Kalinga Nardana Krishnan
Temple, Oothukkadu – Legends
Kalinga Nardana Krishnan:
This
place was full of flower gardens, called as Pushpa Vanam in ancient times.
Divine cows, Nandini and Patti, the children of Kamadhenu, were residing in
Aavoor and were providing milk to the Lord Shiva of Aavoor Pasupatheeswarar
Temple. Every morning, the two would also graze across to the nearby Oothukkadu
Village and collect flowers for the Lord from the Pushpa Vanam.
On one
such occasion, the two cows listened to Sage Narada’s narration of the story of
Lord Krishna and his Kalinga Narthana. Hearing the story of the five years old
(Child) Krishna taking on the poisonous asura snake (Kalinga) and performing
the Kalinga Narthana, Nandini and Patti are said to have broken out into tears
for the hardship imposed on the little boy Krishna.
Worried
about her children, Kamadhenu approached Krishna at Vaikunda seeking a solution
to her children’s shocked state of mind. Responding to her request, Krishna
appeared here at the Pushpa Vanam at Oothukkadu and performed his Kalinga
Nardana yet again, with ease, the Kalinga Narthana in front of a delighted
Nandini and Patti thus convincing them that this was a child’s play for him.
Wanting
all the devotees to enjoy this unique form of Krishna, Narada requested the
Lord to be present here at Oothukkadu as Kalinga Nardana. Narada is said to
have installed the idol of Krishna as Kalinga Narthana with Nandini and Patti
standing on either side of the Lord in front of him and referred to this place
as ‘Then Gokulam’.
Venkata Kavi:
Mahakavi
Venkatesa Subbhayyar, popularly known as Venkata Kavi, who lived in the 17th
century CE spent his entire life in front of the Thulasi Mada composing a
number of melodious songs in praise of this deity. Venkata Kavi is believed to
be a reincarnation of Sage Naradha who witnessed the Lord’s dance in the
village. It is believed that Lord Krishna appeared in person and danced to
these melodies. Lord Krishna also performed the entire Kalinga Nardana for the
pleasure of Venkata Kavi.
There
was a challenge between the two – Kavi should compose the songs as per the
dance of the Lord. Any time, when he fumbles, the Lord would turn into an idol.
After composing hundreds of compositions, for one particular abhinayam, Kavi
struggled to compose and immediately the Lord became an idol. It is also
believed that Krishna with Gopis visit this temple every night and people claim
that they could hear the sounds of ankle bells.
Other Names of the place:
The
place was called as Dhenuswasapuram, Then Gokulam, Moochukkadu,
which later changed to Oothukkadu.
which later changed to Oothukkadu.