Prathishta / Presiding Deity : Venugopalaswami
Upadevatha / Sub Deities : Garuda, Hanuman, Ganapathi, Mahalakshmi
District: Alappuzha
Thaluk: xx
Panchayath: xx
Thanthri: xx
Trustee: xx
The Sree Venu Gopala Devaswom Temple, located at Puarakkad junction on the east
side of NH47, about 16 kms off Alleppey towards Quilon, was built nearly 400 years
back. This is one of the oldest temples worshipped by the Gowda Saraswat Brahmins
of Kerala. Devotees in large number throng to the temple bringing their children
for the performance of a special function called "Devaku Deevop" (surrendering the
child to the Lord) and later reclaimed by performance of the function called "Sodovop"
(releasing) at the time of Upanayanam, marriage etc
The main deity is on a throne inside the Sreekovil. On the first step at top is
the Venugopala with Lekshmi devi on the left and Bhoomi devi on the right side.
On the second step is a pair of sandals used by Ananda who installed the deity at
Purakkad with his name inscribed thereon in Kannada. On the third step are the Utsava
moorties and the Madanagopala idol donated by Swamiji of Sri Kashi Mutt Samsthan.
Secondary deities
The idols of Garuda, Hanuman, Ganapathi, Mahalakshmi are installed inside the inner
temple (Nalambalam) outside the Srikovil.
Secondary shrines
There are smaller shrines dedicated to other deities outside the inner temple -
Naga Kanya, Siva, Kalabhairav and a Naga Peedham (with a number of Naga vigrahas
brought from houses of community members).
In 1560 A.D. about hundred and fifty one Gowda Saraswat Brahmin families (mostly
traders) from Salcettee of Goa escaping the persecution by Portugese landed at Purakkad
whose Raja gave them permission to build "pandikasalas" (wholesale business houses)
to carry on trade. There upon under one Janardhana Pai, who is said to have owned
a fleet of seven merchant vessels plying in the Indian ocean, the Gowda Saraswats
carried on extensive trade with the countries of Europe.
Quite in keeping with their tradition of building temples wherever they settled,
the Gowda Saraswats of Purakkad also built a temple and had the image of Venu gopala
installed there
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