Shri. Dhanwantari Temple Parappur is one of the ancient temples in Kerala, dedicated to Lord Dhanwatari, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is considered as the ‘Ayurveda Moorthy’(God of Ayurvedic Medicine) and the physician of Gods. According to the Puranas, during the great churn of the cosmic milk ocean (Palazhy) by the Demi-gods (Devas) and Demons (Asuras), this avatar of Lord Vishnu emerged with Amrutha Kumbha(Elixir). Lord Dhanwatari is a benevolent Moorthy who eradicates diseases and gives sound heath to all who pray to him. 

In Kerala only a few temples installed the Lord Danwatari with Amruta Kumbham as the presiding deity. Shri Dhanwantari Temple Parappur is the most prominent among them. Other Dhanwantari Temples are Pulamanthole Dhanwantari Temple, Maruthorvattom Dhanwantari Temple, Nelluvai Dhanwanthari Temple and  Peringavu Dhanwanthari Temple. Originally, Shri.  Dhanwantari Temple Parappur was the family temple of the Ashtavaidya family of Parappur Mooss. They worshipped Lord Dhanwatari as their ‘Paradevatha’. Parappur Mooss was well known for his ayurvedic treatment and was the chief physician of Cochin Royal Family. Later on, as there were no successor in this family,  Shri. Dhanwantari Temple and its belongings were merged to the Ashtavaidya family of Thaikkatu Mooss.

This temple is situated 3Kms away from Thrissur town at Nellikunnu in the east. The Ashtamangalya Prasnam conducted in the temple, revealed that this is a centuries old temple and the deity is installed and worshipped by Rishis (Sages). Apart from the main deity, Lord Sastha with his wife Prabhavathy and the son Satyaka is worshipped with great devotion. The other deities worshipped here are Lord Ganesha, Goddess Vanadurga and Nagaraja. There is a ‘Kshetra Kulam’ near the temple. People from distant places come here and pray to the Lord for the fast recovery from diseases.