Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple

Last updated

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple
Ambalappuzha Temple.JPG
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
Deity Lord Krishna
Location
Location Ambalappuzha
State Kerala
CountryIndia
India Kerala location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Location within Kerala
Geographic coordinates 9°23′01″N76°22′10″E / 9.3836°N 76.3695°E / 9.3836; 76.3695
Architecture
CreatorChembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran
CompletedME 790

Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple is an Indian Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna at Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha district of Kerala. The temple is believed to have been built during 15th century AD by the local ruler Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran. It is one of the seven greatest temples in Travancore. [1] It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.

Contents

The idol at Ambalappuzha is likened to Parthasarthi form of Vishnu, holding a whip in his right hand and a conch in his left. During the raids of Tipu Sultan in 1789, the idol of Sri Krishna from the Guruvayoor Temple was brought to the Ambalappuzha Temple for safe keeping for three years.

Payasam , a sweet pudding made of rice and milk is served in the temple and is believed that the Lord Guruvayoorappan visits the temple daily to accept the offering.

Legend

According to the legend, the god Krishna once appeared in the form of a sage in the court of the king who ruled the region and challenged him for a game of chess (or chaturanga ). The king being a chess enthusiast himself gladly accepted the invitation. The prize had to be decided before the game and the king asked the sage to choose his prize in case he won. The sage told the king that he had a very modest claim and being a man of few material needs, all he wished was a few grains of rice. The amount of rice itself shall be determined using the chess-board in the following manner. One grain of rice shall be placed in the first square, two grains in the second square, four in the third square, eight in the fourth square, sixteen in fifth square and so on. Every square will have double of its predecessor. [2]

The king lost the game and sage demanded the agreed-upon prize. As he started adding grains of rice to the chess board, the king soon realised the true nature of the sage's demands. The royal granary soon ran out of grains of rice. The king realised that he will never be able to fulfill the promised reward as the number of grains was increasing as a geometric progression and the total amount of rice required for a 64-squared chess board is 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 grains, translating to trillions of tons of rice.

Upon seeing the dilemma, the sage appeared to the king in his true-form and told the king that he did not have to pay the debt immediately but could pay him over time. The king would serve paal-payasam (pudding made of rice) in the temple freely to the pilgrims every day until the debt was paid off.

Festival

The Amabalapuzha Temple Festival was established during the fifteenth century AD. At this time, central parts of Alappuzha district were ruled by the Chembakassery Devanarayana Dynasty. The rulers of this dynasty were highly religious and decided that an idol of Lord Krishna was to be brought to the Amabalapuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple from the Karinkulam temple. The celebration in commemoration of the bringing of this idol of Lord Krishna is the origin of the Amabalapuzha Temple Festival, also referred to as the Chambakulam Moolam water festival. This festival is conducted every year on the Moolam day of the Mithunam month of the Malayalam era. The Aaraattu festival takes place on the Thiruvonam day in March–April.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alappuzha district</span> District in Kerala, India

Alappuzha district, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to Alappuzha in 1990, and is the smallest district of Kerala. Alleppey town, the district headquarters, was renamed Alappuzha in 2012, even though the anglicised name is still commonly used to describe the town as well as the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambalappuzha</span> Town in Kerala, India

Ambalappuzha is a small town in the Alappuzha district of Kerala state, India. It is located 14 km (8.7 mi) south of Alappuzha which is the district headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaraattu</span> Indian ritual

Ārāttu is an annual ritual performed during Hindu temple festivals in Kerala, India, in which a priest bathe the idol of a deity by dipping it in a river or a temple tank. It is mainly carried out at the end of a temple festival. Ārāttu is celebrated twice annually—the spring festival and the autumn festival. A festival normally lasts 10 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velakali</span> Traditional martial dance of Kerala

Velakali is a traditional martial dance of Nair community of Kerala, India that is performed during temple festivals. Brightly dressed dancers wielding swords and shields depict a fight sequence between the Pandavas and Kauravas during the course of the dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padmanabhaswamy Temple</span> Temple dedicated to Vishnu in Thiruvananthapuram

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Vishnu, in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala, India. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred abodes of Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It is widely considered as the world's richest Hindu temple. The name of the city of 'Thiruvananthapuram' in Malayalam and Tamil translates to "The City of Ananta". The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century gopuram. While as per some traditions the Ananthapura temple in Kumbla in Kasaragod district in Kerala is considered as the original spiritual seat of the deity ("mulasthanam"), architecturally to some extent, the temple is a replica of the Adikesava Perumal temple in Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adikesava Perumal Temple, Kanyakumari</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

The Adikesava Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvattar, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India and is one of the 108 Divya desams, the holy sites of Hindu Vaishnavism according to existing Tamil hymns from the seventh and eighth centuries C.E. The temple is one of the historic thirteen Divya Deshams of Malai Nadu. The temple is a picturesque setting surrounded on three sides by rivers namely, It was the Rajya Temple and Bharadevatha shrine of Erstwhile Travancore. After state reorganisation, the temple handed over to Tamilnadu H&RCE Dept. The presiding Vishnu in the form of Ananthapadmabhan/Adikeshavaperumal is believed to be older than Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Since Vishnu resides here in a reclining position, and is surrounded by rivers, the temple is called as "The Srirangam of Chera Kingdom".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aranmula Boat Race</span> Annual snake boat race in Kerala, India

The Aranmula Boat festival is the oldest river boat festival in Kerala, the southwestern State of India is held during Onam (August–September). It takes place at Aranmula, near Sri Parthasarady Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting watched by an exciting crowd. In 1972, snake boat races were also added to the program of the festival, hence the name Aranmula Boat Race. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake boat races. In 2019 Fifty Two snake boats or Palliyodams had participated in the festival. The oarsmen sing traditional boat songs Vanchippattu and wear white mundu and turbans. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a show of pageantry too.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champakulam Moolam Boat Race</span>

The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is one of the oldest vallam kali in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the River Pamba on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.

