Thiru Chitraru Imayavarappan Temple, Chengannur, Alappuzha – The Temple

Thiru Chitraru Imayavarappan Temple, Chengannur, Alappuzha – The Temple

The temple is situated in a serene place among lush greenery. The temple is built in Kerala style architecture, common in all temples in the South Indian state of Kerala in Eastern axis. The temple has no gateway tower and has an arch from the main road. A rectangular wall around the temple, called Kshetra-Madilluka pierced by the gateways, encloses all the shrines of the temple. The metal plated flag post or Dwajasthambam is located axial to the temple tower leading to the central sanctum. Chuttuambalam is the outer pavilion within the temple walls.

The central shrine and the associated hall is located in a rectangular structure called Nallambalam, which has pillared halls and corridors. Between the entrance of Nallambalam to the sanctum, there is a raised square platform called Namaskara Mandapa which has a pyramidal roof. Thevrapura, the kitchen used to cook offering to the deity is located on the left of Namaskara Mandapa from the entrance. Balithara is an altar is used for making ritualistic offering to demi-gods and the festive deities.

Presiding Deity is called as Imayavarappan and is facing west. He is in standing posture. The central shrine called Sree Kovil houses the image of the presiding deity. It is on an elevated platform with a single door reached through five steps. As per Kerala rituals, only the main priest called Thantri and the second priest called Melshanthi alone can enter the Sree Kovil. The central shrine has a circular plan with the base built of granite, superstructure built of laterite and conical roof made of terrocata tile supported from inside by a wooden structure. 

The image of the presiding deity is 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Krishna is in Vishvarupa pose, the one he depicted to Arjuna during the Mahabharatha war. Lord appears majestically in a standing posture with Sri Chakra in his right hand and a lotus on his left hand and on the other left hand he is seen holding a mace (Gadayutham). Vimaanam over sanctum is Jagatjyoti Vimanam. There is no shrine or Idol of Goddess Lakshmi in the temple. But Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, mentions the presence Goddess Lakshmi in the shrine as Raktapankaja Valli / Senkamalavalli.

In the second precinct, there are shrines of Sastha, Kosala Krishna, Yakshi, Nagaraja and Erangavil Bhagavathy Balarama in the lower shrine. Goshala Krishan has a separate big shrine in the temple complex. He is offered special pujas. Special rituals are observed during festivals. Theerthams associated with this Temple are Shankha Theertham and Thirucchitraaru. Shankha Theertham is situated towards the right side after crossing the entrance arch. There is a big Shiva Temple located inside the Temple premises.