Guruvayur Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Guruvayurappan (four-armed form of the Vishnu), located in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala, India. It is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus across the world and is often referred to as Bhuloka Vaikunta (Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth). The temple is classified among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams of Vaishnavate tradition. (108 Abhimana Kshetrams are apart from 108 Divya Desams). Guruvayur is known as the Dwaraka of the South.
Legend
Legend has it that this temple was established by Guru (Bruhaspathi), the teacher of the gods, and Vayu, the wind god, and dedicated to Guruvayurappan, a divine form of Lord Krishna.
According to legend (Mahabharat), the king Janamejaya conducted a sacrifice to destroy all the snakes of the world including Takshaka, who was the cause of his father Parikshit‘s death. Hundreds of thousands of snakes fell into the sacrificial fire and were killed, but the sacrifice was stopped by a Brahmin called Astika, before Takshaka was killed.
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 Guruvayur. Atreya told him that in the temple at Guruvayur the effulgence of Hari is at its best and Vishnu showers his blessings on all devotees. The King immediately rushed there and spent the next ten months worshipping the god of Guruvayur. At the end of ten months, he returned home healthy and took the astrologer to task for making a false prediction about his death. The astrologer told him that he would find the mark of a snakebite on his left leg. He had escaped death only because he was at that time in a temple where Ananta (the king of serpents) was present and Ananta was the brother to the deity at Guruvayur where he had finished worshipping. The king then decided to build a full-fledged temple at Guruvayur.
History
The temple has been a significant site of devotion for centuries, and its current central shrine was rebuilt in 1638 CE. With its intricate carvings, towering gopurams (entrance towers), and the enchanting Deepastambam (pillars of light), Guruvayur Temple reflects Kerala’s enduring legacy of artistry and spirituality.
In the 14th century, the Tamil literature “Kokasandesam” refers to a place named “Kuruvayur” and in the 16th century (fifty years after Narayaniyam was composed) there are also multiple references to Kuruvayur. In Old Tamil, “kuruvai” means “sea”, hence the village on the Malabar Coast may be called Kuruvayur.
The earliest temple records date back to the 17th century. The earliest mention of the many important Vishnu temples of Kerala are found in the songs of Alvars (the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and service). Alwars ‘time-line is estimated to range between 5th Century to 9th Century. However, by the end of 16th century, Guruvayur had become the most popular pilgrimage centre in Kerala.
In 1716, the Dutch raided Guruvayur. They looted treasures and set fire to the Western Gopuram (later rebuilt in 1747). In 1755, the Dutch destroyed the Trikkunavay temple and the Brahmins fled from there.
In 1766, Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikkode (Calicut) and then Guruvayur. He demanded 10,000 fanams in ransom to spare the temple. The ransom was paid but due to insecurity pilgrims receded. On the request of the Malabar Governor, Shrnivasa Rao, Hyder Ali granted a Devadaya to save the temple. Later, in 1789 CE, Tipu Sultan invaded the province. Tipu destroyed the smaller shrines and set fire to the Temple, but it was saved due to timely rain. Tipu lost to the Travancore and the English in 1792. The idol, which had been hidden underground in anticipation of the Tippu’s takeover, was re-installed on 17 September 1792.
Ullanat Panikkars rescued and looked after the temple from 1825 to 1900. From 1859 to 1892, the Chuttambalam, the Vilakkumatam, the Koottambalam and Sasta shrine were renovated and roofed with copper sheeting. In 1900, the administrator Konti Menon fixed the hours of worship and led the drive to keep the temple premises clean. He set up the big bell and reconstructed Pathayappura (granary). In 1928, Kozhikode once again became the administrator of Guruvayur. In 1971, the Kerala government took over the temple’s administration. The current governance structure was established under the amended Guruvayur Devaswom Act of 1978.
New Garuda Sculpture at Guruvayur Temple
In recent news, November 2024 the Guruvayur Temple has unveiled a new Garuda sculpture in front of the temple, further enhancing the temple’s spiritual appeal. This sculpture represents the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, Garuda, and symbolizes the strength and devotion of Lord Vishnu’s followers.
