Sri Vallabhan / Koil Thiru Perumal Temple

Sri Vallabhan Temple at Thiruvalla is a cherished Divya Desam in Pathanamthitta district, praised by Nammalvar in the Thiruvaimozhi. The deity's name "Vallabhan" means "the Beloved One" or "the Most Dear Lord," and He is also reverently called Koil Thiru Perumal — "the Great Lord of the Temple." Sri Vallabhan reclines in the Anantha-shayanam posture beside the tranquil Manimala River, embodying divine rest and cosmic sustenance. Thiruvalla is one of the most accessible and well-known Divya Desams in Kerala, and the temple plays a central role in the cultural and spiritual life of the Pathanamthitta region. The temple preserves the Kerala tradition of utsavam processions with caparisoned elephants, traditional panchavadyam (five-instrument ensemble) music, and elaborate floral decorations — hallmarks of Malai Nadu temple celebrations. Kulasekhara Azhwar, the Chera king-saint, revered this temple as part of the sacred Kerala Vaishnavite landscape.