SreeKrishna Temple Ambalapuzha.

Ambalapuzha SreeKrishna Temple exists in the Alapuzha District of Kerala State. This Sreekrishna Temple has many a similarities to the Guruvayur Temple.Tha\e main feature that it is related to Guruvayur Temple ,however,is that Lord Sree Krishna of Guruvayur is believed tovisit Ambalapuzha Temple to accept and relish the famous Palpayasam offered to the Diety every day.This Great Temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of Temples. It is believed that the Temple The Historical Temple was built sometimes between 15th and 17th Century AD.It is believed that in 1789 Tipu Sultan planned raid of Guruvayur Temple and in order to keep the idol of Guruvayurappan in tact without any damage,presumably Chembakasseri sree Pooradam Thirunal Devanarayanan Thampuran broughtb the idol to Ambalapuzha and kept here for some time safely!. There is a beautiful and believable legend about Ambalapuzha Temple whis is as follows: Oneday Pooradam Thirunal Thampuran And famous Villwamangalam Swamiyar were walking along the backwaters when Villwamangalam Swamiyar heard melodious sound from playing flute and with his inner vision realised it was Unnikrishnan playing it from a nearby Peepul tree.When Pooradam Thampuran knew this he decided instantly to build a Temple there and thus the Ambalapuzha Templecame into existence here.Unnikannan is believed to have visit to this Temple at noon time in Ambalapuzha to relish the Palpayasam appears to be a true belief. There is yet another most interesting Legend about the Ambalapuzha Palpayasam which is not only brilliant but one throwing light on Mathematics and Chess combines as well. Acording to the Legend ,Lord Krishna himself disguised as a Sage and appeared in front of the King whoruled theregion of Ambalapuzha for a game of chees and challenged the King.The price for the winner was to be decided prior to the game and the King told the sage to choose the price if the sage had won.The sage told his price was a modest one relating to a few grains from the king.The king was surprised why the sage had such a moderate demand instead of Gold ,diamond or such costly items.The sage explained the conditions further as under: The sage determined the the amount of grains by placing grains placing in the Chess board in such a way as the 64 columns were filled with grain. It was in mathematical order of 2 TO THE POWER OF SIXTYFOUR MINUS ONE The amount arrived at was an astronomical 18,446,744073709551615 The numbsr of rice thus amounted to Trillions of Tons of rice. On seeng the Kingb struggling the king to pass through the horns of the Dilemma in which he was ,the sage assumed His original form {LORD KRISHNA}& assured the king that there was no need for the King to pay the grains immeadiately and instead could pay over a period of time by serving Palpayasam in the Temple free to the devotees at noon after Uchapooja{Noon pooja} until the debt is paid off. It would appear to me alone if Unnikrishnan is a regular visitor to Ambalapuzha from Guruvayur at noon ,it would be not merely to taste Palpayasam alone but with a view to supervising whether the practice of giving free palpayasam to devotees is, in fact, continued or not as well. But inspite of what all mentioned above it is ensured that the Palpayasam at Ambalapuzha Sreekrishna Temple is available only on the following conditions: If one reaches the Temple 2 days in advance and booked direct 90 people can get coupons for one litre[liter] each for Rs160/-.If it is Thursday or Sunday 110 people would get Palpayasam on the same conditions. For those who can not book also there is provision to prepare 35 litres daily for 70 people. So every day 70 people get Palpayasam to satisfy the conditions put forward by the sage[Lord Krishna]. So let us all believe that the Lord Guruvayurappan visits Ambalapuzha Temple also at noon daly to relish the Palpayasan as well to ensure that his longlasting conditions are fulfilled in toto¬ like usual "Conditions Apply" we view everywhere!! Coming back to the Great Ambalapuzha Sreekrishna Temple,there are festivals at Ambalapuzha also. The rulers of the Chembakasseri Devanarayana Dynasty were highly religious. So the idol of Lord Krishna in Ambalapuzha is understood to have brought from Karinkulam Temple.Thev bringing of this idol to Ambalapuzha also marked as and referred to by calling it CHAMBAKKULAM MOOLAM WATER FESTIVAL.This festival is conducted every year on MOOLAM star day of the month of Midhunam of Malayalam calendar. The Aarattu Festival as usual in all Kerala Temple begin with flag hoisting ritual on the Atham starday in Meenam {in March-April} & the virtual Aarattu is held on the Thiruvonam in Meenam month No harm done if we call it Ambalpuzha Onam in Meenam month unlike usual Onam at Thrikkakkara Temple and all over Kerala. Sreedharan Mundanat Friday January 12 ,2018 at Thrissur Town