Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swamy Temple

 

 

Lord Krishna temple situated at Neyyattinkara, 20 km south of Thiruvananthapuram city, in Kerala. One of the important temples of Lord Krishna, the temple is also of great historic importance as well. The temple enshrines Unnikannan (baby Krishna) as the presiding deity. Thrikayilvenna or Thrikayil Venna (butter) is a unique offering to lord Krishna

Neyyattinkara Unni Kannan

Neyyattinkara Shri Krishnaswamy Temple was built in 1755, by Marthanda Varma, the Maharajah of the Indian princely state of Travancore. The history/legend behind the construction of this temple was that, about 250 years ago, during the reign of King Ramavarma, the Travancore prince Anizhamthirunal Marthanda Varma, who took strong action against “Ettuveettil Pillamar” was surrounded by his enemies. At that time a boy came and lead the prince near a jack tree, which has a hollow trunk. The prince hides inside it and escaped from the enemies. Later the astrologer said to the king that, the boy was the God “Sreekrishna” The jack tree popularly called 'Ammachiplavu', and its remaining are still here.attinkara Unnikannan – the deity of the temple

Temple Complex

Neyyattinkara Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, situated in a vast land with lots of greenery, is regarded as the Guruvayur of Trivandrum district. The temple is built in traditional Kerala architecture and is decorated with beautiful artistic sculptures. The main gopuram (gateway) of the temple displays a beautiful scene from Bhagavad Gita - Lord Krishna offering teaching to Arjuna.

Entrance Gopura of the temple

The sanctum sanctorum is built in the traditional Kerala style. Now the door to the Shri Kovil is painted with gold. There is a huge Gopura in front of the Shri Kovil. Inside the main complex, there are the deities of Ganesha, and Dharmashashtha. Outside the main complex, Nagaraja is worshipped. Currently, work has been going on to make a nadappanthal all around the main arena, so that pilgrims could avoid extremes of weather.These is done by advisory committe with the help of devotees of unnikannan.
The walls of the Sanctum is painted with various pictures, depicting the life of Shree Krishna and various other Gods.
There is an elephant named "Neyyattinkara Kannan" in the temple..

Customs and Traditions

Ashtami Rohini, Vishu, Navarathri, Mandalapooja are observed with gret fervour in this temple. The main festival of the temple is its Annual Festival, which is during Meenam. It commences with the "Kodiyett", where the main priest of the temple will hoist a Sacred flag atop the gopura, signifying the commencement of the festival. It ends with an "Aaraatt",which falls on a Rohini star day in the Malayalam month of Meenam, when the deity is taken out of the temple, and is dipped in water, in the nearby Graamam in the Neyyar river. In the midst of the festival, jewels of Unnikkannan, will be brought from another temple, where it is ceremoniously kept for safekeeping. the main pooja of that evening has much significance, where hundreds throng to get a glimpse of Unnikkannan, adoring all the divines jewels.
During Navarathri, three deities will rest at the temple, on their way to Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum. They are Shri Kumaraswami, from Kumarakoil temple; Shri Munnuutti Nanga; and Shri Sarawathi Devi. They will stay overnight at the Krishna Temple, and leave for Trivandrum next morning. There will be grand arrangements all along the way and at the temple for welcoming the deities