Guruvayur Krishna Temple: History And Miraculous Truths About Guruvayurappan

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The south Kerala has always held a mystic appeal to the devotees who are usually swayed by the charm, history and architecture of the temples. One such temple with rich historical antecedents is the Guruvayur temple otherwise known as Dwarka of South which is situated in Thrissur. This temple is a cradle of miracles which has never failed to attract the spiritually inclined devotees.

Legend

Guruvayur temple is dedicated to Bala Krishna and Lord Vishnu. Guruvayur temple has a legendary story about how the idol of Lord Vishnu was installed inside it. Once, Krishna sent his charioteer, Uddhava, to Dwarka, to carefully bring the idol of Vishnu that he was worshipping there. Devguru and Vayu God helped Uddhava to carry it effortlessly and quickly back to Kerala and installed it there. Since then this place has been known as Guruvaryur. The God here is known as the savior who pulls a devotee out of crisis whenever he is called.

The Picturesque Culture

The city's cultural heritage comes alive with its masked characters, painted faces, the music combined with pantomime, especially in the sanksrit drama Krishnanttam which describes Lords life. Have you seen colourful pictures of bands of decorated elephants marching to the drum beats like seasoned soldiers in videos or magazines in a temple setting? It is mostly Guruvayur elephants that you might have seen, but not recognized as such. The elephant parade that is conducted here, draws visitors from foreign shores and Indian states. The Mahouts manipulate the elephants into performing interesting activities. The colourful attire of the elephants and their slow march refuses to fade away from your memory.

Male Asian elephants are captured for this purpose and there is a huge array of such elephants in the Punnathur Kotta sanctuary which is a few kilometers away from the temple and houses at present, 56 elephants, out of which at least a few carry a miraculous story or two behind them. Guruvayur temple was earlier not open to non-Brahmins. But after a satyagrah by local political leaders, it was finally opened for public darshan.

The Glorious Period Begins

Subjected to repeat plundering by The Dutch and also Tipu Sultan, this temple was reconstructed. The temple, when it came under the zamorin of Calicut, the good days began and books were written and published by many devotees who extensively wrote about the miracles here. A Sanskrit skit was also written about the miracles which was enacted here. This temple is extolled as "Bhuloka Vaikuntam".

Certain Unknown Facts About Guruvayurappan

1. Krishna's idol resembles the form of Vishnu, with four hands in which he holds lotus with a Conch, Chakra, Gada, and Tulsi garland in his hands. He is known as Unnikrishnan, Balakrishnan and Kannan here.
2. The temple is believed to be an over 5000 years old construction
3. There is a pillar of diyas which when lit looks eye catching and grand.
4. Marriage and Mundan regularly are performed here.
5. 'Ottupura' or dining hall is open to all sects and creeds and dress code is far more relaxed than earlier. Anyone can walk in in pants shirt and slippers and shoes. Dress code is only to be followed at the temple. Men wear Mundu and women wear saris, long skirts and blouses and salwar kameezes. Food is distributed freely morning and evening.
6. Non Hindus are not allowed here and they are strict rules set for this.
7. Harijans who were earlier banned from entering the temple premises, officially from 1 January 1934 onwards, they were welcomed into the temple premises at any point in time.
8. Opening hours are between 3 am and 1 pm. In the evening, it is between 4.30 and 10 in the night. The priest does not eat or drink anything from the time of entering the temple, up to noontime and conduct 5 pujas daily.
9. Temple priests are called Tantris and they are strictly from the Namboodari community.
10. There are two amazing literary works that two devotees have written about Guruvayurappan. One is Narayaniyam and the other is Jnanappana. The Narayaneeyam is known to work as a miraculous cure for so many ills of life. People outside Kerala also recite it for fulfillment of speicifc desires.
11. Shivali, the festival of elephants, includes a procession of deities which the elephants carry on their back.
12. Kathakali and other dances are performed during the annual festival.

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