THIRUPALKADAL SREEKRISHNASWAMY TEMPLE

Revival of Dharma and Restoration of Temple in Keezhperoor

Thirupalkadal (Thiruparkadal) SreeKrishnaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagavaan Mahavishnu. This Temple is located in the Keezhperoor village, Chirayinkeezhu Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. This Temple is located in a peaceful and serene rustic countryside, and “far from the maddening crowd”.

The legends of this temple are closely intertwined with that of the empires and kingdoms that ruled Tamizhagam; the Chera Chola and Pandya Empires and the Kingdoms of Venad and Travancore.

The deity is MahaVishnu in Chathurbhuja form, carrying the conch Panchajanya, the discus Sudarshana Chakra, the mace Kaumodaki and a lotus with a thulsi garland around HIS neck, though the people call the HIM, Thirupalkadal SreeKrishna. This East-facing deity is about 5 feet tall. The roof of the Temple is a conical pyramid and is covered in copper. The sub deities were Sastav and Ganapathy.

This Temple has two Tantries. They are from the famous Thazhamon and Memana Namboothiri families.

Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy temple is known as Aadikulakovil of THE Keezhperoor Ay kingdom. The Ay Kingdom ruled over various parts of southern-most parts of Tamizhagam and became feudatories of the Chera Empires. The Ay royal family later on merged with Later Cheras and became the Venad Kingdom. The family deity of Ay Royal Family, who ruled over the place during the Sangam period was SreeKrishna (Thirupalkadal Bhattarakar).

Advent of Agastya Mahamuni

After the fall of Dwaraka, Agastya Mahamuni, one of the Saptarishi, took with him many leaderless, defenceless Yadavas and travelled to Agastyakoodam in Tamizhagam. Legends, which have been handed down the generations, state that the divine Agastya stopped at Keezhperoor village and sat in meditation under an elanji tree (L. Mimusops Elengi) There is an elanji tree in this temple premises to this day.

During the 2005 Sabarimala pilgrimage season under the elangi tree in temple premises, a bright luminous form of SreeKrishna was seen for a while. Long after the bright light vanished, a dark hue resembling SreeKrishna was seen on the elangi tree for a long time.

The famous Kerala historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai in his seminal work "Some Kerala Historical Issues" has mentioned this legend of Agastya Muni. The acolytes of Agastya Muni built this temple dedicated to Maha Vishnu. The Yadava community considered SreeKrishna, an avataar of MahaVishnu as having the full powers of MahaVishnu HIMSELF. Even in the famous Guruvayor Temple, the moorthy is that of MahaVishnu but people consider the deity as SreeKrishna.

Temple Renovation

According to Dr. M.G Sasibhooshan, a famous historian, the temple was constructed about 2000 years ago with a square shaped Sreekovil by Ay Dynasty's Keezhperoor Swaroopam. The temple was renovated in 9th century AD by Kulashekhara Azhwar, the only one of the 12 Vaishnava Azhwars to be born in Mala-naadu. The areas constituting the present state of Kerala and the district of Kanyakumari, called Mala-naadu, was an integral part of Tamizhagam.

Yet another renovation took place during the rule of the Venad governor Vallabhan Goda in Kollam Era 343 or CE 1168. The huge land grants made by Venad Maharaja Vira Aditya Varma Thiruvadi (1167–1173) to Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy temple. The administration of the Temple was directed by the Yuvaraja Vira Udaya Martanda Varma Thiruvadi (1173-1192).

It is believed that the Kollam Era used in Malayalam calendar commemorates the renovation of this ancient and once famous temple by the Venerable Kulashekhara Azhwar. This year 2018 in Julian calendar corresponds to 1193 in Kollam Era.

The twelve revered Vaishnava Azhwars of Tamizhagam sang songs in praise of MahaVishnu at various sacred shrines. Nathamuni's (823CE - 924CE) compiled these verses sung by the TWELVE saintly Azhwars in praise of Lord MahaVishnu and his many divine manifestations. The compilation of these verses numbering four thousand is called ‘Divya Prabandham’. Each of these Azhwar saints is considered to be some aspect of MahaVishnu. Kulasekhara Azhwar is considered to be a manifestation of Kausthubham.

Kulasekhara Azhwar’s songs on Thirupalkadal Ksheerabdhinaathan are included in ‘Divya Prabandham’ as verses numbering 2256, 2618, 2661, 2835, 2844, 2963, 3454, 3465 and 3470.

