Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla – Prayers

Sreevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla – Prayers

Childless couples who offer their sincere prayers at this temple are said to be blessed with children. As part of this prayer, it is a tradition to organize Kathakali to invoke the blessings of Lord Vallabha. Another tradition is that the Lord is presented with 12000 ripe bananas, half of which is distributed to the devotees. In centuries gone by, ladies were allowed inside the temple only on a couple of specific occasions in the year but this is no more the case.

The main four offerings are Paala Namaskaram, Kathakali, Pantheerayiram and Kesadipaadam Garland. Paala Namaskaram is actually a part of the third pooja around 10:45 am and is serving food with specific dishes to the Lord and Brahmins in areca nut palm leaves as Sreedevi Antharjanam served the same to the Lord. Before doing 108 Paala Namaskaram daily was a ritual in the Temple and now due to scarcity of Brahmins it is reduced to only one, that too done by devotees as an offering. It needs to book for it at least a couple of years in advance to get the date.

As told, Kathakali is daily played in the night as an offering and main stories played are Duryodhana Vadham (annihilation of Duryodhana), Santhana Gopalam (story of Arjuna), Kuchela Vrutham (story of Kuchela) Sreevallabha Vijayam (glory of Sreevallabha) and Thokalaasuran Vadham (annihilation of Thukalasura). Santhana Gopalam is famous for getting children for those who don’t have children, Duryodhana Vadham against enemies, Kuchela Vrutham to remove poverty and the two others to fulfil all wishes.

Pantheerayiram is offering 12,001 bananas through a special ritual to the Lord as banana was the first offering to the deity soon after installation. It is a heavily expensive one and usually done at Pantheeradi Pooja. Kesaadipaadam garland is a flower garland measuring approximately 15 feet and the deity will be adorned with it during third and fourth pooja. And there are numerous other offerings which should be done during specific poojas only.