With a history that dates back to in and around four lakh years, the famous Ayyapankovil Sree Dharma Sastha temple has attracted believers for time immemorial. With a history so old the temple has also seen demolitions and shift of place around seven times. The Sastha temple is one amongst the five huge temples and is called the Panchamahakshetras and was built by “Parsurama” in DwaparaYuga.

The five temples were built representing the five Bhavas of SreeAyyappan. Parasurama built five temples named Aaranyakavu, Achancovil, Kulathupuzha, Sabarimala and Ayyappankovil. Legend has it that Lord Ayyappa paid a visit to Parsuram and asked him to build the temple for him. Some of the Brahmins were handed over the responsibilities of conducting prayers as per the “Tantrasasthra”. The increased amount of devotion showed in the three times prayer that were offered and that made Sree Ayyappa so happy that he blessed the village with abundant happiness and all the world prosperity. With pass of times the Brahmin families offering prayer dissolved and the prayer reduced and this upset the Lord Ayyappa who then destroyed the village by fire and made them suffer with diseases. In due course of time the temple was neglected, wild animals,caused it further damage and as time passed by the temple was demolished six times.

The temple has attracted a lot of fame mainly because of its age oldness and long history. The Temple attracts several believers and even tourists because of the region where it is located. When the temple was considered for demolition the seventh time the officials who were responsible for the constuction of the dam in the region knew it would be a Herculean task to get the temple shifted.

After conducting “Devaprasanam”, “Homam” and several other prayers the temple finally was demolished by miscreants but the idol of Ayyappa was safely escorted to Thoppippala. The temple complex at Ayyapankovil still remained though but the township around the temple became history and the dam construction work carried on as planned leaving the temple demolished for the seventh time.

The old Ayyapppankovil temple still remains a main place of worship that many believers can’t stop going to despite the fact that the “Davaprasnam” is conducted in Thoppipala. Despite several attempts to rebuild the old temple, the believers failed to get the old Ayyappankovil back to its form.

It is believed that prior to the seventh demolition the locals believed this region of Idukki to be blessed abundantly by Lord Ayyappa. The Ayyappankovil region was rich in trade and it even housed government offices in like a court, police station, forest station etc. A big bus stand and market too used to exist around the area however they’ve all disappeared now. Despite the demolitions and shifting of the temple, it’s the history and strong belief of the people that brings them back repeatedly to this divine place that has been considered for reconstruction where the Sastha temple will stay above the water even during heavy monsoon. The temple construction will be done by proposing the broadening of its basement and placing it above the peak water level of the Idukki dam reservoir. A steel bridge from the bank will connect the basement helping pilgrims and devotees reach Sastha temple with ease.