Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna temple is located on the banks of Meenachil River in Thiruvarppu village in Kottayam District, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Krishna. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is held in Meda Masam and it is held in such a manner that Vishu falls on the second day of the festival.
The annual festival is famous for beautifully dressed girls between the age of 5 and 10 taking lamps in procession. They accompany the ezhunnallathu procession of the deity.
Anayottam or elephant race is held before the kodiyettam or flag hoisting ceremony of the festival. The annual festival is also famous for Anjam Purappadu. The annual festival concludes with arattu procession and ceremony.
The annual festival is also famous unique Vaishnava temple rituals and pujas. The festival also organizes music, dance, drama and performing art forms of temples of Kerala.
Some Facts About Thiruvarppu Sree Krishna Temple
The murti of Bhagavan Sri Krishna at Thiruvarppu temple is around 5 feet tall.
The sankalpam is that of Sri Krishna who is very hungry after killing Kamsa.
It is believed that the murti was worshipped by the Pandavas.
The murti was retrieved from the Vembanad Lake by Vilwamangalam Swamiyar.
Vilwamangalam Swamiyar placed the murti in a varppu or large flat vessel and went to take bath. But he was unable to move the murti from the varpu when he returned as it had got fixed in it. The murti was then consecrated in the same spot and the Thiruvarppu temple is located in the same spot.
The current temple is more than 700 years old.
It was an important temple of the Thekkumkoor Kingdom. The temple became part of the Travancore kingdom during the rule of Marthanda Varma Maharaja.
The temple performs during Surya Grahan and Chandra Grahan. Majority of Hindu temples remain closed during the period.
This is the first temple to open its door for worship during a day in India.
The sankalpam of Sri Krishna here is that of a young boy.
Lotus is used in puja on all days.
The Usha Pooja payasam of the temple is very famous. The puja is performed nearly an hour before sunrise. In majority temple this puja is performed after sunrise.
The nirmalyam in the temple is performed at 3:00 AM. The Usha Pooja payasam is to be served just after dabbing the hair. The belief is that if Bhagavan straightens his body, due to hunger the kingini mani on his waist will fall down.
There is a belief that Thiruvarppu temple goes to Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna temple for the noon puja. He goes for the night pooja to the Thiruvambadi Sreekovil inside the Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. For this reason Usha Pooja and Athazha Pooja in the temple are held early. Deeparadhana is performed here along with the Athazha Pooja.
There is also a pratishtha of Sree Bhootha Natha in the temple. There is a two tier balikkalpura in the temple and this is located near to the vilakkumadam.
The temple has beautiful sculptures.
The round sanctum sanctorum has its roof covered with copper.
Ashtami Rohini and Thiruvonam in Chinga Masam are important dates in the shrine.