Saraswathi, who lived on the banks of the great mythical and extinct river Saraswathi migrated to Thrihotrapura (Thirhut, Bihar) and to Gomachala (Goa), and down to Ernakulam along with other coastal settlements in Kerala. The Saraswathi prefix the word Gowd to their name, meaning that they belong to the five classes of Panchagowdas, northern Brahmins. The Gowda Saraswaths were motivated to propagate the Venkateswara cult by the Great Vaishnava Guru Madhwacharya. The idol with the image of the Lord Venkatesha of Thirumalai, Tirupati is installed in the Sanctum Santorum with all the paraphernalia and appurtenances like Vahanas, palanquins and a temple pond with a mandap in the more centre. The idols installed by the Gowda Sarawaths are generally small to facilitate the safe removal at times of emergency. Gowda Saraswaths left their land, homes and their worldly fortunes at Goa due to religious persecution by the Portuguese and fled from there with their Kuladevatas to save their religion, Dharma and culture. They later established their own temples entirely with the funds and labour of the members of the community. The rulers of the land also gave them shelter and encouragement with special rights and privileges within their particular Sanketam of their settlement. In the matter of the management in the affairs of the Devaswom, the Gowda Saraswat Brahmins (GSB) follows the principles of Democracy. All disputes are to be settled by the majority of the Mahajans (votaries) and all who disagree with the majority are to be considered as forming part of the majority. Out of eight families who came to Ernakulam, the prominent among them was Shri. Devaresa Prabhu under whose leadership the chief among the priests, Shri. Damodharachari joined together in a meeting of the community and decided to construct a small temple of their own. Cheranalloor Karta, who was a ruler and a prominent landlord, gave land for the construction of the temple in 902 M.E. (1727 AD). On the Uthrattadi star day in the Malayalam month of Mithunum, a temple of the Lord Venkatachalapathi with consorts Bhudevi and Sreedevi was consecrated. One festival idol and Bali Vigraha were given by the main cultural settlement at Cochin Thirumala Devaswom (TD). In the Sanctum Santorum, the Sthapana Vigraha (prime idol) is placed at the top, the Uthsava Murthi at the centre and, the Shri Mahalakshmi idol at the bottom. On the Nirarthi corner, Sri Mahaganapathy was placed. In 928 M.E, the Mandavana family dedicated a Hanuman idol, in the mandapa facing north. In 1000 M.E Kappashery Dasa Shenoy family dedicated Sri. Mahalakshmi idol on the northern side of the mandap facing south. The temple was renovated and the agar shalas were constructed around the temple. The temple was re-consecrated for the second time in 955 M.E (1780 A.D). In The year 1008, the Dhwaja Prathishta was done and in 1072 M.E (1897 A.D), the third Puna-Prathishta Mahotsav was done with great pomp and show. It was one of the great incidents and occasions in the history of the community as Srimad Varadendra Thirtha Swamiji of Sri. Kashimutt blessed this occasion. The Maharaja of Cochin had a Darshan of the deity and offered his prayers at the lotus feet. His Highness adored the wooden carvings depicting the stories from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata and other Puranas. Again, in ME 1132 (1957), re-consecration was done with much fanfare. Sahasra Kalashabhishekam was performed in the holy presence of Srimad Sudhindra Thirta Swamiji of Sri. Kashimutt. To commemorate this grand occasion, Eastern Gopuram was reconstructed in ME 1137 (1962). All the agar shalas and the mandapa shalas were renovated into a double-storied structure. The 250th anniversary of the temple was celebrated under the guidance of His Holiness Srimad Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji in 25th January 1977. To celebrate this occasion, a Gopuram, with beautiful statues and aesthetic architectural features was constructed and it has in due course become a centre of attraction. A Garuda temple was constructed inside the temple facing East at the Northwest side in 1986. A Gold Garuda Vahana was dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathi, for conducting Garuda Vahana pooja in 1989. The third Centenary celebration took place in 1997. To mark this tryst with destiny, a Swarna Palanquin is being constructed and the work is still in progress (75% complete). Devaswom owns an elephant named Gajendra. The temple pond Mandap, the Yakshi temple, and the pakashalas were renovated. A befitting office complex and a Satram with modern amenities were constructed for the comfort of devotees visiting and offering poojas at the lotus feet of the Lord. The ARATT festival is conducted on the Revathi Star Day in the month of Makaram every year, where devotees in thousands do congregate and offer their prayers. The entrance from M.G. Road to the T.D. Sannidhi road was decorated with an arch, made attractive with concrete idols and statues depicted on it and the Samarpanam of the same was on the 5th day of the festival on 10.02.2005. The temple has the following vahanams on which the ulsavamoorthies are taken on festivals and other important days. 1. Pushpakavimanam 2. Garuda Vahanam (painted, silver, gold) 3. Hanuman Vahanam 4. Hamsa vahanam 5. Sesha Vahanam 6. Iravatha (white elephant) Vahanam 7. Aswa Vahanam 8. Surya Vahanam 9. Palanquin (wooden & silver). The important festival poojas are conducted on the following days Chaithrasudha prathipad (Samsarapadov), Aashada Ekadashi (Parab), Nagapanchami, Upakarmam (Suthappunav), Ashtami Rohini, Agrayanam, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Anathavritham, Mahalaya Amavasya (Mahlu), Navaratri (Mannami), Vijayadashmi, Shamipoojanam, Karthikavritham, Deepavali, Karthikanamdashmi, Uthanadwadashi (Tulsi pooja), Vanabhojanam, Karthika Pournami, Madhavanavami, Prathishtadina mahotsavam (Arat festival), Vasanthotsavam.