guruvayur temple...
Guruvayur Temple
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The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple (Malayalam: ഗുരുവായൂര് ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണ ക്ഷേത്രം) is one of the most important and sacred pilgrim centres of Kerala. It is located in Guruvayur town of Thrissur district in Kerala ,India and is easily accessible by road and rail. The presiding deity is MahaVishnu, in the standing posture with four hands which carry a Sankhu(conch), Sudarshana chakram (a serrated disk),lotus and mace. He is worshipped as Balakrishna, the full avatar (Purnaavatara) of Mahavishnu[1] . The idol is made of a rare stone known as Patala Anjana.
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[edit] History
The Guruvayur temple was known as "Bhooloka Vaikunta" and is believed to be at least 5,000 years old[2].The main idol is believed to have been installed by Brihaspati and Vayu, and to have been blessed by Shiva and Parvati. The temple is believed to be built by Vishwakarma, the divine architect. Over the years, Guruvayur has increased in popularity, especially after the 16th century when it became one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in Kerala.
[edit] Early History
The earliest reference for Guruvayur is found in a fourteenth century Tamil work 'Kokasandesam', in which it is described as Kuruvayur.
Many references about Guruvayoor can be seen in many works dated as early as 16th century . But it was Melpathur's Narayaneeyam that made the Temple famous.
[edit] Fire
On November 30,1970, a fiery blaze broke out in the temple complex. It began from the Western Chuttambalamand raged for five hours, burning everything in its path except the sanctified Sreekovil. The Vigraha (murti), shrines of Ganapathy, Sastha, Bhagavathy and the flag staff remained miraculously untouched. People from all walks of life, irrespective of age, caste, creed and religion fought the fire.
This shocking incidence of fire took place during the season of Ekadasivilakku. On this day Vilakku was celebrated on a grand scale and all the lamps in the Vilakkumatam were lit. After the Seeveli procession had concluded, the function came to an end and the gates of Gopuram were closed. Around 1.00 am, somebody in the immediate neighbourhood near the western chuttambalam saw a blaze from within the temple. Roused by the news, masses of people rushed to the temple and joined in fighting the fire with water and sand. Later, the fire force units of Ponnani, Trichur and FACT arrived and started fighting the fire. It was brought under control by 5.30 am.
Seeing the uncontrollable fire , the authorities had already removed the valuables from the Sreekovil. The Ganapathy murti, Sastha murti and the main murti of Lord Guruvayurappan were shifted to the Koothambalam and then to a more safer place, the residence of the Tantri. The fire ravaged the whole of Chuttambalam, the entire Vilakkumatam on the west, south and north sides. The Chuttambalam was only 3 yards from the holy Sreekovil, however the fire did not even light a spark on the dry garlands at the Sreekovil.
[edit] Renovation
After the fire, extensive renovation work was undertaken. Eminent astrologers of Kerala were requested to attend the meeting and decide what the Lord desired. Except for the widening of the gates at the North and East entrance, every other proposal put forth by the committee was approved by Lord Guruvayoorapan(as interpreted by the astrologers). The foundation stone for the renovation was laid by His Holiness Jagatguru Kanchi Kamakoti Matadhipathy Jayendra Saraswathy Swamikal. The ten round pillars in the two Vathilmatam were magnificently carved. The eastern pillar on the southern Vathilmatam, at the foot of which Melpathur meditated and wrote the Narayaneeyam was not removed. After the great fire, the Vilakkumatam, for the first time, was lighted on Vishu day,14th April, 1973.
[edit] Legends
Sri Narada purana mentions Guruvayurpura mahatmyan and describes how Janamejaya was cured of leprosy by taking refuge under the feet of Guruvayuruppa. The Pandavas handed over the kingdom to their grandson Parikshit, and left for the forest to spend their last days. Parikshit died of the curse of a saint, who cursed that Parikshit will die of snake bite by Taksaka, the king of serpents. After the death of Parikshit he was succeeded by his son Janamejaya. Janamejaya conducted a sacrifice to destroy all the snakes of the world including Takshaka, who was the cause of his father's death . Hundreds of thousands of snakes fell into the sacrificial fire and were killed, but the sacrifice was stopped before Takshaka was killed, by a Brahmin called Astika.
