ക്ഷേത്ര സമുച്ചയം

Temple Complex

The major parts of the temple and the various facilities available in the temple complex are shown in the diagram below. At the entrance of the temple is the the banyan tree (ആൽത്തറ).

The temple faces west, which is rare in the construction of temples in Kerala. As per the legend, the founder of the temple, Sri Ayilliath Narayanan Nambiar (ജഡ്ജ് വലിയച്ഛൻ), used to sit in the veranda of his Cheriya Ningileri house in the sunset hours for the evening prayers. While looking in the east direction, he had a clear unobstructed view of the lighted Sreekovil, across the undulating paddy fields at a distance of 700 meters, when the Poojari lights the lamp for the Athazha pooja (അത്താഴപൂജ).

The main deity, Sri Mahavishnu, stands in the east direction and faces west so that the devotees see the deity as soon as they enter from the main gate. Devotees face the east while performing pooja. They face the deity and the Sun god (സൂര്യദേവത) in the morning and recite the mantras facing east with palms folded.

The main structures in the temple complex consists of the main nata (അമ്പലനട), Namaskara mandapam, Balikkallu, Sreekovil, Chuttambalam, Vazhipadu counter, and a stage at the south end of the main nata (അമ്പലനട). There are two sub shrines, one for Lord Ganapathi, widely revered as the remover of obstacles, and another for Durga Devi, worshipped as the Goddess of strength.

Adjacent to the temple on the north side is the traditional dining hall (അഗ്രശാല). Next to that is the new Dining Hall (ഭക്ഷണമുറി), and a Kitchen (അടുക്കള). Situated next to the temple is also the temple pond (അമ്പലക്കുളം).