Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Temple

Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Temple stands in the Perunna area of Changanacherry in Kottayam district. Subrahmanya is worshipped here as Devasenapathi, commander of the divine forces, in a furious mood just after slaying the demon Tarakasura, with his vel pointing downward. Shiva, Krishna, Ayyappan, Mahaganapathi and serpent deities have their own places too.

The temple is described as the first in Kerala to admit Hindus of all castes, a step taken under Mannathu Padmanabhan before the Travancore ruler Chithira Thirunal issued his order. Hearing of this, Mahatma Gandhi came to worship here on his first visit to Kerala, and a large gathering was held at the east gate. Inscriptions in Vattezhuthu script at the west gate are believed to date from the 10th century. Nambudiri priests conduct the rituals, Tuesdays are special, and the festival season falls in December and January, with the Pallivetta utsav its best-known event.