Since Janamejaya was responsible for the death of millions of snakes, he was afflicted with leprosy. He lost all hope of a cure. One day Sage Atreya (son of Atri) came before Janamejaya and told him to take refuge under the feet of Krishna at Guruvayoor. Atreya told that in the temple at Guruvayyoor the effulgence of Sri Hari is at its best and Vishnu showers his blessings on all devotees. Hearing this, Janamejaya wanted to know the full details of the Sthala purana and the greatness of the temple.
[edit] Sthala Purana
Bhagwan Vishnu himself worshipped the idol (made out of Pathala Anjanam)at Guruvayur . Vishnu gave the idol to Brahma . Prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni did penance to Brahma, and pleased with their devotion Brahma gave them this idol. Sutapa and his wife Prsni worshipped the idol with such devotion that Mahavishnu Himself appeared before them for granting them a boon. In their over enthusiasm they asked thrice "We need a son equivalent to you" . Mahavishnu told them that He Himself will be born as their son in three different janmas (birth) and in all the three janmas you will get the vigraha given to you by Brahma .
In the first janma in Satya Yuga, Mahavishnu was born as Prsnigarbha, as son of Sutapa and Prsni. Psrigarba instructed the world the importance of Brahmacharya to the world.
In the second janma, Sutapa and his wife Prsni were born as Kashayap and Aditi and Mahavishnu was born as Vamana, their son in Treta Yuga.
In Dwapar Yuga, Krishna was born as son of Vasudeva and Devaki .
In Dwapar Yuga the idol was given to them by Daumya for worship. Sri Krishna established a big temple at Dwaraka and installed this idol. At the time of swargaarohana Krishna instructed his devotee Udhava to install the idol at a sacred place with the help of Brihaspathi, the guru of the Devas and Vayu, the wind God. They (Guru and Vayu) took the idol and came down to a place down south and installed it. This is why the place got its name Guruvayu, where ur means place. It is also said that Shiva and his Wife Parvati were present at the auspicious moment and because there was a lack of space in the temple premises, Shiva moved a little further away, and gives his blessings from Mammiyoor Temple, which is a ten minute walk from the Guruvayoor Temple. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayur is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as the ritual goes. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple premises. The temple tank is known as Rudra thirtham
[edit] Temple Architecture
The temple is built conforming to the typical Kerala temple architecture style . Vishwakarma, the divine architect built the first temple here. He built the temple in such a manner that Surya(Sun) himself pays obeisance to Vishnu on Vishu day. On the day of Vishu , the first rays of the sun fall directly at the feet of Vishnu.
The main entrance to the temple is through the eastern side. There is also an entrance from western side. The idol is visible from the main entrance itself.
[edit] Famous Devotees
- Melputhoor Narayana Bhattathiripad
- Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar
- Poonthanam
- Manjula
- Villwamangalam
- Kururamma
- Manavedan
- Kudallur Kunjhikkavu Namboodiri
[edit] See also
- Guruvayur Satyagraha
- Guruvayoorappa
- Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple
- Guruvayur Keshavan famous temple elephant
- Mammiyoor Temple
- Mammiyoor
- Punnathur kotta
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- Official site of Guruvayur Devasom
- Web Abode of Guruvayoorappan
- Satelitte image of the Temple
- Guruvayoor temple
- Guruvayoor Temple from the book: Temples and Legends of Kerala
- Read Useful Details abour Sri Guruvayoor Temple
 Entrance of Guruvayur temple |  Entrance of Guruvayur temple |  Shops in front of Guruvayur temple |  Entrance to Guruvayur temple |
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| Tirumala · Srirangam · Badrinath · Kanchipuram · Guruvayur · Puri · Thiruvananthapuram · Udipi · Srivilliputhur · Swamithope · Tiruvallikeni |  |
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