Sunday, May 7, 2017

Navaneetha Krishna Temple, Melaseval, Thirunelveli

Navaneetha Krishna Temple, Melaseval, Thirunelveli
Navaneetha Krishna Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Melaseval in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. Melaseval was home to several learned scholars and one could hear Vedic Chanting through the day. The temple dates back to reign of the Travancore kings (14th Century AD) with Kulasekara constructing the Prakara and the Thaayar Sannidhi. The Temple spreads over a huge 1 acre complex; the temple has Saligrama Moolavar Lord in a unique standing posture holding Ghee in both his palms.

Lord Navaneetha Krishna is believed to bestow the ‘santhanapraapti’ for childless couples who would worship him on the Rohini star day by offering ‘Paal Payasam.’ The Temple is located at about 26 Kms West of Tirunelveli off the Papanasam Highway on the banks of Tamaraibarani. Melaseval village is the abode of three ancient temples dedicated to Megalingeswarar, Venugopala Swamy and Navaneethakrishnan respectively.

Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
For brief details, please refer below link;
The Temple
The temple dedicated to Navaneethakrishna is the oldest of the 3 temples. It is an ancient temple built by ruler of the then Travancore Samasthanam. It is about 700 years old. This temple was restored in the year 2000 after many decades and ever since then, daily pujas are sincerely conducted. Krishnashtami festival is celebrated in a grand manner every year. The whole complex is on an area of more than one acre of land with a pond on the South. Paddy fields in the West, coconut gardens in the North and Car streets on the east form the boundaries.

Main deity is known as Navaneetha Krishnan with Rukmini and Satyabhama facing east in standing posture. The Deity is of Salagrama Stone. Lord Krishna is a small boy with butter ball in his hands. Only here and in other temples in and around Tirunelveli District and some parts of Kerala, the deity Navaneethakrishnan can be seen in the similar posture. The right leg would be little ahead off the other leg in this standing posture. Utsavar is Lord Krishna. The temple is of two prakaram with main sanctum, Artha mandapam, Maha mandapam and Mani mandapam. The temple structure is of stones.

It houses five Mandapams viz, Artha mandapam, maha mandapam, mani mandapam, outer mandapam and prakara mandapam besides the inner corridor and the sanctum sanctorum, which were built as per the agama Sastras. The Maha Mandapa upper walls have over 40 beautiful carvings depicting the epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha. There are also several engravings inside the temple in the outer prakara. There are also several inscriptions inside the temple in the outer prakara.

Temple Opening Time
The Temple will remain open from 10 Am to 8 Pm.
Festivals
Garuda Sevai during the Tamil month Purattasi (Aug-Sep) is celebrated on every Saturdays in both the temples i.e. Navaneethakrishnan as well as Venugopala Swamy temples. Other festivals celebrated in this temple are listed below;
·        Uriyadi – Krishna Jayanthi is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple
·        Margazhi Utsavam – 10 days
·        Vaikunta Ekadesi
·        Thai Poosam Annual Abishekam
·        Thai Opening Day Garuda Seva
·        Chitrai Opening Day Garuda Seva
Prayers
People seeking child boon come to the temple after a bath in Tambiraparani on Vaikunda Ekadasi, Krishna Jayanthi or other days attributed to Sri Krishna and offer milk porridge (Pal Payasam) and butter as Nivedhana. It is strongly believed that Lord Krishna would grant a son to the devotee matching his beauty and elegance.
Contact
Navaneetha Krishna Temple,
Melaseval, Thirunelveli District
Phone: +91 462 2582213
Connectivity
The temple is located at about 26 Kms from Thirunelveli, 8 Kms from Cheranmahadevi, 24 Kms from Ambasamudram, 14 Kms from Veeravanallur, 185 Kms from Madurai, 73 Kms from Thoothukudi and 155 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. There are buses for every 10 minutes between Tirunelveli and Papanasam. One can get down at Melaseval (about 20minutes from Tirunelveli). From Melaseval main road, autos are available to reach the temple.
From Tirunelveli Junction, direct bus to Melaseval Krishna Temple - Bus Numbers: 14, 14A, 14C, 34G. From Cheran Maha Devi, Mini bus is available for every hour from 9am. Nearest Railway Station is located at Cheranmahadevi, Ambasamudram and Veeravanallur. Nearest Airport is located at Madurai, Thoothukudi and Thiruvananthapuram.
Also visit, Ramaswamy Temple at Cheran Maha Devi (10 Kms West of here), Aadhi Varaha Perumal at Kallidaikurichi (just over 15 Kms from here) and Kulasekara Perumal Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannar Koil near Ambasamudram (20 Kms from here).