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Meenachal Sree Krishna Swami temple (Tamil - மீனச்சல் ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி கோயில், Malayalam - മീനച്ചൽ ശ്രീ കൃഷ്‌ണസ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a Hindu temple situated in Meenachal village of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the very few temples located in Tamilnadu, exhibiting Kerala architectural style. It is believed that this temple grant wishes to all devotees who are visiting here. Although the main deity is Lord Vishnu, he is worshipped in the form of Lord Sri Krishna (The ninth Avatar of Lord Vishnu) and hence the temple is named as Sri Krishna Temple.

Location
The temple is located near the border of Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.The National Highway NH-66 (Erstwhile NH-17 and a part of NH-47) that connects Kanyakumari to Thiruvananthapuram, passes through a place named Padanthalumoodu. Just a few meters before Padanthalumoodu junction, to the right, is the road to Padanthalumoodu - Meenachal temple.There is an arch at the entrance of the road which leads to the temple, located around 750 meters away from the Highway.

Architecture
Although the temple is in the province of Tamil Nadu, it manifests Kerala traditional architecture. The temple has a Gopuram (Gatehouse), Sri-kovil (Sanctum Sanctorum), dhyana mandapam (meditation hall), Namaskara mandapam ( the place where the priests sit and recite the hymns, mantras, and slokas) Naalambalam ( the structure enclosing the shrine and the mandapa building), Chuttambalam (the outer structure within the temple walls), Temple well (Holy Well), Ambala kulam (sacred temple pond), Thevarapura (a complex for cooking prasad) akin to any ancient temples of Kerala. There is a place reserved for Kodi Maram (Flagstaff) that is yet to be built. The walls of nalambalam are adorned with arrays of several small oil lamps, which is a replacement for vilakkumadam.

The divinity Lord Vishnu is in the form of Thiruvallazhappan (also known as Chathurbaghu Vishnu). He is also the main deity of Sreevallabha temple, Thiruvalla, Kerala.

The other deities are Sastha (Sree Ayyappan) and Ganapathi (Ganesha). Recently, Nagar has been consecrated as one of the deities. Sastha's shrine is located in the chuttambalam exactly to the right of the main deity, which stays unique to this temple. Another exceptional feature of this temple is the Four lamps(made from stone) which are placed at four corners of chuttambalam.

Connections with other temples
This temple is said to have some association with Tiruvalla SHREEVALLABHA temple. Hence, this deity is known as Thiruvallazhappan. Malayankeezhu Sri Krishna temple also shares a few pooja principles and procedures resembling sreevallabha temple. Vilwamangalam namboothirupaadu worshipped Thiruvalla panchaloha in his house and also in the malayankeezh temple. Thiruvalla Shreevallabah temple, malayinkeezh temple, and Meenachal Krishnan temple are hence interlinked and the same had been revealed through Ashtamangala Prasnam. Therefore, Meenachal Sri Krishna swami temple authorities visit tiruvalla Shreevallabah once in a year to do pooja and offerings. It is also believed that the temple has some relationship with Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Administration
The temple has a registered panel named ‘Meenachal sri krishna seva committee’ which deals with the administration and other activities.

Festivals and pooja
A festival named ‘Rohini maholsavam’ is celebrated for 5 days in a year. It is based on vrikshikam month’s Rohini nakshatra, starting with kodiyettam and ends in Aarau. It has been decided to celebrate Rohini maholsavam along with Krishna Janmashtami from the year 2018.

Pushpanjali (offering of flowers) is the special pooja offered mostly during festival season. Sheeveli (thrice a day), other customs and rituals are also being performed.

Temple timings
Morning: 5:30 am to 8:30 am, daily

Evening: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, daily

Temple timings may vary during festival season and at the time of special pooja.