The 107th Vaishnava Divya Desam

According to ‘Thiruppathi Andadi’ written by Pillaiperumal Iyengar, there are 13 Divya Desam in Malai Naadu (corresponding to present-day Kerala State and Kanyakumari District, 82 in Tamil Nadu, 11 in Andhra, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Nepal and two outside of the Earth). The 2 Divya Desam in the heavenly realm are Thirupaar kadal / Thirupal kadal and Parama padam.

It, the belief of the local people and of the temple trustees that the 107th Divya Desam, namely, Thirupalkadal, which the Kulasekhara Azhwar sang and consecrated refers to the Thirupalkadal (Thiruparkadal) SreeKrishnaswamy Temple in Keezhperoor, which this extraordinary saint had renovated.

During classical Tamil period the temple were administered by the Ay royal family of Keezhperoor illam. The history of the last 1000 years has come to light to the fortuitous discovery of the Kilimanoor Copper Plates. The ‘KIlimanur Record of Kollam 343 M.E. (1168 A.D.) is contained in a set of six cadjan leaves, written in Tamil. These cadjan leaves were discovered “in the Vernacular Records Office within the Fort of Trivandrum and from the remarks made at the end of the 4th and the beginning of the next leaf, it is understood that the whole is a ‘true copy’ of a record engraved on a set of copper plates whose whereabouts are, not, however, now traceable.”1 (1. Travancore Archaeological Series – Volume – V. Page – 63). The text in Tamil is found on page 78. It is given in transliteration below: 
1. Aamaandu Makarathil Viyaazham Ninra Metanjaayaru Panthirantu
Chenra Viyaazhamaant Uthiravum Pakkam Thiryothachiyum Innaalaal
Venaattu Ilankooru Vaazhuntharuliya”
2.”Sree Veeratheva Maarthandavarmma Thiruvati Keezh Mechilavinu.
Thittam Pannicheruliya Thiruppalkatal Bhattarakarkku
Amachilavum NIchchanavikkum”

The second cadjan leaf definitely gives the name of the temple as ‘Thiruppalakatal”. “One has to assume that, because Keezhperoor was lost in oblivion for some time in history, its famous Temple also was lost to the outside world, at a time, when more than 85 percent of Kerala was covered with jungles and dense forests, human population very sparse, and communications very far and occasional, with the result, the geographical location of the Temple was also lost.”

“Pillaiperumal Iyengar compiled the list of the 108 Vishnava Divyadesam in Tamil language in the 12th century and not in Malayalam language, which had become prevalent in Kerala by then. The result was a dilution in remembering the Vishnu Temples as ‘Vaishnava Divayadesam” by the common people and even the term became unknown to the common populace in Kerala.”

“The Tamil Vaishnavites had the name of the Thiruppalkatal Temple in their list of 108 Divya Desams. Because they could not locate its geographical presence, they had attributed the location of the Temple as one in Swarga Loka. While one respects the Vaishnava Bakthas of Tamil Nadu and other regions, unless there was a Temple on the Earth with the name ‘Thiruppalkatal’, the possibility of such a name finding its place in the list of Divya Desam is very remote indeed.”

“Angkor Wat is the famous Temple city in Cambodia, spread over 500 acres. It was lost to the external world for centuries till it was discovered by the French Naturalist, Henry Mouhat in 1860. It is estimated that the temple was built during the period 1110 to 1150 A.D.”

“Even very famous Temples in the march of history slides into an eclipse and remains unknown to the external world, for varied periods of time. It is certain that such an event had occurred in the case of ‘Thiruppalkatal’ Temple at Keezhperur, near Kilimanur in Travancore area of Kerala, also. Its geographical existence was lost to the world, though, its name continued in the records and narrations of Vaishnavites of Tamil Nadu.” - Dr R Pratapsimha Raja, senior member, Travancore Royal Family.

Change of Venad capital

During classical Tamil period the temple were administered by the Ay royal family of Keezhperoor illam. Rama Varma Kulasekhara abdicated the throne in favour of his son Kotha Varma (1102–1125) and retired from public life. Maharaja Kotha Varma Kulasekhara later conquered Kottar and portions of Nanjanad from Pandyas.

Starting with the reign of Veera Udaya Martanda Varma, keezhperoor (1173–1192) up to the reign of Veera Ravi Kerala Varma Tiruvadi, Keezhperoor (1214–1240), the rulers of Venad, were intermittently vassals of the Pandyan rulers of Madurai. They fought against the Pandyas for the supremacy over the fertile plains of Kottar and Nanjanatu. They also entered into several matrimonial alliances with the Pandyas rulers, and maintained blow-hot blow-cold relations with them.

