Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple

Aranmula Sree ParthaSarathy Temple is one of the most ancient temples of Kerala. 

The presiding deity is ParthaSarathy (Lord Krishna). 

The temple is on the left bank of the Pampa River. 

The temple has four towers over its entrances on its outer wall. 

The eastern and western tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps. 

Descending 57 steps through the northern tower, one can reach the Pampa River.

 Legend has it that the Pandava princes, after crowning Parikshit left on a pilgrimage of India, and in Kerala, each of these brothers installed Vishnu temples on the banks of the Pampa and nearby places and offered worship (Trichittattu - Yuddhishtra, Thrippuliyoor - Bheema, Aranmula - Arjuna, Tiruvamundur - Nakula and Thrkkodithaanam - Sahadeva). 

It is said that Arjuna built this temple at Nilackal near Sabarimala and the image was brought here in a raft made of six pieces of bamboo to this site, and hence the name Aranmula (six pieces of bamboo).

Other small temples in Aranmula are: Ganapati Temple, Kadakal, Punnamthottam, Kuruvilakkavu, Kaippuzha,Pallimukkom etc. 

Vilakkumadam is located in Edayaranmula were Krishna came first through Pampa River by a small boat made of six bamboos and then went to Aranmula. 

Aranmula kodiyettu and pushpabhishekam is starting from the Vilakkumadam.