ARANMULA PARTHASARATHI

HISTORICITY

According to legend, this sacred image of Srikrishna worshipped now in the Srikoil was installed by asamanasura Arjuna was at Nilakkal, but was brought here under extra-ordinary conditions. According to belief, the Pancha Pandavas visited Kerala temples during their pilgrimage after making Parikshit as the emperor of Bharat. Gratified at the sublimity pervading the entire Parasurama kshetra, they decided to install each a deity at places of their own choice. Accordingly they installed temples at Someswaram, lvarmatm, Kottakurussi etc. All on the banks of the river Pampa. Arjuna chase Nilakkal for enshrining the image of Parthasarathi, as it was that form alone blessed them with spectacular victory. They did. The Nilakkal of those days was sparsely populated. 

The scarcity of water and attacks by Marava marauders posed eternal threats to their existence. So they made an exodus: Being theists, they carried the idol with them wherever they went. Lord Krishna, pleased with their devotion led them on the banks of Pampa in the guise of a brahmachari and at long last selected the present Aranmula as the ideal place for their permanent settlement. As they carried the idol in a raft made of six bamboo pieces to this place; it went by the name of Aranmula 'aaru' being six and 'mula' meaning bamboo in Malayalam language. Later, it stick on to it, despite growing in all directions with many changes including transport.     

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