The Pandyas probably led a successful military expedition to Venad and captured the strategic port city of Quilon between 1250 and 1300 CE. The records of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya and Maravarman Kulasekhara Pandya testify to the establishment of Pandya suzerainty over Venad. The Venad ruling family shifted its capital from Keezhperoor to Attingal after 1250 CE.

A number of inscriptions from AD 10TH to the 15th centuries belonging to the Venad rulers show that they had appended Keezhperoor (Kilapperur) to their personal names to honour the land which hosted their very own Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple.

There was a brief period of rapid expansion under Jayasimha Deva (1266–1267) and Ravi Varman Kulasekhara Perumal (1266/7 – 1316/7). (See Annexures) This was followed by a long period of decline.

In fifteenth century CE, Venad royal family became again issueless and it had to adopt two princesses from Kolatthunadu royal family. The adoption ceremony was conducted at the mandapam of Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple. It is the local belief that the royal adoptees from Kola Swaroopam (Chirakkal), escorted by the mighty prince Sarvanganaatha Aditya Varma under his equally mighty uncle Maharaja Sangramadheera Ravi Varma Kulasekhara halted at Keezhperur until Attingal with its famous Temple of Shree Bhadra, palaces and forts got ready. As the princesses grew up, differences cropped up between them and Venad kingdom became partitioned with two capitals, one at Attingal and the other at Kilimanoor. Administration of Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple was entrusted to koyimar and ooralar. The Temple treasures were transported to Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple in a large caravan of bullock carts.

Venad Kingdom abandoned Kollam port and retreated south, probably due to attacks by Pandyan Kingdom. Veera Goda Sri Aditya Varma (1468–1484) shifted Venad capital to Kallidaikurichi, in the present Ambasamudram Taluk of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. His successor Veera Ravi Ravi Varma (1484–1503); again moved the Venad capital to Padmanabhapuram now in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.

After defeating a union of feudal lords and establishing internal peace, Maharaja Marthanda Varma (1729-1758) expanded the kingdom of Venad through a series of military campaigns from Kanyakumari to the borders of Kochi. He moved the capital of Venad / Travancore to Thiruvananthapuram where it remained until the Kingdom of Travancore was extinguished in 1949.

Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple slowly faded away from public consciousness and it found scant mention when the history of modern Travancore kingdom was written. So it is no surprise that Vaishnava acharyas in Tamil Nadu have not heard of this Temple.

Temple Rituals and Festivals

The Temple had followed a Five-time pooja system of rituals to the accompaniment of panchavaadyam. The Temple celebrated an eight-day festival in the Malayalam month of Medom (Tamil: Chittirai). This was among the rare temples with two Thantries – Thazhamon Thanthri and Memana Thanthri. They would conduct the Utsavam on alternate years. The original copper flag mast had two hooks on it, one for each Thanthri to hoist the flag. The festival would be conducted on an elaborate scale. A grand elephant procession was a part of the annual Utsavam festivities. The special days of Utsavam saw daily Kalasha pooja with one hundred and one pots. Koothu, Ottam Thullal and Kathakali and other popular art forms of Malayaala Naadu used to take stage then.

The much subdued present is in sharp contrast to the halcyon days of a golden era long past. Due to the tireless efforts of young energetic neighbourhood Hindus, with some elders of standing guiding them, a truncated one-day festival is conducted in the month of Medom. The day-to-day expenses as also the finances to meet the special days like Ashtami Rohini, Thiru Onam in Chingam (August/September) and the forty one day mandalam in Vrischigam and Dhanu (November/December) are met from contributions made by local devotees.

Festivals currently being conducted at Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple are 
Vishu                          - 1^st day of Malayalam month Medam (Mesha)

Janmashtami        - Chinga Malayalam month, ashtami tithi, rohini nakshatram
Thiruparkkadal Ekadashi      - Vrischika month shukla paksha ekadasi
Ramayana Aacharanam           - Vrischika month

There is a belief that those pilgrims who come to Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple with firm faith and deep devotion will have one sin, either committed in this birth or any previous birth, removed from their list held by Chitragupta in Yamaloka.

Post-Colonial period

When the Land Reforms Act came into effect the condition of this temple was deplorable. The leasing-subtenants became owners of lands in their possession and this adversely affected the temple revenues. Financial disaster struck the fortune of this temple and the unpaid priests also stopped worship of the deity. The mighty doors of the once famous Keezhperoor Thirupalkadal Bhattarakar’s Temple grated to a close indefinitely. This was a traumatic end of a mighty era. The stately flag mast crashed to the ground and had to be ritually consigned to flames in the presence of the Temple Thanthries. Quite a number of coins were found in the base of the flag mast. They belonged to the time of Aiyilyam Thirunaal Rama Varma’s period and were in circulation in the eighteen sixties. The building complex around the sanctum sanctorum too had fallen down. A few months after the shocking closure, the precious panchaloha sheevaeli vigraham of the Lord was found to be stolen. The socio-economic conditions of the local people retreated to a gloomy despair.

