Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna temple, one of the most famous Sree Krishna shrines of Travancore, is located at Ambalappuzha, a coastal town (besides the National Highway 47) about 13 Kms to the south of Alleppey. The temple is believed to have been built in the in the year AD 790 by the local ruler Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan Thampuran. Lord Krishna is worshipped here as Goshala Krishnan.
The temple of Sree Krishna is located 1.5 kms East of the town junction. In the olden days, the headquarters of the Ambalappuzha Rulers were near the temple. There was a time when the Ambalappuzha territory had been under the rule of Chempakasseri Kings. But when Marthanda Varma, the ruler of Travancore conquered Chempakasseri territory in 925 ME, there occurred a gradual declension of the royal family of Chempakasseri. Some people worship the presiding deity of the Ambalapuzha temple, Sri Krishna, as Parathasarathi(the divine charioteer) while others as Gopalakrishna(the divine herder) but both the names of course, are the two sides of the same coin.
The main gate of the temple is on the western side. The golden top-dome, a single-stoned mandapam, the architectural stone images and the golden flag staff in front are a few signs of its eminence and splendor. The temple has neither a gopuram nor shrines for Gods outside the main Sanctum.
The divine idol is about three feet high. Each day the holy face is adorned with gold during the time of the rituals. In the right hand the idol holds a lash and in the left a conch.
This temple is directly associated with the Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple. During the attack of Tipu Sultan in 1789, the idol of Sri Krishna from Guruvayoor Temple was brought to Ambalappuzha Temple for safe keeping. The idol was placed in Thekkedmadom during that time.
The payasam, a sweet porridge, served in the Ambalappuzha Temple is famous among Hindu devotees and is known as Ambalappuzha Palpayasam.
According to the lores, at a time in the history of Ambalappuzha, the place where the present temple is situated, was under water. While the Ruler of Ambalappuzha dynasty, Sri Pooradam Thirunal and Vilwamangalam Swamiyar were going through the water on a canoe, it so happened that they heard a luscious lullaby of a flute coming from a nearby banyan tree. Swamiyar was so attracted by the music that he understood that the flute is being played by some divine hands. So he wanted the oarsman to row the boat to the shore. On landing, they went in search of the origin of the melodious note. To his astonishment, Swamiyar saw Sri Krishna sitting on a branch of the banyan tree playing his flute.
With pure devotion, Swamiyar folded his hands and bowed his head. He told the ruler about his divine vision. Both of them went round the tree singing praises of the Lord. The King was so much pleased with the presence of Lord Krishna in his kingdom. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar urged the king to build a suitable temple for the Lord as Goshalakrishna, where they had seen him. The place belonged to an Ezhava leader Ambanattu Panicker. The king bought the land, a major portion of which was submerged land, by giving him adequate compensation. The submerged land was filled up with soil and temple was built in a few months. It was decided to install the image made for the purpose in an astrologically suited time. But the high priest(Puthumana), after examining the idol, expressed the view that the idol had certain inauspicious traits and was unsuitable for consecration. This was disheartening for the King. However, he wanted to get and idol placed at the stipulated time itself. He did not want to put off the function to a later period.
Anyhow, the king and his men were able to find an idol suitable to be fixed from Thekkumkoor Kingdom. It was received from Karimkulam temple, Kurichi in Changanasserry. (It is believed that there are three idols in Kerala which are not made by the humans and are of Guruvayur, Thripoonithura and Ambalappuzha) It was carried out on the day of ‘Moolam astericism in ‘Midhunam (June-July). Every year on the same day people in and around the place, celebrate the eventful day by arranging colorful boat-race which is now known as the famous Champakulam boat-race.
Chempakasseri Mana was the old royal palace on the southern part of the temple. Since all the Chempakasseri Kings were Namboothiries, the name of the ‘mana’ became the name of the kingdom.
After having established the temple, Pooram Thirunal requested Vilwamangalam Swamiyar that somehow he should see Lord Krishna. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar answered that the King didn't have sufficient sanctity to see the Lord in full form and if the King will handover his entire kingdom to Lord Krishna then he will try to show Lord Krishna's hand to the King. On the next day, during Uchapooja, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar had shown the divine hand of Lord Krishna to the King. King worshipped the divine hand and to keep his word, he relinquished his kingdom to Lord Krishna of Ambalappuzha.
Unfortunately, the king was not able to repay the debt in time. So he became very sad. One day, when the king visited the temple as part of his daily routine, the brahmin approached him and demanded the money and paddy. The king could not help avoiding the brahmin and so he was completely at sea.
At this time, the minister of the King, Parayil Menon heard about this and collected the entire rice which the King had borrowed from the Brahmin. He heaped the rice on the Aanakottil and ordered the Brahmin to collect all the rice from the Aanakottil and to vacate the place before Sreebali at noon. It was virtually impossible as he didn't get any help from the local people as per the orders of the Minister. Brahmin felt a sudden call of conscience and presented the entire rice, for the daily palpayasam (payasam made of milk) offering at the temple. From the next day onwards King arranged for the preparation of the porridge, to be used for the noon-offering to the deity.
The ceremonial ten day festival in Meenam(March-April) is the most important festival at this temple. During this time there will be spectacular processions of deities on decorated elephants. Once during festival, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar had seen the Lord in the mess hall. ‘Velakali’ a kind of dance in imitation of battle, is an important ritualistic item which is being performed in front of the shrine. It reminds us of the old type of warfare using shield and sword which was once prevalent in the Chempakasseri kingdom. A 12-day Kalabham festival (smearing of sandal paste) from the first of Makaram (January-February) and Pallippana which is held once in 12 years are special occasions of the temple. The Aarattu festival commences with the flag hoisting ceremony on the Atham star in Meenam (March-April). The important Aaraattu festival takes place on the Thiruvonam day of the same month.
In this temple Pallipana is performed by Velans once in twelve years. Human sacrifice was conducted in ancient times. However, cocks have now replaced humans on the sacrificial altar. Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar(1705-1770) also spent his youth at Ambalappuzha. Another important event, on the ninth day, is the Natakasala Sadhya, celebrated in the memory of the legend of Lord Krishna serving food to the temple drummers in disguise.
