[1][2][3] The principal deities are Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, and his brother, Lakshmana.

[definition needed] The mahayogam ('great conference')—which included the Ooraymas, Karanmas, and other representatives of the temple—used to be held twice a year: once on the Dwadasi before the new moon day in the month of Medam (March–April), and once on the tenth of Karkitakam (June–July).

The Parasudayavar was all powerful and was empowered to inflict any punishment (including death sentence) in the temple area.

[5] Parashurama, the sixth avatar of the god Vishnu, killed 21 Kshatriya clans with his axe in retaliation for the murder of his father, the sage Jamadagni.

[note 3] Repentant of the way he retaliated, he gave all the land he had gained to religious Brahmins, but some opposed Parashurama because he had killed thousands of Kshatriyas.

He then retrieved from the Indian Ocean parts of what is now known as Kerala because it was filled with kera (coconut trees).

One day, while he was meditating, the ghosts of the Kshatriyas killed by Parashurama appeared before him and begged him to grant them redemption.

Parasurama found a good place nearby to put the idol so that all ghosts could have darshan (an opportunity to see a holy person or image of a deity).

But at night, he changed his form, and ate the cows donated to the temple, throwing their bones northwards.

At midnight, after all poojas were completed and everybody slept, the asura entered the sreekovil (sanctum) by destroying the pillars.

Even on special days associated with Lord Shiva—like Mahashivaratri, Pradosha vrata, and Mondays—many people visit Thiruvilwamala Temple.

Saraswathikund, the place where sage Amalaka is believed to have done his penance, is to the south of the fleet of steps on the west nada[definition needed].

There is a huge peepal tree here, and devotees write "Om Harisree Ganapathaye Namah", the famous mantra chanted during the Vidyarambham ceremony, and after that make models of many buildings arranging various stones, bricks, sand, and clay.

Inside the nalambalam (inner temple), there are two double-storied square-shaped sreekovils of equal size and importance, situated adjacent but opposite each other.

Both contain idols of Vishnu in a standing posture holding a shankha (conch), a chakra (wheel), a gada (club), and a lotus in his four arms.

There was a Koothambalam on the southeastern side, where, as the name suggests, the temple art forms like Koothu and Koodiyattam were conducted in olden days.

On the southwestern side, the god Ganapathi is installed facing east, as seen in almost all Kerala temples.

There was a huge banyan tree on the southwestern side of the temple, with the presence of all deities, especially the god Guruvayoorappan.

[note 4] One of its branches broke on 25 June 2015 after heavy rains and destroyed the southwestern portion of the nalambalam.

Outside the temple complex, on the eastern side, there is a huge peepal tree, despite growing in an area with no soil.

Nearby is Punarjani Guha, a cave situated 2 km southeast of the main temple.

During Ethirettupooja, the sub-deities of the temple (Lords Ganapathi, Hanuman, Shiva, Parvati, and Ayyappa) also get food offerings.

The concept of seeveli in Kerala temples is that the Lord watches offering food to his bodyguards, represented by each balikkallu (altar stone).

After this, the idol is again decorated and at 8 AM, when the shadow reaches 12 ft height, Pantheeradi Pooja is conducted, during which vella nivedyam (rice cooked without jaggery) is offered.

Deeparadhana is conducted at the dusk according to the sunset of each day, during which a special act called 'Sandhyavela' is also performed by the devotees, who chant the names of the Lord many times.

After this seeveli, the final darshan called 'Thrippuka', in which the sreekovil is filled with holy smoke (the name itself has that meaning), is conducted.

Peruvanam Kunnath Kizhakkedath and Padinjaredath Bhattathiris are the Tantris (chief priests) of the east and west sreekovils, respectively.

Then, they proceed to Saraswathikundu, and after worshipping Goddess Saraswati, write Harisree beneath the peepal tree standing there.

Finally, they arrange stones together as a symbol of three acts: bathing in the holy river Ganga, circumambulating the mountain, and visiting almighty.

[7] Men: Traditional mundus are allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum; lungis, shirts, and vests are not permitted.