Evoor

Evoor Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, (the Guruvayoor of Onattukara)

Evoor is 40 Kilometers south of ‘Alappuzha’ town and next to ‘Cheppad’ railway station . It is famous for the ancient Sri Krishnaswamy temple which originated in the presence of Bhagavan Sri Krishna .

Evoor temple is one of the most important 26 Maha-Vishnu shrines . It is linked to ‘Khandava-dahanam’ ( burning of Khandava forest), described in ‘Mahabharata’ . The remains of burnt trees being widely found here, confirm this . Further evidence are , nearby ‘Mannarassala’ and ‘Pandavarkavu’ temples .

The great Kanva Maharshi (one of the top 7 Rishis) , had been living in this area . ‘Kannamangalam’ (Kanva-mangalam) is nearby . His ‘Ashramam’ (hermitage) later became a temple . Evoor Krishnaswamy’s yearly ‘Arattu’ (ceremonial bath) is held in this temple’s tank .

Origin of Evoor Temple

Agni-deva (Fire God) had been suffering from a severe stomach ailment . As a remedy , Lord Brahma advised him to consume the herb-rich Khandava forest . Unfortunately , Takshaka the serpent-king and a close friend of Lord Indra, was residing there . Whenever Agni tried to consume the forest , Lord Indra’s thundershowers dutifully extinguished the fire .

Once, Sri Krishna and Arjuna were visiting this place . Appearing in the form of a Brahmana, Agni-deva sought their help and they agreed .

Then , Kanva Maharshi arrived there to save his ‘Arca Murthy’ ( a four armed image of Maha-Vishnu) . Bhagavan Krishna granted a boon that the ‘Murthy’ will not be harmed by fire .

Soon, Agni started consuming Khandava forest . Lord Indra used thundershowers promptly but on Sri Krishna’s advice , Arjuna constructed a “Sarakoodam” (shelter of arrows) to complete ‘Khandava dahanam’ .

Thus Agni’s ailment was cured . The thankful Agni-deva sought permission to install that “Murthy” in a new temple there to facilitate worship .

As instructed by Sri Krishna, Arjuna fired an arrow to determine the location . A new temple was soon consecrated where the arrow had landed . (Evoor is the shortened form of Eythoor) .

Bhagavan Krishna Himself infused His divine power into the ‘Murthy’. And Arjuna performed it’s first pooja .

A ‘Murthy’ of ‘Bhoothanathaswamy’ ( ‘Kiratha Murthy’ form of Lord Siva) together with ‘Yakshi Amma’ ( Devi Parvathy) were consecrated as the Sub -Deities . The ancient trees roofing them are the survivors of Khandava-forest .

Fire and Re-construction

About 125 years back, this temple was destroyed in a fire . When the ‘Sri Kovil’ ( Sanctum sanctorum) was caught fire , so many people tried to remove the Deity , but failed . At last , an old Brahmana-devotee of the adjacent house , after taking a dip in the temple tank, entered the raging flames and brought out the Deity, safely .

Sri Mulam Thirunal , then king of Travancore , was in ‘’Kasi’’ at that time . Appearing as a Brahmana-boy in his dream, Sri Krishna asked the king to re-construct the Evoor temple . Immediately , the king retuned home and constructed a huge temple complex . It contained royal facilities such as security trenches atop the roof all around and underground drainage network to discharge the ‘abhishka water’ from ‘Srikovil’ to adjacent temple tank .

The renowned ‘ Tharananalloor Tantri ‘ ( whose ancestor had been brought to Kerala by Sri Parashurama) was appointed as the traditional ‘Tantri’. Immense wealth (including lands and other assets) was arranged to ensure self reliance . Also, extensive neighborhood facilities and all necessary infrastructure were put in place for the temple .

“Prayoga Chakra Prathishta”

Evoor Bhagavan’s Deity is the unique “Prayoga Chakra Prathishta” :

 ‘Panchjanya Sankha’ in rear left hand ;  Live ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ in rear right hand ;  Frontal left hand is held on the hip as ‘mani-bandham’ ;  Butter in the frontal right hand .

Bhagavan is in a combative mood ready to release ‘Sudarshana Chakra’ . He is the 72 year old Sri Krishna at His peak glory and power .

Vedic experts have confirmed the extremely rare presence of “Sri Chakra” on this Deity. Consequently , “Raktha-pushpanjali” is a special offering here which is unavailable in Vishnu temples elsewhere.

Evoor temple is widely known as the “Guruvayoor of Onattukara” .

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya !!!

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev. Puthumuriyil, Evoor South .