Sree Krishna Temple Changed as Malayattoor Church

There is a common belief in Kerala that there existed a Sree Krishna temple once, at the place where the present Malayattoor Church is situated. There is an interesting mythological story still popular atleast in the minds of many Keralites, about the change of Sree Krishna temple into a church.

It was a Sree Krishna temple where many devotees flocked. There was only one "Pujari" (priest) to maintain the temple and perform all the routine religious rituals from early morning till late night with out any break. According to Hindu mythology, there were many things to be done daily in every temple. Especially in olden times with minimal outside assistance, the time the last worship was over and after final clean-up and certain preparations for the next day’s early morning rituals were ready, it would be almost midnight. So it was very common that the priest used to take shelter in the temple itself at nights. In addition, in the present narration the house of the priest who used to single handedly perform all the ritual duties at Malayattoor temple was far away too. There were hardly any population or house near the temples during those days.

The young Namboothiri (priest) had hardly anyone to help him with his daily chores within the temple premise. However there was one young poor Christian boy named Georgekutti, who used to offer his free supportive services from outside the temple and whose family lived little away from the temple area. The Namboothiri was in a habit of meeting him outside the temple after daily morning worship of the deity and used to provide him with a list of things need to be purchased from market or things need to be done with any outside sources. As days passed they became intimate friends

Once a messenger came from Namboothiri’s residence asking him to go home immediately to attend to some urgent work. The priest decided to send a request for one Narayanan Namboothiri to come and help him and shoulder the responsibility of attending to the daily chores of the temple during his absence. He waited till the morning worship was over to ask Georgekutti to deliver the message to the substitute priest. After finishing his morning duties the priest went outside the temple. Georgekutti was waiting there for him as usual. Namboothiri made him understand the importance of informing Narayanan Namboothiri to come and take over the responsibility of performing the timely worship, in his absence. To ensure that the boy did not forget the errand, the priest told the deity inside the sanctum sanctorium will not be able to bear the hunger if the offerings are not given on time. He reminded Georgekutti that there should not be any hindrance to the timely worships and offerings at any cost. He then went home saying he would return only after two days.

Georgekutti decided to go home first to inform his parents that he had to go to a slightly far away place to deliver a message to Narayanan Namboothiri. When he reached home there was lot of work waiting for him. As his parents were old it was his responsibility to take care of all the household works. Since his attention was diverted to other things Georgekutti’s mind slipped from the task given by Namboothiri. At night when he started having his dinner he suddenly remembered what Namboothiri had told him. He was horrified for a moment when he remembered the strict words of the priest. He stopped eating and got up, rolling his food as a packet in the plantain leaf. When his mother asked him what was the matter he casually answered, "I am not feeling hungry now, so I will throw away this balance food and return." He walked out of the house with the packed food. He rushed to the temple in confusion.

As he had not informed Narayanan Namboothiri, the evening worship was not performed and the offering to the deity would not have been given. It was too late to call the substitute for the day’s worship. He stood outside the temple and prayed to the deity, "it is a blunder on my part. Please don’t get annoyed with the priest. Though I do not possess the right to perform the ritual like the priest, I have brought you dinner. I do not know if it will be as per your taste. What I have with me are some rice and little fish curry."

But no response was heard from inside the temple. Georgekutti repeatedly and earnestly appealed from the depth of his heart umpteen times. By then it was nearing midnight. Tired by now, he decided to go nearer and appeal once more as a last attempt. He recollected the moments before the departure of the priest. The priest had told him that the key was kept secretly above the entrance door. Georgekutti took the key and opened the door. He went infront of the sanctum sanctorium and prayed sincerely once again. Some how there was no sign of any response. So he decided to go back. Before stepping backwards he left the food packet infront of the deity. When he turned around to walk away, he felt as if the door of the sanctum sanctorium opened. When Georgekutti looked back he saw a handsome youngster standing with the food packet on one hand and a lamp in another hand.

