Evoor - At the Guruvayoor of Onattukara..

Evoor village is a part of the famous Onattukara region next to Kayamkulam town in Alappuzha district  and is 40 Kms South of Alappuzha and next to Cheppad railway station. Evoor Sri Krishna Swamy Temple is one of the major Sri Krishna temples in Central Travancore and probably next to Ambalappuzha and is linked to Khandava-dahana (burning of Khandava forest), described in the epic Mahabharata. The remains of burnt trees being widely found here, confirm this. Further evidences are noticed in nearby Mannarasala (the name refers to cooled sand after being burnt) and Thrikodithanam-Trichitattu-Thrippuliyoor-Thiruvanvandoor-Pandavarkavu temples in this part of Onattukara. It is believed that Lord Krishna Himself infused his divine power into the idol consecrated here. 

The idol itself is a divine combination of Lord Krishna, Sri Chakra and Sri Lekshmi devi. There is no other temple with such a divine combination and the temple is also revered as "Onattukara's Guruvayoor". 

Agni Deva (Fire God) had been suffering from a severe stomach ailment. As a remedy, Lord Brahma advised him to consume the herb-rich Khandava forest. Unfortunately, Takshaka the Serpent-king who was a close friend of Lord Indra, was residing there. Whenever Agni tried to consume the forest, Lord Indra’s thundershowers dutifully extinguished the fire. Once, Sri Krishna and Arjuna were visiting this place. Appearing in the form of a Brahmana, Agni-deva sought their help and they agreed to help.

 At the same time, Saint Kanva arrived there to save his idol (a four armed idol of Mahavishnu ) and Lord Krishna granted a boon that the idol will not be harmed by fire. Soon, Agni started consuming Khandava forest. Indra used thundershowers promptly. But listening to Sri Krishna’s advice, Arjuna constructed a Sarakoodam (a canopy of arrows) which prevented water from falling down to the fire.

Thus Agni’s ailment was cured. An immensely grateful Agni Deva sought Lord Krishna's permission to install the idol worshipped by Kanva in a new temple there to facilitate permanent worship. As instructed by Sri Krishna, Arjuna fired an arrow to determine the location. A new temple was soon consecrated where the arrow had landed. (Evoor is the shortened form of 'Eytha ooru', meaning the place from where the arrows were showered to make the 'Sharakoodam').

Lord Krishna himself infused his divine power into the idol and Arjuna performed the first pooja after the consecration.

Kirathamoorthy and Yakshiamma are the sub-deities of the temple and the ancient trees roofing them are said to be the survivors of Khandava forest.

About 125 years back, this temple was destroyed in a fire. When the Srikovil (Sanctum sanctorum) caught fire, so many people tried to remove the idol, but failed. At last, an old Brahmin from an adjacent house, after taking a dip in the temple tank, entered through the raging flames and brought out the idol, safely.

Sri Moolam Thirunal the then King of Travancore, was in Varanasi(Kaasi) at that time. Appearing as a Brahmin boy in his dream, Sri Krishna asked the king to re-construct the Evoor temple. Immediately, the King returned home and constructed a huge temple complex. It contained royal facilities such as security trenches atop the roof all around and underground drainage network to discharge the water from Srikovil to the adjacent temple tank.

Tharananalloor Illam(whose ancestors were brought to Kerala by Sri Parashurama) has been envisaged with the tantric rights of the temple.

Prayoga Chakra Prathishta:

Evoor idol is the unique Prayoga Chakra Prathishta with Conch in rear left hand, Sudarshana Chakra in rear right hand, butter in the frontal right hand and left hand is held on the hip. Lord Krishna is in a combative mood ready to release his Sudarsana Chakra. Raktha-pushpanjali is a special offering here which is unavailable in Vishnu temples elsewhere.

Evoor festival lasts for ten days. Beginning on the first day of ‘Makaram’ (January) it ends with the Aarattu”(Holy Bath). All ten days, the place wears a festive look, streets dressed up with arches, festoons, etc. Every building is tastefully decorated with lights, plantain trunks, bunches of coconut and arecanuts. The festival rituals include Praasaada Sudhhi, Vaasthu Homam, Praasaada Raksha, Dhaara, Navakam, Panchakam, Panchagavya Kalasam followed by Kodiyettu (Flag hoisting), Pallivetta (Holy Hunting), Aarattu(Holy bath), Kodiyirakku, Pallikkuruppu and in between Sreebhootha Bali and Utsava Bali. The 10 days long festival culminates with a grand Aaraattu procession, with the Utsava idol being carried to the Aaraattu palace tank at Muttam which is 3 Kms away. This was where Kanva-Maharshi used to worship the deity before it moved to Evoor temple.

Aiyalyam Makam, Shankaranthi Vallam Kali, Tiruvonam Ulsavam, Ashtami Rohini, Kuchela dinam, etc.are the other festivals celebrated in this temple.