Historical References of Sabarimala Temple

The Sabarimala temple does not have any ancient or medieval references. Nevertheless, there are extant late medieval references pertaining to the temple.

• 1793: The Pandalam royal family drafted a mortgage document stating that the revenue returns, including income from the Sabarimala Temple, were pledged to the Travancore state.
• 1863: Ward and Conner published a description of Sabarimala and its surrounding areas.
• 1902: A directive was issued by the ruler of Travancore for the restoration of the Sabarimala Temple, which had suffered fire damage. The reconstruction was funded and executed by Kochummen Muthalali of the Polachirackal family, a Christian from Mavelikkara.
• 1950: The temple was rebuilt following an arson attack. No charges were brought against any individual. The original stone idol of the deity was replaced with a Panchaloha (five-metal alloy) idol approximately 1.5 feet tall.
• The Panchaloha idol was crafted by Neelakanta Panicker and his younger brother Ayyappa Panicker of the Thattavila Vishwakarma family in Chengannur, Kerala. Supervision was overseen by Edavankadan T.N. Padmanabhan Achari from Mavelikkara, appointed by Rajpramukh Sree Chithira Tirunaal Balarama Varma.
• In the early 1950s, through the efforts of P. T. Rajan, the Panchaloha idol of Ayyappan was ceremoniously installed at Sabarimala, and a procession was held throughout the Madras state.