A temple more than 1000 years old, this is the only temple in Kerala where the main deity is Dhanwanthari Moorthi. This is a temple believed to alleviate one from all illnesses and sufferings.

The legend associated with this temple surrounds 3 Namboodiri families who were staying in the hills of Malayatoor. They worshipped Vishnu, Shiva & Bhagavathi. Once when Sankaracharya paid a visit to them, he was not offered any food or alms. . This made him unhappy and so there was a curse on these families. The family was ruined and so they left the place along with the idols of their respective family deities. Out of the 3 namboodiris, 2 were able to cook nivedyam on time as they had kept bamboo facing upwards, and they established temples for the respective deities at those places.

The third Namboodiri who had the Vaishnava deity of Dhanwantari with him, stopped at a place (where the temple is situated at present), kept down his “olakkuda” (palm umbrella) and started preparing Nivedyam for the evening pooja. He was unable to cook his food on time, as he kept the bamboo downwards, and could not get the nivedyam ready on time. He was disappointed and in his sleep, he heard the divine voice of Lord Dhanwantari telling him not to worry and that he can manage with the devotees.

The place where the Namboodiri had kept his palmleaf umbrella came to be known as ‘Kudappadom’. The stream which runs near the temple changes its course from here and joins Periyar river. The mouth of the stream, “thodinte vaa”, is believed to have later become known as Thottuva.

The upadevathas in the temple are Bhagavathi, Ganapathi and Sasthavu.