Evoor Sreekrishnaswamy Temple

The Evoor Srikrishnaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Sri Krishnaswamy temple is one of the topmost 26 Maha Vishnu shrines. It originated about 5, 200 years back during Khandava Dahanam (burning of Khandava forest). As requested by Agni Deva, Bhagavan Sri Krishna performed the Prana Pratishta (consecration) of the Arca Moorthy owned by Kanva Maharishi. The idol of the Lord is seen as holding ""Panchjanya Sankha"" in rear left hand and Sudarshana Chakra in rear right hand. Frontal left hand is placed on the hip as mani bandham and butter in the frontal right hand. The Lord is seen in a combative mood ready to unleash the fiery Sudarshana Chakra. Evoor temple is popularly known as the Guruvayoor of Onattukara region. 125 years back, Evoor temple was destroyed in an accidental fire. When the 'Sri Kovil' (Sanctum sanctorum) caught fire, many people tried to remove the idol of the deity, but failed. Finally, an elderly Brahmana devotee of the adjacent house, after taking a dip in the temple tank, entered the raging flames and brought out the deity, safely. Sri Moolam Thirunal then king of Travancore state was worshipping in Kasi at that time. Appearing as a Brahmana boy in his dream, Sri Krishna asked the king to reconstruct the Evoor temple. Immediately, the King returned home and constructed a huge temple complex at that small village. It contained royal facilities such as security trenches atop the roof all around and underground network to discharge the ablution water from Sri Kovil to adjacent temple tank. The renowned Tharananalloor Tantris (whose ancestors had been brought to Kerala, trained and nominated as Vaishnava Tantris by Sri Parashurama) were appointed as the official Tantris. Immense wealth (including lands and other assets) was arranged to ensure the temple's self reliance. Also, extensive neighbourhood facilities and infrastructure were put in place.Evoor Major Srikrishnaswamy temple is a Krishna temple in Evoor near Kayamkulam, Alappuzha, Kerala. It is said to have originated five millennia ago following Khandava Dahanam. Temple in its current form is built by Moolam Thirunal.Agni, after devouring clarified butter uninterrupted for twelve years from Swetaki's Yagja, suffered stomach ailment. Lord Brahma advice him to consume the Khandava forest. The forest was abode to Takshaka the Naga leader and friend of Indra. Whenever Agni tried to consume the forest Indra,with his thundershowers, stopped him. Agni turned to Arjuna and Krishna for assistance. Agni armed Arjuna with the mighty bow Gandiva which rivalled Pinaka, the bow of Lord Shiva himself. When Arjuna and Krishna arrived at Khandava forest Kanva Maharishi approached them with a request to spare his Arca moorthy(a four handed idol of Vishnu) Krishna grand the request. Arjuna constructed a Sarakoodam to shelter Agni. Under the Sarakoodam Agni consumed the forest and was cured of the ailment. Grateful, Agni, expressed his wish to install Arca moorthy in a new temple there to facilitate worship. As instructed by Sri Krishna, Arjuna fired an arrow to determine an auspicious location for the proposed temple. The place were the arrow landed was used to construct the new temple. Evoor is a corrupt form of Eythoor (place where arrow was shot). Krishna performed Prana Pratishta and Arjuna performed the first pooja. Bhoothanathaswamy( Kiratha Murthy form of Lord Shiva) and Yakshi Amma ( Devi Parvathy) were consecrated as the Sub Deities. The remains of burned trees in the locality and names of nearby places, Karippuzha (kari means char), Pathiyoor (courruption of Kathiya Oor place that burnt), Pandavarkavu, Mannarasala, Kannamangalam (Kanva Mangalam Kanva's abode) agree with the account.About one and a half century ago the temple burnt when the sanctum santorum caught fire. The idol was recovered from the burning temple. The then King Moolam Thirunal who was visiting Kashi had a vision in his dream asking him to reconstruct the temple. He returned right away and constructed a new temple.Evoor Bhagavan’s Deity is the unique Prayoga Chakra Prathishta. The idol of Sri Krishna is in the four armed Vishu form with Panchajanya Shankha, Sudarshana Chakra and butter in three hands and the fourth arm held on hip. The deity is furious form and Raktha pushpanjali is a special offering here which is unavailable in Vishnu temples elsewhere. Utsava in Evoor temple starts on first day of makara and continues for ten days. The Utsava begins with the hosting of Garuda printed flag. The utsava of days 6,7 and 8 are sponsored by three karas on at a time. On the ninth day there is Kala kettu (decorated effigies of Bulls).The utsava culminates with Aaraattu (Holy Bath) after that the flag is lowered and the deity proceeds to Pallikkuruppu (Holy Sleep).