Lord Guruvayoorappan- My friend at Guruvayoor :)

I hope I haven't committed blasphemy by calling 'Lord Krishna' as my friend. But I truly regard him as my friend, mentor and guide. During my troubled/happy times, I lean on him. I share my happiness and sorrows with him. For some strange reason, I always get the feeling that he understands everything that I share with him because I always sense a smile when I look at the idol and whine away. This blog is dedicated to one of his abodes and my favorite temple in Kerala...Guruvayoor. I am the happiest person when I visit this temple or any temple for that matter. Temples give me peace and I find solace in sharing my innermost views with the Lord. I cannot share those with my immediate family and friends. So Lord Krishna has to suffer through all of my whinings and talks related to me and life in general. Oh well..am sure he suffers through much more than just my musings. So here's my humble article on his heavenly abode on earth. I have researched through some sites to get the stories.

Location-My Guruvayoor temple is located about 29 km from Thrissur, Kerala. The nearest railway station is at Guruvayur.The nearest airport (75 km) is Cochin International Airport, at Nedumbassery near Kochi. Guruvayur is well connected from all major towns of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

History of Guruvayoor Temple is said to date back to Dwaparayuga when krishna is supposed to have told his foremost disciple Udhava to reinstall the idol of Lord Vishnu which he had installed at Dwaraka. The place was to be chosen by Guru Brihaspathi. Krishna promised Udhava that a true devotee can feel his presence in the idol. Collecting the idol from the submerged Dwaraka Brahaspathi and Vayu travelled all over India and with the help of Parasuram located a lake full of lotus flowers in Kerala. The lake was the abode of Lord Siva and Parvathi who then moved to Mammiyoor for making place for Vishnu. As Guru and Vayu together installed and founded the temple, the place came to be known as Guruvayupuram. And the deity is now known as Guruvayoorappan.The lord is supposed to have chosen the image of little Krishna (Unnikrishna) at the temple of Guruvayoor. Viśvákarma, the divine architect of the demi-gods built the temple. He made it in such a way that on the day of Vishu (summer equinox) the first rays of the sun fall straight on to Vishnu's feetNear past history is as follows. The temple was renovated by a Pandya king somewhere around 500 years ago. In 1970, in a fire accident, almost all the temple except the Shreekovil was destroyed and the temple was reinstated in its shape in 1971.

 

Mammiyur Temple

Mammiyur-A pilgrimage to Guruvayur is said to be complete only with a worship of "Mammiyur Siva" also. The ancient Mammiyur Temple is situated at a walkable distance of 200 metres north west to the famous Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple. The main deity is Lord Shiva in the form of Uma Maheswara. Lord Vishnu is also given equal importance in a sanctum sanctorum near to that of Lord Shiva. This is the only Temple where Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are worshipped in equal status in poojas, rituals, thanthripooja, Rigveda dhara, murajapa, festival processions and in all respects. The upadevas are Sree Parvathy, Vigneswara, Subrahmanian, Ayyappa, Brahmmarakshassu, Bhagavathy, Naga and Rakshassu. This is a prominent Temple among the 108 Shivalayas consecrated and regulated by Lord Parasurama, the mythical founder of Kerala.

  

Rituals at Guruvayoor- Nata Thurakkal (Opening) is at morning 3 o'clock for the Nirmalyadarshan. Devotees hear  the melodious strains of the Nadaswaram and the devoted chanting of 'Narayana throughout during the dawn hours.The lord is still adorned with the flowers and garland of previous day. He is then bathed and dressed to represent Balagopala or Krishna as a child. The important 'Ucha Pooja' takes place at midday. During the Diparadhana pooja, the elaborately bedecked idol glows in the warm lamps of the temple lamps. Utsavam (festival) is for 10 days in February or March with elephant race, processions and several rituals. Astami Rohini is around August or September and Vishukani Festival is celebrated in April.

The Temple Pond at Guruvayoor-A devotee can enter the Temple through the eastern gopura, or western gopura. It is ideal that the darshan is made after a dip in the Temple pond (Rudratheertha) and in wet clothes.God Siva (Rudra) performed a tapasya and worshipped god Vishnu for years under the sacred tank located on the northern side of the present day Guruvayur Temple and hence this tank got the name of "Rudra-tirtham". It is said that in the ancient days, the pond extended up to Mammiyur and Thamarayur (about 3 km away from the Temple) and was known for its ever blooming magical lotus flowers

Some rules that need to be followed- Devotees are not allowed to enter the Temple, wearing shirt, baniyan, pants, pyjama, lungi, printed dhoti, chudidar, chappals etc. These can be kept at the, Devaswom cloak rooms, free of cost. There are facilities for the, same at the east nada and west nada. Camera, Video Camera, Tape recorder, radio etc should not be taken into the Chuttambalam. The devotees are not allowed to stand on the big 'balikallu` inside the Temple, for the darshan. The newly married couples are not allowed inside the nalambalam, soon after the marriage ceremony. Devotees should be careful not to spit or vomit inside the Temple. Those found dirtying the Temple will have to pay for the 'Punyaha' (purification ceremony). So, small children should not be allowed inside the 'nalambalam' for a long time.

Guruvayoor is known as “Bhuloka Vaikunta” or the abode of Vishnu on earth.

"Through selfless work, love of God grows in the heart.
Then, through His grace, one realizes Him in course of time.
God can be seen. One can talk to Him as I am talking to you."

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa