Located in Perumbavoor, Ernakulam, the Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a renowned temple dedicated to Lord Dharma Sastha. Its origins date back to the 11th century, and it holds great significance for devotees, especially those visiting on pilgrimage to Sabarimala Temple. According to local legends, the temple was built by Nallur Kartha, a Nair nobleman from Perumbavoor. The story tells of two boys who worked as servants for Kartha, receiving raw rice as wages each day. After work, the boys would take the rice with Tulasi (holy basil) leaves and disappear near a Palmyra tree. Growing suspicious, Kartha followed them one day and witnessed them vanish near more the tree. That night, Kartha had a dream in which Lord Ayyappa appeared and revealed that He had been one of the boys, and the other was His friend. Lord Ayyappa instructed Kartha to build a temple for them, promising that he would find enough gold beneath the Palmyra tree to fund the construction. Upon searching the next day, Kartha discovered a bag of gold coins, which he used to build the temple. This legend ties the temple to tribal warrior history and Vedic traditions, making it an essential link between indigenous heritage and spiritual practices. Situated near the Vedic centres along the Periyar River, the Perumbavoor Dharma Sastha Temple stands as a symbol of devotion and historical significance.