| Meenachal Sri Krishna Swamy Temple | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Kanyakumari district |
| Deity | Vishnu |
| Festivals | Krishna Jayanthi, Rohini maholsavam. |
| Governing body | Meenachal sreekrishna seva committee |
| Location | |
| Location | Meenachal |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Country | India |
  Location within Tamil Nadu | |
| Coordinates | 8°19′50.1816″N 77°11′2.8979″E / 8.330606000°N 77.184138306°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Kerala Style |
| Completed | unknown, believed to be built around 1160 AD |
Meenachal Sree Krishna Swamy temple (Tamil - மீனச்சல் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி கோயில், Malayalam - മീനച്ചൽ ശ്രീ കൃഷ്ണസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a Hindu temple situated in Meenachal village of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the very few temples located in Tamilnadu, exhibiting Kerala architectural style. It is believed that this temple is 1200 years old. Although the main deity is Lord Vishnu, he is worshipped in the form of Lord Sri Krishna (The ninth Avatar of Lord Vishnu) and hence the temple is named as Sri Krishna Temple.
Location[edit | edit source]
The temple is located near the border of Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.The National Highway NH-66 (Erstwhile NH-17 and a part of NH-47) that connects Kanyakumari to Thiruvananthapuram, passes through a place named Padanthalumoodu. Just a few meters before Padanthalumoodu junction, to the right, is the road to Padanthalumoodu - Meenachal temple.There is an arch at the entrance of the road which leads to the temple, located around 750 meters away from the Highway.
Architecture[edit | edit source]
Although the temple is in the province of Tamil Nadu, it manifests Kerala traditional architecture. The temple has a Gopuram (Gatehouse), Sri-kovil (Sanctum Sanctorum), dhyana mandapam (meditation hall), Namaskara mandapam ( the place where the priests sit and recite the hymns, mantras, and slokas) Naalambalam ( the structure enclosing the shrine and the mandapa building), Chuttambalam (the outer structure within the temple walls) , Temple well (Holy Well), Ambala kulam (sacred temple pond), Thevarapura (a complex for cooking prasad) akin to any ancient temples of Kerala. There is a place reserved for Kodi Maram (holy mast) that is yet to be built. The mast for kodi maram is already in the premise and is being cured in oil since Jan 25, 2026. The walls of nalambalam are adorned with arrays of several small oil lamps, which is a replacement for vilakkumadam.
The divinity Lord Vishnu is in the form of Thiruvallazhappan (also known as Chathurbaghu Vishnu). He is also the main deity of Sreevallabha temple, Thiruvalla, Kerala.
The other deities are Sastha (Sree Ayyappan) and Ganapathi (Ganesha). Recently, Nagar has been consecrated as one of the deities. Sastha's shrine is located in the chuttambalam exactly to the right of the main deity, which stays unique to this temple. Another exceptional feature of this temple is the Four lamps(made from stone) which are placed at four corners of chuttambalam.
Connections with other temples[edit | edit source]
This temple is said to have some association with Tiruvalla SHREEVALLABHA temple. Hence, this deity is known as Thiruvallazhappan. Malayankeezhu Sri Krishna temple also shares a few pooja principles and procedures resembling sreevallabha temple. Vilwamangalam namboothirupaadu worshipped Thiruvalla panchaloha in his house and also in the malayankeezh temple. Thiruvalla Shreevallabah temple, malayinkeezh temple, and Meenachal Krishnan temple are hence interlinked and the same had been revealed through Ashtamangala Prasnam. Therefore, Meenachal Sri Krishna swami temple authorities visit tiruvalla Shreevallabah once in a year to do pooja and offerings. It is also believed that the temple has some relationship with Padmanabhaswamy temple.
Administration[edit | edit source]
The temple has a registered panel named ‘Meenachal sri krishna seva committee’ which deals with the administration and other activities.
Festivals and pooja[edit | edit source]
A festival named ‘Rohini maholsavam’ is celebrated for 5 days in a year. It is based on vrikshikam month’s Rohini nakshatra, starting with kodiyettam and ends in Aarau. It has been decided to celebrate Rohini maholsavam along with Krishna Janmashtami from the year 2018.
