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).