Thamarakulam pathi

Thamarakulam is the birthplace of Harigopalan, one of the disciples of Ayya Vaikundar. He was also called as Sahadevan Cheedar. He helped Ayya to write Akilathirattu, the holy book. So, he became well known of all the disciples of Ayya Vaikundar. People of this village once invite Ayya Vaikundar to their village. Ayya Vaikundar went there and he was given a warm welcome and a treat . Ayya Vaikundar stayed there for a day and returned to Swamithoppu.

During the early years, Ayya Vaikundar was taken to village in a Vahana once in a year. The auspicious day was the last Sunday of the Tamil month Panguni. In those days, people celebrated this occasion as a festival. This practice has been discontinued for the past fifty years. Daily Pani Vidai is being conducted here. Now, there are vahanas made of wood for the festivals. The festivals and day-to-day affairs of the temple are conducted by the village people. This pathi is managed by a Village committee.

Thamarakulampathi is situated in South Thamarakulam, one kilometer south of Swamithoppu. One can reach this place from Nagercoil or Kanyakumari by town bus. It is fourteen kilometers away from Nagercoil.

Thamarakulam was considered as a pathi because the holy book Akilathirattu (Akilam) was written here and this was one among the incarnational activities of Ayya Vaikundar. This is the place first he visited and started his first Pathi. This pathi is also called as “Thamarayoor Pathi“, managing by Thamaraikulam village people. Everyday panividai (Pooja) is being conducted here for Ayya Vaikundar. ‘Vahana bhavani’ (procession carrying Ayya in a Vahanam) is the important festival celebrated by Ayyavazhi followers from Swamithoppu pathi to Thamaraikulam. This one day festival is celebrated on last day of Tamil month Panguni.