Kurooramma Sreekrishna Temple

Kurooramma Sreekrishna Temple is situated at Velur, Vengilassery area of Thalappilly Taluk of the old princely state of Chengazhikode. The temple is located at about 7 kms east from Kechery on Thrissur - Kunnamkulam Highway and about 5 kms towards south from Erumapetty on the Wadakkanchery - Kunnamkulam Highway and about 10 kms west from Kuranchery on Thrissur - Shornur Highway. About 400 years ago the illustrious Kuroor Illam had shifted to Vengilassery from Palakkad and In due course of time they became the owners of vast landed property due to the patronage of Chengazhi Nambiars who were the rulers of erstwhile Chengazhikode at that time.

The young maid Gouri Antharjanam of Purayannur Mana was brought to Kurur Illam as a bride. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna from childhood itself. But her married life was very short lived. She became a childless widow at the prime of her youth. The premature demise of husband and the lonely life thereafter made her more close to Unnikrishnan and she lived as an asectic. It is believed that they used to play around in the Illam compound and he helped her in the daily household chores. But he was not visible to other members of the Illam.

The temple has been constructed at this holy site where the footprints of Lord Krishna and Gouri Antharjanam had made indelible marks. This Gouri Antharjanam later became the legendary Kurooramma. After a long time, the Kuroor Illam was shifted to Adat in Thrissur District and most of the properties were either sold or encroached upon by others except a small piece of land where the temple stands today.

The Ashtamangalam Prasna of 2002 revealed the strong presence of Vishnu and the area was overflowing with Sreekrishna Chaithanya. It also found that Krishna was in the form of a baby and it was associated with a female. On further elaborate scrutiny it was concluded that it was Kurooramma in the company of Balagopala. Hence it was decided to construct a temple with presiding deity of Balagopalan along with subdieties of Durga, Vettekkaran and an appropriate memorial for Kurooramma.

A lot of people not only from other states but also from abroad are visiting this temple for the fulfillment of their wishes. Many Poojas and other special rites are performed in the temple through out the year. Apart from this Bhagavatham is daily recited. On the first Thursday of every Malayalam month special Sooktharchana such as Swayamvara sooktha, Bhagya sooktha, Santhana sooktha are performed by the temple Tantri for hundredes of devotees. It is gratifying to hear that most of the devotees have fulfilled their cherished desires after the Archanas. Every year the annual Prathishta day is celebrated on a grand scale on Rohini Star of Malayala Month Meenam. During the Vaisakha Month many special poojas are conducted in the temple in addition to the Bhagavatha Sapthaham under the guidance of eminent Bhagavath Acharya’s.

There are many stories about Kurooramma and lord Krishna. After her short married life she spent most of her time for Pooja and worship of Krishna. Other devotees of Krishna such as Poonthanam, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, Manaveda Raja, Melpathur Bhattathiri, all were contemporaries of Kurooramma. Once a devotee with severe abdominal pain approached swamiyar with a request to cure his ailment. Eventhough he had gone to Swamiyar many times he did not get any relief. Desperately he went to Kurooramma and told her about his condition. She offered some prasada to him and consoled that his pain will subside. After some days he was completely cured of his pain. This shows the abiding faith she had in Lord Krishna. This is a testimony to the fact that Kurooramma’s Bhakthi was more dear to the Lord than Pooja and worship of Swamiyar.

On another occassion Kurooramma had invited swamiyar to her Illam for giving Bhiksha. But at the same time he had accepted another invitation from a devotee. As a custom a male member should wash his feet before accepting the Bhiksha. Since Swamiyar was aware of the absence of any male at Kuroor Illam, he decided to go to other devotees’ Illam first. But inspite of repeated attempts the conch didnot make sound and taking it as a bad omen Swamiyar decided to go Kurooramma’s Illam and the conch immediately produced the auspicious sound. When he reached her illam it was a surprise that, an Unni Namboothiri (a brahmin boy) was there to receive him and wash his feet. Swamiyar understood that, the boy was none other than Balagopalan and Kurooramma,s Bhakthi was liked by the lord Krishna more than his pooja and workship.

Similarly many devotees have their personal experiences to share with us. After Prathishta Bhagavatha Sapthaham was being conducted in the temple every month. A devotee’s son had no child for a long time. But after a few months of Sapthaham he was blessed with a child.

A devotee couple from Mumbai had no children for a long time even after many poojas and other offerings. They were very much upset and frustrated. Finally they came to this temple and conducted a Sampoorna Narayaneeyam recital. After some time they were also blessed with a cute baby. Today they are having a happy and contended life. Another devotee once a successful business man started losing his business and his sons had lost their jobs. Finally he was on the verge of financial crisis. In the meantime he had a dream of Lord Krishna and Kurooramma. He decided to offer a large volume of ‘Palpayasam’ on the day of Rohini Star of every Malayalam month to Krishna. After some time gradually his business prospered and his sons also started earning from employment. Like this there are many people who have fulfilled their desires after worshiping at this Sreekrishna Temple.