PerumaaL (Main Diety) : Gopalakrishnan
Thayar (Godesses) : Madavaral Mangai, Sengamala Nacchiyar
Vimanam : Svaymbu
Theertham : thadamalar poigai
Prathyaksham : Senaitthalaiavar (Vishvaksenar), Rudran
Mangalaa Saasanam : Thirumangai Azhvar WITH 10 PASURAMS
History of the Temple:
Kavalam means a small quantity of food. The Lord of this place gave his blessings to Senai Thalaivar and Rudran after he got rid of his Sabham. Here the Lord accepts the pure state of his devotees as food and so this place is called Kavalampadi.
Festival
Every year on the day after the New Moon day (Amavasya) in the Thamizh month of tai (தை—Jan –Feb) the festival idols from all the 11 divya desams are brought on Garuda mounts to the shrine Manimadakkovil (one of the 11), the idols of Tirumangai Azhwar and his wife Kumudavalli are brought on a hamsa (swan) mount, and the pasurams composed by the Azhwar on the deities in the 11 shrines are recited.
This festival, lasting two days, is called Tirumangai Azhwar Mangala sasnam festival. At the end, a paen by Manavala MaminunigaL on Tirumangai Azhwar is also recited.
Temple details: The principal deities are Gopalakrishnan with Rukmini and Satyabhama in standing posture facing east. There is no separate goddess sanctum although the goddess is known by two names—Sengamala Nacciyar, and Madavaral Mangai. The temple pond goes by the name Tadamalar Poygai and the crown structure is called VedAmoda Vimanam or Swayambu Vimanam. The sacred tree is Parijata (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis).
There are two worship services daily and the temple is open from 7 to 11 AM and 5 to 8 PM.
The temple is small with a single enclosure around. The special annual festivals occur during Vaikuntha Ekadasi and Krishna Jayanthi. This temple participates in the Garuda Sevai festival along with the ten others in the region.
Legend: It is believed that Krishna killed Narakasura with the assistance of his wife Satyabhama (who is considered the avatar of Bhumidevi and the mother of Narakasura) and restored the prestige and wealth of Indra from whom Narakasura stole them. In gratitude Indra established a huge orchard (kavalam) in this place and honored Krishna. Subsequently he invited Krishna to Indralokam where Satyabhama was attracted by the Parijata flower (night-flowering jasmine, பவழமல்லி). The tree was a perennial and one of a kind. Krishna wanted to get the tree to Dwaraka and asked Indra to give it to him. Indra refused. So Krishna fought with Indra, defeated him and took the tree to Dwaraka (cf. the Pasuram below mentioning this incident). Later he decided to stay in Kavalampadi along with his consorts Rukmini and Satyabhama.
