About Haripad

Haripad (Malayalam: ) is a town in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India, located between Alappuzha and Kollam on National Highway 47. Haripad is close to the Arabian sea, and connects Mavelikkara and Thrikkunnappuzha.

Haripad is known as the ‘Town/city of Temples’. There are eighteen Hindu temples there and more than 30 more in the surrounding countryside. The most famous temples are Subrahmanya Swami Temple and the Mannarashala Nagaraja Temple. It is the land of “Mayura Sandesa”, the land of snake boats and the land of dance and drama. According to colonial Dutch Governor Gollanez the sea coast between Quilon and Purakkad which the Dutch called ‘Martha” and which region was known as Karthikappally (of which Haripad was a part) consisted of two regions or nation states, Karnoppally (the present Karunagapally) and Karimpali.

Haripad derived its name from either Aripad (as Ari means Rice and this was the place where from the major portion of the rice for the state came), or “Harigeethapuram”. In a literary piece of Kerala Varma Valia Koithampuran there is a reference to Pahi Harigeetha Pathanapathe” (save as the master of Harigeetha ) ‘Mayura Sandesa’ has a reference to ‘Aripadu vaanoru Kaalam’ (at a time when Haripad was ruled). Swathi Thirunal addresses Subramanya as Harigeetha puthalaya dweep’, all the show long history and importance of the name Haripad. To this may be added the fact that Karithikapally was called the place where Karthikayan lived.’ (Karthikayan Pallikollunnidom).

There is one more story to the name of Haripad.  After the samhara of the Asura , as Lord Subramanya was coming to this place, Hari, the Lord  welcomed  Subramanya with a song  (pattu means song in tamil & Malayalam and paadu means sing)  Thus Hari  singing (Hari paattu paadi varavetra Sthalam) and welcoming subramanya  gave the name to this place as Haripad.  Reference–

 Please see this link to know about important personalities associated with Haripad Ashrama.