Temple deities
The central icon is a four-armed standing Vishnu carrying the conch Panchajanya, the discus Sudarshana, the mace Kaumodaki, and a lotus with a tulasi garland. This image represents the form of Vishnu as revealed to Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki around the time of his birth. Temple rituals were performed according to routines laid down by Adi Shankara and later written formally in the Tantric way, the inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, by Chennas Ravinarayanan Nambudiri (1427-1527), whose descendants are the hereditary tantris (high priests) of the Guruvayur Temple. The idol of Guruvayoorappan is highly revered for its spiritual powers and is considered to grant blessings to devotees who visit with pure intentions. The deity of Lord Krishna at Guruvayur stands all by itself in the central shrine, unaccompanied by any of His consorts as is the case with some other Vaishnava temples.
The temple’s sub-deities are Ganapathi, Ayyappan, and Bhagavathi (Who is given more importance), and there are two sub-temples, one for Ganapati and the other for Nagadevathas (Snake deities) nearby the temple.
The Guruvayurappan Idol: A Symbol of Divine Power
The Guruvayurappan idol is made of a special type of stone known as “Krishna Shila”, which is unique to the Guruvayur Temple. This stone is believed to possess immense spiritual energy, and it is said that the idol of Guruvayurappan has been carved out of this stone by divine intervention.
According to Prof. K V Krishna Iyer (eminent historian) Guruvayur must have come into existence before 52 AD. The Brahmins had begun to come and settle at Kodungalloor during the period of Chandra Gupta Maurya (321-297 BC). Trikkunavay in the Guruvayur documents is the same as Thrikkanamathilakam or Mathilakam mentioned in the Dutch and British records. And this place was in between Guruvayur and Kodungalloor. Guruvayur was Trikkunavay’s subordinate shrine since they were destroyed by the Dutch in 1755.
Temple Architecture
The temple is built in a typical Kerala temple architecture. On the Vishu day (Lunar new year) the first rays of 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. The temple is faced towards the East with two Gopurams, one at East (Kizhakkenada) and other at West (Padinjarenada). The entire area between these Gopurams is roofed with tiles and known as Anapanthal. At the centre of this is a square shaped pillared hall called Nalambalam, the outer wall of which is fixed with a gallery of oil lamps. At the south side of the Nalambalam, there is a sub shrine of Sasta or Lord Ayyappan.
At the north-east side of this shrine is the Koothambalam, where, in olden times, dance performances were held. In the front and the east side of Nalambalam, the Belikkal and Deepastambas – Pillar of lights are located. There are a number of such light pillars in the temple. The eastern side Deepastambam is 24 feet in height and has thirteen circular receptacles to hold the wicks. Of the other two at West Gopuram, one is in the shape of a tree. Dwijasthamba – It is a flag-staff, around 70 feet height, fully covered with gold.
The square shaped Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity. The Sree Kovil has two stairs and three rooms inside. The inner most room is known as Garbhagriha (The idol of Lord Krishna is placed here). Here, the two doors and the roof are covered by Gold. All the articles inside the Garbhagriha are in Gold.
The outer room is called Mukhamandapam. The wall of Sree Kovil is decorated with ancient (17th century) murals. In front of the Sree Kovil is the Namaskara Mandapam, square in shape and with a pyramidal roof. In the north-eastern side of the Sree Kovil is the temple well called Manikinar. In the North side of the temple, a sub shrine of Devi, ‘Edathirithi Kavu’ (Bhagawathi) is situated.
Sacred well
There is a deep well in the temple. The water in the well is maintained at the same level throughout the year. This water is used for the daily poojas and abhishekam inside Sreekovil.
Gopurams
There are two storied Gopurams at the eastern and western entrances which house some of the rare frescos of the 16th century. These mural paintings are distinct from those found in other temples in their theme and style. Some of the paintings were damaged in the course of time and due to the fire in 1970, and were then repainted.