Pushpanjali (offering of flowers) is the special pooja offered mostly during festival season. Sheeveli (thrice a day), other customs and rituals are also being performed.
On Dec 09, 2016, the temple has seen a massive festival with Ganapathi homam, kalasa abishekam, annadhanam, Lalitha sahasranamam, Athazhapooja and ottan thullal.[1]
On the final day of Vijayadasami, October 05, 2022, Kanya pooja was celebrated here with mothers dressing their children as 'Amman'.[2]
On April 14, 2023, a massive vishu festival was celebrated at the temple.[3]
From Sept 03 to Sept 07, 2023, Astami rohini festival was celebrated in this temple. The prime events were ottan thullal, Uriyadi, Astabishekam and Light music by Sivahari bhajana sangh.[4]
From August 23 to August 28, 2024, Astami Rohini festival including Uriyadi was celebrated in this temple.[5][6]
On October 1, 2025, Navaratri was celebrated around the temple with Golu being showcased in many homes. The Temple Bhajana troop has sung Bhajans around the houses near the temple.[7]
On September 14, 2025, a 'uriyadi' festival was held for the temple's Krishna Janmastami function.[8]
On Jan 25, 2026, The 'Thailadhi Vaasam' (தைலாதி வாசம்) (തൈലാധിവാസം) function for Kodi maram (Holy Mast) was started. A Tank was built in the premise for curing the wood mast in medicinal oil. The initiation of oil pouring in to the tank was done by Mr. Rajasekharan Nair, the MD of Janam TV and UDS group of hotels.[9]
Other Events[edit | edit source]
On Sept 14, 2025, The famous temple celebrated the Krishna Jayanthi festival. In connection with this, the temple administration, along with the Ramuni Siddha Medical Centre, organized a free medical camp.
At the camp, free blood tests and eye examinations were conducted. The medical camp, which began in the morning, was attended by hundreds of people who benefited from it.[10]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
- ↑ DIN (2016-12-09). "மீனச்சல் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி கோயில் விழா இன்று தொடக்கம்". Dinamani (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ DIN (2022-10-05). "மீனச்சல் கோயிலில் கன்யா பூஜை". Dinamani (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ "கன்னியாகுமரி: ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி கோயிலில் விஷு பண்டிகை தொடங்கியது...!". News18 Tamil. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ DIN (2023-09-01). "மீனச்சல் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி கோயில் விழா நாளை தொடக்கம்". Dinamani (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ Din (2024-08-21). "மீனச்சல் கோயிலில் அஷ்டமி ரோகிணி திருவிழா: நாளை தொடக்கம்". Dinamani (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ M, Murugesan (2024-08-26). "கிருஷ்ண ஜெயந்தி - மீனச்சல் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ண சாமி கோவிலில் சிறப்பு வழிபாடு!". Tamil Janam TV (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ "நவராத்திரிக்கு வீடுகளில் கொலு வைத்த மக்கள்... வீடு வீடாக சென்று பஜனை பாடிய பக்தர்கள்..." tamil.news18.com (in தமிழ்). Archived from the original on 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ தினத்தந்தி (2025-09-14). "மீனச்சலில் கிருஷ்ண ஜெயந்தி திருவிழா: கிருஷ்ணரின் லீலைகளை நடித்து காட்டி அசத்திய சிறுவர்கள்". www.dailythanthi.com (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ "மீனச்சல் கிருஷ்ண சுவாமி கோயிலில் 'கொடிமர தைலதி வாசம்' நிகழ்வு". The Hindu Tamil (Thiruvananthapuram ed.). 2026-01-26. p. 10.
- ↑ M, Murugesan (2025-09-14). "கன்னியாகுமரி : ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ண சுவாமி கோயிலில் இலவச மருத்துவ முகாம்!". Tamil Janam TV (in தமிழ்). Retrieved 2026-01-25.