Revival of Dharma 

     in the hearts and lives of people of Keezhperoor and its surroundings
NSS Karayogam takes over Temple Administration

In 1980's No.3200 Ambikavilasam NSS Karayogam approached the Amunthirathi Madhom and Edayavanathu Madhom with a request to transfer the ownership rights to this Kayayogam. While the Edayavanathu Madhom was agreeable to the transfer of administrative privileges to the Karayogam, the Amunthirathi Madhom did not find it acceptable. This led to yet another legal dispute. The tribunal’s verdict was in favour of the Karayogam with an important qualification. It allowed the right of administration without ownership. In 2012, His Highness Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma visited the temple and re-established the relationship of Travancore Royal family with Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy Temple. Following this event an Ashtamangala Devaprasnam and Murajapam were conducted at the temple. In 2015 temple committee organised a 12-day pooja as specified in the Devaprasnavidhi in presence of Thantri Thekkedath Kuzhikkattillathu Vasudevan Bhattathirippadu. During the pooja, Mooppil Swamiyar of Thrissur Thekke Madhom (Vasudevananda Brahmananda Bhoothi) visited temple and performed Pushpanjali. The Temple, the surrounding villages and the people dwelling there in have witnessed a resurgence of prosperity after the Temple started functioning, even if not in a grand manner as before.

Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple is a living and thriving testament to an eternal Hindu faith and ancient Hindu culture. This must be protected and preserved for posterity. The Ambikavilasam NSS Karayogam, with great confidence and inspiration bestowed by the Almighty, has just started the onerous task of renovation of this Temple. It would require generous financial commitment from the devout public to restore the historic Thirupalkadal SreeKrishnaswamy Temple to the glory that is rightfully deserves.

Proposed Renovation of the Temple

1. Chuttambalam or Naalambalam (second enclosure)
      Basement resetting,
      Constructing 7 ft columns
      Constructing outer walls with material and labour           Rs 3.5 million

2. Roofing for second enclosure
      Teakwood structure and roofing tiles                               Rs 6.5 million

3. Flag mast, Teak wood from Nilambur, seasoning,
      carpentry work and copper cladding                               Rs 3.5 million

A plot of land measuring 20 cents has been purchased adjacent to the Temple grounds. In this plot of land it is proposed to construct amenities for pilgrims arriving from far off places.

The Temple Samithy is in a quandary considering the enormous amounts required for the renovation of this historic Temple. Hence this Temple Samithy seeks funds and materials from devout public for carrying forward this massive Temple renovation activity.

Temple website
http://www.thirupalkadalsreekrishnatemple.org/

References
- Travancore Archaeological Series Volumes, which contains many of the original sources like the Kilimanoor Record, Mampalli Copper Plates, Kolloormatam Plates, etc.,.
- “A Study of Thiruppalkkadal Temple in Historical Perspective” by Shri Ajay Kumar S
- A Survey of Kerala History (1967). By Menon, Sreedhara A.
- Contribution of Kerala to Sanskrit Literature; by K. Kunjunni Raja; University of Madras 1980
- Excerpts from essays written by Dr R Pratapsimha Raja, historian and senior member of Travancore Royal Family.
- ‘Rudrakshamala’ by Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi of Kavadiar Palace
- information gathered from Shri P Rajagopalan Nair, a prominent activist in Keezhperoor
- Temples of Krsna in South India: History, Art and Traditions in Tamil Nadu by T. Padmaja. Abhinav Publications 2002
- P. Shungoonny Menon. History of Travancore from the Earliest Times: From the Earliest Times. Higginbotham & Co, Madras, 1878
- Pandian Chronicles, legal rulings of modern times, historical works on Venad Kingdom and the Thiruppappur Keezhperoor Dynasty.
- perumal-thirumozhi.blogspot.com
- aravamudham.blogspot.com/2012/06/thiruvanjikkalam-avathara-sthalam-of.html
- ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/may96/0048.html
- divyadesam.com/alwars/kulasekara-alwar.shtml
- indiancontents.com/2017/07/kulasekhara-alwar-founder-of.html
- https://srivedanthasabhausa.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/kulasekhara_azhwar.jpg?w=863
- http://anudinam.org/2014/03/27/sri-kulasekara-azhwar-thirunakshatra-utsavam-at-pomona-sri-ranganatha-perumal-temple/