After defeating the powerful Nair lords Ettuveetil Pillamars and Ettara Yogam council, Anizham Thirunal Marthnada Varma became the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore. His reign lasted for 29 years from 1729 to 1758. Under his rule, Trivandrum became a prominent city in Kerala. He built roads and canals for communication, adopted several irrigational works and supported foreign trade.
Every king had enemies and Marthanda Varma was no exception. During his reign, he faced several challenges from Ettuveetil Pillamar- eight noble houses in Travancore. Marthanda Varma often changed his residence and went in hiding from his enemies. Once, a jackfruit tree saved his life from his enemies. Today, it is known as Ammachi Plavu. It is barricaded inside the Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Once, Marthanda Varma was chased by the Ettuveetil Pillamar who had a decisive influence in the country and wanted to end his reign. Certain that the enemy was behind him, the king of Travancore crossed the Neyyar River and reached the opposite side. While he was searching for a place to hide, Marthanda Varma saw a boy who was grazing cows. The boy hid him in the hollow trunk of a jackfruit tree and thus helped him escape his enemies. The tree later came to be known as Ammachi Plavu. Later on, Marthanda Varma discovered that the boy was none other than Lord Krishna who helped him at the time of distress. He constructed a temple for him near the Jackfruit tree as a tribute. It is now a popular tourist spot in Kerala. It is known as Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple.
The presiding deity at Neyyattinkara Sree Krishna Swami Temple is Lord Krishna in the form of Balakrishna holding butter in both hands. The devotees offer butter to lord Krishna in the temple. It is also believed that initially the idol was made of wood but lord Krishna was not amused by this. Therefore, while the idol was being transported from the boat across the Neyyar, the boat got stuck and could not move. Hence, another shrine was installed at the temple.
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