Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple in the Alappuzha District of
Kerala is regarded as one of the most important temples in Kerala. A special
offering in this temple which is famous as “Ambalappuzha Palapayasam” is more
famous with its delicious and unique taste. Palpayasam is a traditional Kerala
sweet dish made with milk, rice, and sugar. Many extra articles will be added
into it such as dry fruits, cashew nuts, etc to enhance the taste, but in
Ambalappuzha only milk, rice and sugar are used in the preparation of
Palpayasam. There are two different myths are taking round regarding this
special offering in this temple.
The first one goes like this.
The temple and the area were under the rule of erstwhile
Chembakasseri King. Once the kingdom experienced famine and people suffered a
lot due to it. The king of Chembakasseri, whose first aim was to take care of
his subjects borrowed a certain quantity of rice from a Brahmin landlord. The
Brahmin gave the same based on a condition that the King should pay interest
too while returning the rice.
Days have gone and when the King was about to return the
rice it became too large quantity along with the interest. King found it
difficult to return. Although the Brahmin went several times to the palace, he
did not get his rice as per the condition. One day, when the King was about to go
back to the palace after finishing his prayers at Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna
temple, the Brahmin appeared in front of him and requested not to move a step
further until the king paid him back the entire rice he owes to him. The king
got shocked by the behavior of the Brahmin. Although he could have pushed
aside the Brahmin with his military power and move forward, the King who was
keeping morality at high esteem did not do that. He knew that he owes to the
Brahmin and it is not good to avoid it. King stood there.
Hearing the news that a Brahmin caught hold of the king for
nonpayment of loan, the public gathered there in large numbers. One feudal lord
called Parayi Menon offered the Brahmin that he will get the entire quantity
of rice in front of the temple by tomorrow afternoon. Based on this promise,
the Brahmin allowed the king to move. The next day, Parayi Menon came with the
promised quantity of rice which he has taken from his warehouse and collected
from his friends and relatives in front of the temple and kept the entire thing
there. Although the Brahmin came there, he could not lift the rice as nobody
was ready to help him. People have high regard for their king and they knew
that the king has borrowed the rice to feed the poor.
Unable to take back the rice, the Brahmin left it there, but
the temple authorities were in confusion over what to do with it. They brought
a famous astrologer. He predicted that Lord Krishna, who is the prime deity
in the temple wishes that the entire rice should be sold and with the money
temple should buy paddy fields and start a farm with a large number of cattle.
They should use the rice cultivated in that field and the milk from those cows
to make Palppayasam every day.
Another legend is related to the craze of the king which he had
in Chess. One day a Brahmin came to his palace and challenged him to play
chess. When the king asked for the prize for the winners, he told the King that
the king can decide on it as he always plays to win the game. King agreed that
he will give anything asked by the Brahmin if he could defeat the king. They
started playing chess and the Brahmin won the game. King asked for the prize
and the Brahmin told him that the king should keep one grain of rice in the
first square in the chessboard, two grains in the second one and so sixty-four
grains in the sixty-fourth square. When the king was struggling to calculate how
many grains are required, the Brahmin told him not to be in hurry, instead, he
can calculate the number of grains by the next day morning and bring it to the
temple. Suddenly the Brahmin disappeared.
Surprised with this the King called an astrologer and asked.
After doing his regular exercises, the astrologer confirmed that the Brahmin
was none other than Lord Krishna. He also asked the King to insist the temple
authorities make Palapayasam with the rice given by the king daily and to
offer to the lord.
The preparation of Ambalappuzha palpayasam is also a unique
thing. The stoves will be lighted in the early morning and they will keep water
in a large pot to boil. When the entire water is about to evaporate, they pour a fixed quantity of milk into the pot. It will be allowed to boil till 11.30 am
in low flame. Then they pour rice and cook it in the low flame. In the end they
will mix the sugar. After offering to the lord, the payasam will be distributed
among the devotees who have ordered it. Since they prepare limited
quantities, one will have to order Ambalappuzha Palpayasam well in advance to
ensure availability.
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