Navaneetha Krishna Temple, Melaseval – Legends
Villiputthurar:
Sri
Villiputthurar listened to Bagawatham in
Sanskrit and translated it in Tamil language.
Vallimalai Kavirayar:
Vallimalai
Kavirayar was the person who translated Tiruchendur Puranam in poetic
form in this place. Vallimalai Kavirayar was not interested in
studies, and he joined as a cook in Tiruchendur Murugan Temple. One day when
the Abishekam was taking place in the temple he was so deeply immersed, in
watching the abishekam for Lord, he forgot to do the prasadam for Lord
Murugan.
Committee
members were not happy about his act and they removed him from the
job. Kavirayar was frustrated and wanted to commit suicide at that
time Lord Murugan appeared before him and told him his birth was for
some mission. Lord Murugan said the mission is not yet completed, and
asked him to go to Cheval village and meet Krishna Sastry who will
help him. He met Krishna Sastry and learned that, Tiruchendur Purana
was in Sanskrit which he learnt and translated in Tamil in the form of
Poem.
He
wanted the book to be released first at Tiruchendur Murugan temple. There
he was insulted and the copy of the script thrown in the sea. The script was
found by a devotee of Murugan, in Manaimuri, of Srilanka. He took the
script and was reading it daily. Once there was poisonous viral attack due to
which many lost their lives. The people in the land were devotee
of Murugan was living, did not suffer. They came to know the script
is holy book and that was the reason. Everyone from then on started reading the
Script and worship Lord Murugan.
Krishna blessing a Cowherd to become a Minister:
This
happened many years before the temple was built. A cowherd, feeling exhausted
after a long morning’s work in the hot sun, slept in the open. To shelter him
from the scorching sun, a snake that was passing by, cast its hood and to
protect him from the heat. A lad who happened to be watching this told the cowherd
once he woke up that he would one day attain significant position and that if
he attained such a status, he should reward him for the forecast.
As
predicted by the lad, the uneducated cowherd got a job in the kingdom of
Travancore and soon through pure hard work rose to become a minister. All these
days he had remembered the prediction of the lad. He searched for the lad but
could not locate him. He then came to Melaseval and built a temple for
Navaneetha Krishna, where the Lord is seen in the form of a young boy. The
temple was later improved during the reign of kings of Venadu.
Kerala Tradition of worship:
Under
the Venadu rule, this place was known as Veera Kerala Puram and this temple
followed the Kerala Tradition of worship.
Tamaraibarani Mahatmiyam:
Tamaraibarani
Mahatmiyam refers to this place as ‘Jothirvanam’ and the existence of Gowri
Theertham and Prabha Theertham.
Prarthana Sthalam:
Lord
Navaneetha Krishna is said to answer the sincere prayers of childless couples
if they place the Naga idol inside the temple and offer Milk Payasam to the
Lord.
Brahmin Boy got his Voice back by undertaking Vratham:
A
Brahmin boy, who was unable to speak right from his birth, observed `Vratham'
as per the advice of the astrologers in the Navaneethakrishnan temple. And as
per the advice received in his dreams, he went to Thiruchendur and was blessed
with voice in Lord Muruga's shrine.
Serpent safeguarding the Navaneethakrishnan Idol:
It is
said that in the nights, a serpent used to safeguard the gold and silver
bejeweled Navaneethakrishnan idol.