Thirupalkadal Sreekrishna Temple (Thiruparkadal Sreekrishnaswamy Temple) is one of the oldest Hindu temples dedicated to the god Vishnu (Worshipped as Krishna), located in the village Keezhperoor, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. The central icon is a four-armed standing Vishnu carrying the conch Panchajanya (Turbinella pyrum), the discus Sudarshana Chakra, the mace Kaumodaki and a lotus with a holy basil garland. The principal deity, Krishna (Thirupalkadal Bhattarakar) was the family deity of Ay Family, who ruled over the place during the Sangam period. The kingdom and the family later came to be known as Venad Keezhperoor Swaroopam. It is believed that Kulashekhara Alvar, considered the seventh in the line of the twelve Alvars, renovated this temple. But still not mentioned in the 108 Divya Desams. The legends of this temple are closely intertwined with that of the empires and kingdoms that ruled Tamilakam and the state presently known as Kerala. The history of this temple is closely intertwined with the Chera and Chola Empires and the Kingdoms of Venad and Travancore. This Temple is located in the Keezhperoor village, Chirayinkeezhu Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. This Temple is located in a peaceful and serene rustic countryside.
The temple is constructed in the ancient Dravidian style, with the presence of Brahma and Shiva in the outer wall of circular shaped garbhagriha, which represents the presence of Parabrahma. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is formed by 36 rafters carved in 12 wooden pieces (of 30 degrees each), representing the 12 rashis which when multiplied by 3 (the number representing the Trimurti) equals 108 which is the number of pithas of Adi Parashakti. It is also believed that the Kollam Era started with the renovation of this temple.
History
Thirupalkadal Sreekrishnaswamy temple is known as Adikulakovil of Ay kingdom. The temple was constructed by the Ay Kingdom (Kupaka), who were ruling the place with their capital at Keezhperoor during the sangam periode. This family was later known as Venad and then 'Thiruvadi' and 'Thiruvithamkur' which was finally corrupted into Travancore. According to Dr. M.G Sasibhooshan, a famous historian, the temple was constructed about 2000 years ago with a square shaped Sreekovil by Ay Dynasty's Keezhperoor Swaroopam. The temple was renovated in 9th century CE by the Venad King Vallabhan Kotha of Keezhperoor Illam. The Keezhperoor Swaroopam was formed by the merger of the Chera dynasty based at Mahodayapuram with the Ays of Vizhinjam.