Odanad was a feudal state in late medieval Kerala. It was established in the 11th century, and disestablished in 1746 when it became part of Travancore after Venad King Marthanda Varma's northern expedition. The last king of Odanad was King Kotha Varma. At the time of its dissolution, it was composed of the present-day taluks of Mavelikkara, Karthikapally, Chenganur in the Alappuzha district and Karunagapally in the Kollam district. In the 15th century, the capital of Odanad was moved from Kandiyoor-Muttom, Mavelikkara to Eruva and Krishnapuram, near Kayamkulam, which led to the state being called Kayamkulam. After this shift, Kayamkulam became the commercial centre of Odanad, while Mavelikkara remained its cultural centre. Odanad was controlled by Nair lords, among whom the ruler of Kayamkulam was the most prominent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alappuzha</span> City in Kerala, India

Alappuzha or Alleppey is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in state of Kerala, India. The Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in India which attracts millions of domestic and international tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannarasala Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple in Haripad is a very ancient and internationally known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods (Nagaraja). The famous Nagaraja temple "Mannarasala" in Haripad is nestled in a forest glade, like most snake temples. The Mannarasala Temple has over 100,000 images of snakes along the paths and among the trees, and is the largest such temple in Kerala, India. Couples seeking fertility come to worship here, and upon the birth of their child come to hold thanksgiving ceremonies here, often bringing new snake images as offerings. A special turmeric paste which is available at the temple is credited with curative powers.

Sree Venu Gopala Swamy Temple, Purakkad is one of the oldest Gowda Saraswath temples in the world. The main deity is Sree Venu Gopala Swamy. Located in the ancient port city of Purakkad, in Alappuzha the temple was built around 400 years back. Gowda Saraswath Brahmin devotees from all over the world bring their children to perform "Devak Deevop" and "Sodovop".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thuravoor, Cherthala</span> Village in Kerala, India

Thuravoor is a gram panchayat in the Pattanakkad Block of Cherthala Taluk of the Alappuzha District, State of Kerala, India. It comes under Aroor Assembly constituency. Thuravoor lies under Kochi UA in future. A four lane(six lane is progressing) National Highway 66 passes through the village, which along with a railway station gives it excellent connectivity with the remainder of the state. Thuravoor is famous for the Narasimha Swamy temple which is dedicated to the fourth incarnation (avatara) of Vishnu, the Narasimha. The temple has two main deities, the Vadakkanappan and the Tekkanappan, which is rare among the temples of Kerala. The new 6 lane elevated highway is from thuravoor to aroor. It is the largest 6 lane elevated highway in the country. Thuravoor is a rapid developing town. It is lies in Aroor Assembly constituency. Thuravoor Kumbalangi road is a main road parallel to NH 66. Thuravoor is the major entry to Kochi city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna situated at Neyyattinkara, 20 km (12 mi) south of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. It is one of the important temples of Krishna in Kerala with great historic importance. The temple enshrines Unnikannan in the form of Navaneetha Krishna as the presiding deity. Thrikkayyilvenna or Thrikkayyil Venna (butter) is a unique offering to Neyyattinkara Unnikannan, the deity of the temple. World famous musicians Sri. Neyyattinkara Mohanachandran and Neyyaattinkara Vasudevan used to perform concerts regularly in temple festival.

Thakazhy Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is six kilometers from Ambalapuzha at Thakazhy in Alappuzha district, Kerala in India. The presiding deity is Shasthavu who faces east. There are no sub-deities in this temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Thalassery</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is the foremost temple of Gowda Saraswatha Brahmins in and around Thalassery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evoor Major Sri Krishnaswamy Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Evoor Major Srikrishnaswamy temple is a Krishna temple in Evoor near Haripad, in Alappuzha, Kerala. It is said to have originated five millennium ago following Khandava Dahanam. Temple in its current form is built by Moolam Thirunal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

The Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple (Perumthrikkovil), also known as Kerala Palani or Dakshina Palani (lit.'Southern Palani'), in Haripad, Kerala, is one of the oldest and largest temples in the region. According to belief, the temple predates the beginning of Kali Yuga. This temple holds the distinction of being the largest Subrahmanya Swami Temple in Kerala, and features the longest golden flagpost, known as the dhwajastambha (kodimaram in Malayalam). The temple's main deity is believed to embody not only Subrahmanya Swamy but also Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, making it a highly revered and powerful place of worship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambalapuzha Gopakumar</span>

Thathamathu Nanupilla Gopakumaran Nair, also known as Dr. Ambalapuzha Gopakumar is a Malayalam poet, historian, orator and writer from Kerala, India. He is the recipient of Kerala State Institute of Children's literature Award, 2012. Gopakumar is also the author of 'History of Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna Temple' which describes the origin and history of Amabalapuzha and the famous Sreekrishna Temple. He is widely regarded as an authority on the history of Chemapakassery, the erstwhile name of Ambalapuzha.

This is a list of ancient Buddhist sites, relics, traditions and places from the Indian state of Kerala. Even though Kerala does not have any major presence of Buddhists in modern times, many historians recognize a Buddhist heritage that seem to have existed until the 10th century CE along with a widespread Sramana tradition of co-existence between Buddhism, Jainism and ancient Dravidian folk religion.

References

  1. Ramaswamy, Sudha (5 September 2013). "Krishna – as sweet as Madhuram". The Hindu . Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. V., Meena (1974). Temples in South India (1st ed.). Kanniyakumari: Harikumar Arts. p. 54.