The Mukhathala Muraari temple holds a unique position in the cultural history of Travancore. This famous Sreekrishnaswamy temple had a prominent position under the rule of Desinganadu King. The temple is situated on the Kollam – Kannanalloor road, nearly eight kilometers from the city in the Thrikkovilvattom village. The Elampalloor Devi Temple, where Veluthambi Dalava made the historical   Kundara declaration is nearby. An important area in Kollam, the village is rich in agricultural products like cashew nuts, coconuts, tapioca, pepper, arecanut and vegetables. This area is well fed by the South western and north eastern monsoons. Mura-hari is Lord Vishnu more after the slaying of Muraasuran. The surrounding area came to be known as Mukhathala as it was the place where the ‘Mukham’ (face) and the ‘Thala’ (head) of the Asura fell. The area can boast of an illustrious ancestry by the presence of temples like Olayilkavu, Udayankavu, Kottavydehikavu, Kandolilkavu, Vaamanankavu (Kavu is a grove of trees connected with a temple of great ancestry) and of families like Thekkadath, Vadakkadath, Chittilakkad and Perumbraavil. The structure of the temple depicts the ancient architectural style of Kerala. It has got all that makes it a Mahaakshetram (Great Temple). The huge outer wall has four gates opening to the four sides and the eastern one is used for entering the temple. The Aanapanthal, (the place where the caparisoned elephant stands bearing the idol of the Lord,) the granite pathway for circumambulating the temple, the copper covered flag pole, the Balikkalpura which is unique as it never gets too hot or cold because of its structural nature, the Vilakkumaadam where the lamps are fixed all around the temple, the Mandapam or the platform in front of the sanctum- all these make it a special place of worship. The flag pole in the temple is built strictly according to the architectural norms for temple structures. The length of the pole is eleven times the length of the door of the sanctum sanctorum. One part of the pole is under the ground and the other ten parts stand perpendicular to the ground. The flag pole is likened to the back bone of the deity. The Paras (drum shaped copper structures that cover the pole), the belts holding them, the Padma Peedam (Lotus shaped seat) and the idol of Garuda, the vehicle of Murari on the top makes it a perfect flag post. On the ground, the base consists of different parts like Paadukam, Jagathi, Kumudam, Kumudappadi, Galam, Utharam, Valaru, Kapotham, Vedika and Padmam. It is made up of the Pancha Varga, the five elements of nature with the Ashtadikpaalakaas (the eight keepers of the eight directions) mounted on it. The strength of the deity here is believed to be stronger than in other temples as there are no Upadevataas (subsidiary deities) enshrined here. There is only a Yakshi Amma on the northern side near the well. The temple follows the system of five pujas (Usha Puja early in the morning, Ethrithu Puja after that, Pantheeradi Puja by about 8 O’ clock, Ucha Puja by 11.30, and Athazha puja before the temple closes in the night) and a Navakam held before the puja at noon, every day. Ganapathy Havanam and Bhagavathi seva are held in the Thidappally (temple kitchen) every day. On the day of Uthirolsavam the deity is taken to Olayilkavu temple of Lord Sastha. The famous Thiruvabharana Ghoshayathra is conducted on the Pooram Day and this is the longest procession next only to Sabarimala in the state. This gold ornament of the Lord contains 1136 thola (weight of a silver rupee) and started from Anandavalleeswaram Temple and takes about 12 hours to reach the temple. The main festival in the temple starts on the day of star Atham in the month of Medam and ends on the day of star Thiruvonam.  Ulsava Balidarsan is on the 5th and 7th day of the festival. The Mula Puja (sprouting seeds at the beginning of the annual festival) is held in the northern part of the temple. The Kalasa Puja with 25 Kalasam (small pot used for keeping the holy water for anointing the idol as a part of purification) after Aaraattu (immersion ceremony of the deity in the temple pond or a river at the culmination of the annual festival) is held in the Mandapam in front of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The 12-day Kalabham (anointing the Lord with sandalwood paste) from the Sivarathri day in the month of Kumbham was started by Aayilyam Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore. Today the number of Kalabhams offered by the devotees is so much that it goes on for many days and is culminated just before the annual festival. Saraswathy Puja and Vidyaarambham during Navaraathri (Nine days of worshipping the goddess) are held in the Navarathri Mandapam of the temple. Other important celebrations include Paalpaayasa Pongala (devotees making and offering the preparation with rice, milk and sugar), on the day of Ashtami Rohini, the birth day of Lord Krishna. Nira Puthari (bringing the freshly harvested rice kernels to the temple and making an offering made with the fresh rice), Kalamezuthum Paattum ( Depicting the picture of the deity using natural colour powders and worshipping there with devotional songs),  Aiswarya Puja held on the first Sunday of every month under the leadership of Jyothishthanthrik Prof. V.R.Namboothiri, Ramayana Paarayanam in the month of Karkidakom and Bhaagavatham recital culminating with the recital of Harinaama Keerthanam and performances of temple arts like  Kathakali,Ckaakyaar Koothu, Naagaswara Melam ,Panchavaadyam and Saupaanathu Pattu. The Tharanalloor Namboothiris were the original Thanthries here and now this duty is performed by the Kollur Athiyara Madhom Namboothiris who belong to the ‘Ettara Yogam’ (8 Namboothiri families and the Karnatha Kurup who have the responsibility for the religious rituals of the famous Padmanabha Swamy temple) The administration and renovation work of this ancient temple is managed by a group including a 13 member executive committee as well as  various sub committees and nominees of different communities and cultural organizations. According to archaeologists the renovated temple itself is believed to be over three thousand years old.