Gowda Saraswat Brahmins: Sree Krishna swamy Temple, Kozhencherry

Kozhencherry is a small town about 16 KM east of Thiruvalla and about 15 km from Chengannur. The gsb temple here is small compared to Alleppey or Kottayam. This temple is about 280 years old. The temple is located in the heart of the town, on a side road opposite to the bus stand and at the back side of the prominant Rukmini-Satyabama shopping complex owned by the temple. The temple complex is on the eastern bank of the sacred river pamba. The temple and prathista is facing east.

The main prathista is panchaloha vigraha of Sree Krishna with Rukmini and Satyabama. The utsav idol is Balamurali standing in front of the cow.

There are idols of Lakshmi devi, Hanuman and Garuda placed within the srikovil. There are sub temples of Nagaraja Nagayakshi and Brahmarakhas at the north eastern corner of the main temple.

History & temple details

The temple was established about 280 years back by the Thottumadathil family who migrated from Alleppey. Initially the pooja at the temple was done by members of the family themselves. Later when the family members could not continue it regularly, a poojari was brought from Thuravoor and settled here to attend the temple pooja affairs. The bhat family house is next to the temple

The temple was later offered to the community members and a committee was formed for management of the temple. Due to legal battle with tenants and difference of opinion among the committee members the affairs of the temple was neglected. The temple was later taken over by the Alleppey Ananthanarayanapuram Thuravoor Tirumala Devasowm (AATTD). Since the temple is in a prime locality, a shopping complex named after Rukmini-Satyabama was constructed covering two sides of the temple and rented out, strengthening financial position of the temple.

Renovation and Punaprathista

The temple was facing many hardships and a Devaprasnam was conducted on 23-02-2004. Accordingly, renovation work was conducted and punaprathista done on 22-05-2004. The Rajagopuram was also inaugurated on the same occasion.