The handsome youth looked at Georgekutti and smiled. "You have been calling me for a long time isn’t it? As Namboothiri is not here today and the temple was also not opened I had gone elsewhere. But I have not had food till now. I am feeling extremely hungry. As you offered me the food meant to satiate your hunger, I will be always indebted to you. I will go inside and eat whatever you brought in this packet. You don’t know the value of your packet of food. Future generations will experience the benefit of your good deed. Now onwards I don’t intend to continue the stay of Namboothiri here. You should bring me the food packet daily. You go home and inform your parents what I told you. They will not say anything negative. Just take my word." Saying these the youngster went inside and the doors closed behind him.

Georgekutti felt everything that happened as a dream. How long he stood stupefied there, he did not know. When he became aware of his surroundings he stepped out and walked towards his house. As their son was missing for so long his parents were worried. As soon as he reached home he narrated everything to them. They had difficulty in believing him. But could not totally disbelieve too. Because till that day Georgekutti had never lied to them. However they decided to discuss the matter in detail, the next day. It was a surprise; that night Georgekutti’s parents had similar visions too in their dream. They felt instinctively that whatever Georgekutti narrated were all true.

At the same time, far away, the Namboothiri was getting ready to go to bed with the feeling of contentment that the substitute would have gone and performed all the usual rituals. But his favorite deity appeared in his sleep: "Namboothiri, the person whom you thought of as substitute, did not come today because Georgekutti forgot to deliver your message to him. Regretting his mistake late night Georgekutti came tome with a packet of food and placed it infront of me. He brought his portion of dinner, rice and fish curry for me. Hearing his painful incessant appeals, I could not help appearing infront of him. I was satisfied eating the food he offered me so lovingly from his heart. I am obliged to him for his compassionate large heartedness. I have asked him to bring me food every day. You should inform all the village people tomorrow. Having consumed non-vegetarian food the deity’s abode has to change. But, please be assured that my gratefulness to you, for the devotion with which you have worshipped me all these years, has not diminished in its depth. So my idol should be buried deep, underneath the sanctum sanctorium. What ever changes may take place in the manner of worshipping, I shall still be there" saying these, the Lord disappeared.

Namboothiri woke up with a start and was upset. He lost his sleep. Worries started growing in him. So he decided to return immediately to the temple. Early morning he reached there. But there was no one around. Namboothiri rushed towards Georgekutti’s house. Georgekutti was also upset with the thought of previous night’s incidence. He could not sleep well. He got up with swollen eyes and when he came out of the house he was surprised to see the Namboothiri walking towards his house! Seeing Georgekutti’s red swollen eyes, Namboothiri’s anger subsided. Georgekutti narrated everything. It only increased Namboothiri’s inquisitiveness to know things more in detail. With out uttering a word he sat there and was lost in thoughts. After having taken a decision he picked up quite a number of stones and started checking with astrological calculations and predictions. After a detailed study of the combination of stones in astrological system of calculations he was convinced that his deity is changed into a Christian one.

Namboothiri took Georgekutti and his parents along with him and walked to the temple. There were many devotees waiting near the temple. Holding Georgekutti’s hand he walked towards the sanctum sanctorium. The public was amazed at this sight! Namboothiri explained everything to them and tried to convince them all. But many could not be convinced. Ultimately some who were aware of the astrological predictions agreed to check once gain. Ultimately every one was convinced and all agreed to what the Namboothiri said. With the public consent the floor underneath the sanctum sanctorium was dug almost up to the size of a human being and the idol of the deity was placed in that. While the preparations for this action was going on Georgekutti’s father was asked to get a wooden Cross done. Georgekutti took over the Cross from his father who was nearing the place where the Sree Krishna’s deity was placed earlier and established the Cross at the same spot.

The public assembled there, dispersed saying aloud that Malayattoor Temple has changed into Malayattoor Church. There is a belief that the descendants of Georgekutti are the actual owners of the Malayattoor Church.

English translation by
Lakshmy N

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