Ambalapuzha Temple in Kerala

Ambalapuzha

The famous Ambalapuzha temple is situated in Alleppey district of Kerala, The temple is dedicated to lord Sri Krishna. This temple was built by an old ruler named Chembakasserry Pooradam Thirunal-Devanarayanan Thampuran.

Ambalapuzha temple is directly related to the famous Guruvayoor temple because the idol of Sri Krishna from the Guruvayoor temple was brought to the Ambalappuzha Temple for safe keeping during a raid of Tipu Sultan in 1789. The architecture of this temple is very famous and is believed to be one of the seven greatest Vaishnava temples in the Travancore. The inner walls of the Chuttambalam of the temple are decorated with various paintings. The famous art for Ottanthullal was first performed from this temple premise. The poojas in this temple is performed by the Namboothiri Brahmins belonging to the Puthumana Thanthri family.

The Old Ruler Devanarayanan Thampuran was believed to be very religious so he decided that an idol of Lord Krishna was to be brought to the Amabalapuzha Sree Krishna Swamy Temple from the Karinkulam temple. The celebration in bringing of this idol of Lord Krishna is the origin of the Amabalapuzha Temple Festival, also referred to as the Chambakulam Moolam water festival. This festival is conducted every year on the Moolam day of the Mithunam month of the Malayalam era. Some other festivals in this temple is conducted yearly in the Malayalam month Meenam which comes in the months March/ April. It is a 10 days long festival and feast will be conducted in the temple hall. Other than that a 12 days long Kalabham festival during the Malayalam month Makaram which comes in the months January / February and ‘Pallipana’ is performed which is done once in twelve years.

The Ambalapuzha Payasam served in the Ambalappuzha Temple is very famous . This sweet pudding made of rice and milk has an interesting mythological legend behind it. It is believed that Lord Sree Krishna reaches here daily at the time of Palpayasa Nedyam to have it.