This very famous temple is at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district. This is one of the biggest and most important temples in Kerala. It is believed to have been built in 59 BCE. Scriptures like Garuda Purana and Matsya Purana refer to this temple. Mahavishnu and Sudarshanamoorthy are consecrated here. It is believed that an old Brahmin lady was living alone after most of the Brahmins left the place because of the harsh treatment by an Asura named Thukalan. Vishnu appeared as a boy and destroyed Thukalasura. The Lord then lived with the Brahmin lady and consecrated Sudarshanchakra facing the east. The consecration of Sree Vallabha more occurred sometime later. The wife of Cheraman Perumal was an ardent devotee of Maha Vishnu. She had a vision asking her to consecrate the Lord in the temple. The idol that had been worshipped by Sree Krishna and Lakshmi were consecrated in the same sanctum. The sanctum is divided into two. Sree Vallabha is facing the east while Sudarshana moorthi is facing the west. There are separate steps to get into the sanctum from either side. On the southern side of sanctum Dakshinamoorthy and Ganapathy have been consecrated. There are also Namaskara mandapam in front of both sanctums. The area of the temple surrounded by a huge wall is about eight and a half acres. The wall is twelve feet high, four feet wide and extends over 562 feet. The Garuda matathara on the eastern side of the temple is built of a single stone. There is a belief that Sage Durvasa and the Saptharshis worship the Lord here at midnight even today. The temple was under the control of the ten Brahmin families of the area known as Thiruvalla Pattillathil Pottimar. The temple was so rich as to employ hundreds of priests for the rituals. It also used to provide facilities for stay and food to devotees, students, teachers and pilgrims.