Temple Timings
05:30 to 10:30 (Morning)
05:30 to 07:30 (Evening)
05:30 to 11:30 (Sunday and Festival Days (Thiruvonam))
05:30 to 07:30 (Sunday and Festival Days (Thiruvonam) Eve)
Festivals
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Festivals are conducted on Ekadashi during the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, and on the Pooyam star day during the month of Medam, which is the consecration day. Every year the Annual Festival falls on Guruvayoor Ekadasi day (Ekadasi in the month of Vrischikam)



 and it is celebrated with pomp and splendour. The Dasavatharam Chandanam Chartal (when the idol is anointed with Sandal paste and the shape of each Avathars of Mahavishnu that is Matsya Avatar, Koorma Avatar, Varaha Avatar, Narasimha Avatar, Vamana Avatar, Parasurama Avatar, Sree Rama Avatar,



Sri Krishna Avatar, Balarama Avatar ) during first to eleventh of Dhanu is very famous and thousands of devotees from far and wide come to Thottuva these days and offer their prayers. Every month (Thiruvonam), there used to be a feast (prasadam oottu) for the devotees. On that day Palpayasam (milk pudding) is offered by some devotees (with pregnancy problems) to conceive child.
* Mandala Masam (Ekadashi Maholsavam)



* Dashavathara Maholsavam
* Pradhishta Dhinam
How to Reach
Thottuva is a village situated 9 km northeast of Perumbavoor town and 8 km east of Kalady on the Southern banks of River Periyar. The name of the village is Thottuva because it is situated on the banks (Vakkath) of this stream (Thodu). On the Perumbavoor - Kodanad Bus route one kilometre away from Thottuva junction in Koovapady Panchayat at Ernakulam district. Devotees can also reach the temple via Kalady - Malayattoor route from the Thottuva junction boat jetty.







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