Sri Navaneethakrishnan Temple
Greatness of the Temple:
Lord Navaneethakrishna graces devotees with a smiling face and butter in both hands. Mother Mahalakshi is occupying the right chest of the Lord. The procession deity is also there. Special pujas are performed for Lord Krishna on Rohini Star Day each month. There are shrines for Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. Anajaneya appears with folded hands, worshipping the Lord. Gokhulashtami's birth day is grandly celebrated. The next day, devotees recite the Bagwat Gita.
Salagrama Stones:
The shrines for Lord Srinivasa Perumal and Alarmelmangai Thayar are behind the sanctum sanctorum. The rays of the sun fall on Lord Srinivasa continuously during the months of Masi, Panguni, and Chithirai (from February–March to April–May). With Pujas to Sri Krishna, 27 star lamps (deepas) and 108 lamps are lit in the shrine.
There are Salagrama stones in the temple from the Kandagi River in Nepal. Abishek is performed on these holy stones every day with milk. Those lucky to have this Abishek darshan have their place reserved in Heaven-Vaikunda, it is believed.
Mahaganapathy, found during the construction of the temple, is installed in the front hall. Anjaneya and Garuda are on the left and right sides of the shrine, respectively.
The guardian deity of Madurai is also in the temple in the shape of a whip. There are also sickles and clubs in this Guardian Deity Karuppuswami shrine. Generally, Navagrahas are not seen in Vaishnava temples. Yet, as Lord Krishna danced on the heads of Kalinga the snake, Rahu-dragon’s tail and Kethu-dragon’s head are installed here, and those facing adverse effects of these planets worship here for relief. They also perform turmeric abishek at the Nagar-snake shrine in the temple.
Temple History:
Navaneetham in Sanskrit means butter. We know water mixes with milk. Similarly, all beings born on earth by the grace of God, humans in particular, believe that this world belongs to them and are attached to the worldly life, which has many ups and downs, joy and suffering. They are more attached to the material world than to God. Navaneetham's butter, though it comes from the milk, does not mingle with it again. It indicates a lesson that, though we are born on earth, we should follow a life with detachment from worldly desires. Lord Kirshna, holding the butter in his hands, calls the beings to be attached to him as the Gopikas in the Brindavan were with him. He graced those with salvation who were ever praying and thinking of Him. It is also noteworthy that Lord Krishna, Navaneethakrishna, graced even those who were waging war against him, such as Kamsa, Sisubala, Duryodhana, Karna, and others, by force. They met their end with His hands and, therefore, reached heaven. He is praised as Karunamurthy, the God of love and grace.