The Chittoor Krishna Temple is located in a beautiful village called South Chittoor, surrounded by back waters and coconut lagoons, on the North Western part of Cochin City in Ernakulam District.
The history of this 13th century temple, originally structured between the year 1375-1475 and modified later is closely connected to the family of Cheranelloor Swaroopm.
Lord Sri Krishna is in the disposition that appeared to Devaky and Vasudeva (in Dwapara yuga, in Mathura) in Chittoor (also called as Chithpuram/Chidalayam) and manifested there for an ardent Guruvayoorappa devotee called Moopil Narayanan Kartha.
Narayanan was born in the family of Cheranelloor Swaroopam, and he got training to protect people of five territories, they ruled. He learned Sanskrit, Vedas, Upanishads, Shastras, Puranas and Upavedas. Narayanan grew up and visited many holy places and settled down at Guruvayoor for decades, safe-guarding himself to Guruvayurappa.
Narayanan was happy praying Guruvayurappan until he became the senior-most male member of Cheranelloor Swaroopam. Family members requested him to return home and take new responsibility as Moopil Kartha but he did not want to leave Guruvayoor although he could not reject the responsibility of Moopil Kartha. Unable to take a decision he prayed Guruvayurappan for proper guidance. The guidance was given in a dream to him which says, "I would not leave you. You go to your village and I will accompany you by riding on your bamboo umbrella. When you reach your village, wherever your umbrella touches the ground, build a temple there and I will appear for you during the noon-day pooja ceremony".
Pleased by this, Moopil Narayanan Kartha started his journey to back to Cheranelloor village. When he reached the present site of the temple, due to tiredness, happened to place the umbrella on the ground. When he tried to lift umbrella, it won't move and he recalled his dream.
Moopil Narayanan Kartha built a small Srikovil and a lonely Mandapam seven centuries ago. He collected Anjanasila from a pond in the vicinity and a blessed carver sculptured it into a perfect Krishna idol.
Moopil Kartha invited Guruvayoorappan's Tantri Chennas Namboothiripaddu to install the idol. As per vedic directions, idol was installed during the Malayalam month of 'Meenam' and on the star 'Punartham'. Moopil Kartha well pleased and brought precious gems and coins and articles in a gold plate to gift the Tantri. When the offering was done, Kartha gave away everything on the gold plate, inadvertedly, he forgot to give the gold plate. Tantri blessed Moopil immediately by saying that the temple will be a bit below Guruvayur in acclamation, as the offering was incomplete. This disappointed Kartha very much who was consoled by Tantri saying that all that happened are a part of Maya or the divine illusion of Lord Krishna himself.
Narayanan kartha spent his left over years, praying to Krishna, and left this world for Vaikunta. The later Karthas looked after the temple with intense devotion and fulfilled entire vision of Moopil Kartha for centuries after him. After so many years the temple was taken over by another devotee, the Rama Varma Maharaja of Cochin Royal family. Now the temple is under the administrative control of Cochin Devaswom Board.
The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu, in the standing posture with four hands (Chaturbahu) that carry the Sankhu (conch), the Sudarshana Chakra (a serrated disk), the Lotus and Kaumodaki (Mace). The Lord is worshipped in his many manifestations, the favorite with devotees being the disposition of the Lord as Guruvayoorappa. For devotees South Chittoor is also the Dakshina Guruvayoor or South Guruvayoor.
The Temple is a classic example of typical Kerala architecture style. The Sreekovil, where the idol of the Lord installed, is square in shape with pyramidal roofing. The roof is covered with copper sheets and the door is made in brass. On either side of the door, two statues of Dwarapalakas are seen.
In front of the Srikovil, we can see the Namaskara Mandapam and is rectangular in shape with pyramidal roofing. On the left side of the sreekovil, a small temple well known as the ‘Manikkinar’ is located. To the right of the srikovil, the temple kitchen known as the Thidappalli is seen. The Lord Siva and Lord Ganapathy are consecrated on the right side of the srikovil. Out side Nalambalam and in front of the entrance, the flagpole of the temple can be seen.
The whole area between the main entrance and the Kodimaram is covered with a tiled roof called Nadappura which provides shelter for the pilgrims waiting for worship and is decorated with pictures. Annaprasam and Thulabaram are conducted here. There is also a big temple bell seen in the Nadappura.
The temple pond also called as Agnihotra theertham is on the northern side of the temple. It is here the diety is performing the holy bath (Arratu) on the last day of the annual festival.
The temple pond also called as Agnihotra theertham is on the northern side of the temple. It is here the diety is performing the holy bath (Arratu) on the last day of the annual festival.
The huge statue of ‘Kaleeyamardanam’ (Lord Krishna standing on top of big Serpent called Kaliya) is seen on the left side of main entrance which attracted many a devotees especially children during their visit to the temple.
The ‘Ootupura’ or the Dining Hall in typical Kerala style architecture with all amenities like Kalyanamandapam, Koothambalam, Programme stage, accommodation for Melsanthi / employees and office complex is being constructed on the south side of the temple.
Hanuman, Brahmarakshassu and Serpent Gods are also worshiped in this temple. The shrine of Kandankulangara Bhagavathy is situated on the north-eastern part of the main temple on the banks of Agnihothra Theertham(temple pond). The shrine said to be 1700 years old and goddess was there much before the main diety. The strong belief is that Bhagavathy is Bhadrakali and a seperate shrine was built for goddess. Thiruvathira thalappoli is the main festival during Dhanu (Dec-Jan) every year.
Auspicious occasions of the temple are Niramala, Chittoor Ekadashi, Ashtami Rohini (Sri Krishna Jayanthi) and Punartham Thirunal Lakshadeepam on Deepavali Annual festival.
