Gosripuram Tirumala Devaswam

Gosripuram Gauda Saraswat Brahmins’ Tirumala Devaswam Temple of Cochin is associated with Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Tirumala. Kashmiri Pandits known as Gauda Saraswat Brahmins in Goa are said to have migrated to Ernakulam and Cochin fearing mass conversion by the Portuguese. Cochin is a major railway junction and is well connected with trains from all the towns and cities of our country and has an international airport. There are many medium and luxury hotels for accommodation and meals.Pilgrims coming to the temple from other places are provided accommodation in temple guest houses on nominal rent and free Prasad in temple. Goshripuram Temple is located at Cherlai in Mattancherry town, 10 km from Ernakulam. Gowda Saraswat Brahmins live in Mattancheri town. It is a six hundred year old temple. The story of Sri Venkateswara Swamy in the temple is associated with the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin community.
An idol of Sri Venkateswara with Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side is installed in the sanctum of the temple. A ceremonial statue is visible on the middle step. The ceremonial Lakshmi idol is on the third step and the Saligram is on the lower step.The idols in the sanctum are made of Marakat (green gemstone) and look auspicious.
Sri Venkateswara is paraded in the temple on golden palanquin, Elephant, Garuda, Pushpaka Viman and other vehicles. The deity decorated in the form of Mahalakshmi during festivals. Dipalankara Seva and other services are performed like in Tirumala. All the services are done along with Kalyanatsavam to the Lord. Two annual festivals are held in the temple for eight days. On the last day of both the festivals, the idols of the deities are brought from the sanctum to the Atrium in the Pond and kept for the darshan of the devotees. Adoration continues throughout the day at the Atrium in the Pond. Priests and devotees go there in small decorated boats.This festival called Teppotsav or Aarattu is very beautiful. The deity has a golden palanquin and vehicle as in the Ernakulam temple.
Devotees flock to the temple for arati at 8-00 pm on every Thursday night It is believed that
Lord Balaji receives the Harathi in the temple from Tirumala. Kalyanotsava Seva performed almost every day. There is a path made of shells for devotees to circumambulate around the temple. Devotees pay homage to the deity and complete the traditional worship after circumambulation. The temple has different circumambulation paths for males and females. There is a dress code in the temple and males must remove their upper garment (scarf) and enter the main temple.The rest should circumambulate only in the outer circle. The temple is open on all days from 6-00 am to 12-30 pm and again from 6-00 pm to 9-00 PM.