Mavelikkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple

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Overview

The holy and ancient Sri Krishna Swamy Temple is at the heart of the Mavelikkara town and it faces towards the east. The main deity of this temple is the idol of Sri Krishna with both hands stretching out for butte. Centuries ago, this temple had belonged to the Idaserry Family. At the portal of the temple with architectural beauty, in the east, the temple guards made of flint are on guard duty.

About the Temple

The vakacharthu of the Sri Guruvayur Sri Krishna swami Temple is evidently very famous. Among the temples under the Travancore Devaswam, the Sri Krishna swami Temple at Mavelikara is the only one where Vakacharthu takes place. The custom of parading Lord Krishna on Garuda Vahana is prevalent only at the temples of Aranmula and Mavelikara. To the north of the temple on east west is the banquet hall capable of accommodating a thousand people.

This banquet hall was to serve the purpose of taking food and taking rest for the Brahmin scholars who used to go on foot to the Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple to take part in the ritual of Murajapam. There was a very beautiful garden to the north of the banquet hall on the eastern side. In the past flowers from this garden were sufficient to fulfil the requirements of all the temples under the Mavelikara Devaswam. This garden was known as the Garden of God. Unnikrishnan, the elephant of this temple is one of the most splendid elephants of the Travancore temples. Srimath Bhagavatha Yajnam has been taking place in the temple for thirty-four years.

Legend and Stories

A servant of the Idaserry Family, who was devoted to God once found a statue while he was clearing the land. The statue, which started bleeding as it had been struck, was brought to the Idaserry Family. As per astrological prediction, it was proved that the statue was that of Lord Krishna taking butter and that it had to be installed into a properly constructed temple. With the help from the king of Matathinkore a small temple was constructed and a temporary installation was made by Kulakkada Nampimatthham Pandaram, who was an expert in tantric rituals. For thevaram Velliyodu Potty and for kazhakam Thekkey Pisharam was appointed. The Kokkattu Family was to assist them. Adichan, who discovered the idol, got the title of Kerala Adichan and tax-free land and a house from the king. His family is known as Ooralaserry. The statue of Kerala Adichan made of jack wood and installed at Ooralaserry fills the minds of devotees with joy.

Festivals

The temple ten days of festival every year. The main offering during the festival is the Dasavatharacharthu.

Prasad and Offering

The Thrikkay Vennayootu and the Garuda Vahana Parade are the main offerings of the temple.

Accessibility

There are no regular flights from other major cities of the country to Mavelikkara. Nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International. Mavelikkara is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular trains. One can easily get regular buses to Mavelikkara from other major cities of the country.

Temple Address