Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy Temple – History
The temple
dates back to 9th Century AD. There is one inscription in the temple and five
copper plates from the 16th century indicating various grants to the temple. It
is understood from the inscriptions that the temple was built by Krishnappa Nayak (1563–72), the son of Viswanatha
Nayak, the founder of Madurai
Nayak dynasty. Krishnappa
is attributed to the construction of the precincts around the temple and the
soaring temple tower. The copper plates from Sadasiva
Raya indicate grants to light lamps perpetually and lay
gardens. There were six villages to allow the continuous functioning of the
temple.
Krishnappa
Nayak also laid four streets around the temple for the smooth passing of the
temple car. The villages Ariyakulam, Kodikulam, Kuthukaval, Puthaneri,
Pottukalam, Sriramakulam and Alikudi were donated to the temple for the
performance of daily poojas. An Agraharam with housing for 108 Brahmin families
well-versed in Vedas and agamas was established. Deivachillayar (Mayilerum Perumal),
the son-in-law of the minister of Viswanatha, played a key role in the
construction of the temple.
Detailed
account of his work in the temple is extolled in Deivachillayar Vidu Thoothu by
Kumaraswamy Avadaniyar and also in the History of Tinnelvelly by Caldwell.
The village was originally named Thiruvenkatapuram and got changed to
Krishnapuram during the rule of Krishnappa Nayak. The temple was originally
administered as a sub temple of Ramaswamy temple of Thirunelveli, but came
under the administration of Nellaippar temple from 1973. It came under the
dominion of Tiruchendur Devastanam from 1986.