Vilakkumatam
The massive array of metal lamps round the Sreekovil on the outer walls of the Nalambalam. Around 8000 brass metal lamps fixed on the wooden trellis, around the temple are lighted on the festival and special days or by an offering.
The temple tank (pond) on the northern side of the temple is called Rudratheertham. According to legend, for thousands of years, Lord Shiva used to bathe on the southern bank of this pond. Since Shiva is also known by the name ‘Rudra’, the pond came to be known as Rudratheertham.
One of the most popular offerings is the Thulabharam, where devotees are weighed against bananas, sugar, jaggery and coconuts equivalent to their weight. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
Festivals
The main festivals of this temple are the 10-day festival in the Malayalam month of Kumbham starting with flag hoisting on Pooyam star (Pushya nakshatra) , Krishna Janmashtami (Birthday of Krishna), Ekadasi (11th day) in the shukla paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Vrischikam, popularly called as the Guruvayur Ekadasi and Vishu on the first day of the month of Medam (April-May), once a harvest festival.
A highlight of the Ekadasi is the memorial honour for Gajarajan Keshavan. Gajarajan Guruvayur Keshavan (c.1912—2 December 1976) was a temple elephant donated to the Guruvayur temple by the royal family of Nilambur on 4 January 1922. Standing over 3.28 meters tall, he was one of the tallest elephants that lived in Kerala and was known for his devout behavior. As Keshavan’s name and fame increased, the Devaswom board gave him the unique title Gajarajan (King of elephants) in 1973. Keshavan died on 2 December 1976, which happened to be Guruvayur Ekadasi, considered a very auspicious day. The anniversary of his death is still mourned in Guruvayur.
The Karanavar or head of the elephant family places a wreath at the statue of Keshavan in front of Sreevalsam guest house and all the other elephants stand around and pay obeisance. On Ekadasi day, the Udayasthamana Pooja (continuous pooja) is conducted by the Devaswom itself. After the morning seeveli (ritual), on Ekadasi there is a grant elephant procession to the Parthasarathi temple since it is regarded as Geethopadesam Day also. On Ekadasi after night pooja the famous Ekadasi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place and provides a fitting finale to the festival.
As a part of the Ekadasi fete, an 11-day Chembai music festival is organized, in which the renowned musicians of South India participate in this festival. Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual Carnatic music festival held in Guruvayur by the Guruvayur Devaswom (similar to the Thyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru) in memory of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, a Carnatic classical musician and a devotee of Guruvayurappan. Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar had conducted the festival in the temple town on his own for about 60 years. The Guruvayur Devaswom took over the festival after his death in 1974, renaming it Chembai Sangeetholsavam in his memory.
Udayasthamana Pooja
This is the most popular offering, Udayasthamaya literally means from sunrise to sunset. Hence it implies worship from sunrise to sunset. It consists of 15 special Poojas in addition to all the routine poojas and begins after the morning Seeveli. There is a special feast for the devotees. There is the Vilakku (illumination) in the evening.
Tulabharam
Thulabharam is a very important offering at the world famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. Symbolic meaning of Tulabharam is that the person performing the ritual is offering himself or herself to Lord Guruvayoorappan. A devotee is weighed against a commodity of his choice-banana, sugar, water, gold, etc., permitted inside the temple. Also, non-Hindus can perform this ritual outside.
The temple is well-known for its healing powers and is the site for Annaprasanam, the first rice-giving ceremony of a child.
Elephant Sanctuary
The Guruvayur Temple also finds its fame for its elephant sanctuary. This temple contains approximately 60 elephants, which are very strong components in the rituals and festivals of the temple. They have been taken due care and are often used for processions and festivals. Tourists can see them bathing, feeding, and training them. The sanctuary saves the cultural heritage of Kerala as elephants are believed to be animals of reverence in Hinduism.
krishnanattam: Krishnanattam, a traditional dance-drama, narrates the Krishna Leela through music, vibrant costumes, and expressive gestures. Performed as a divine offering, it embodies devotion and Kerala’s rich culture, captivating devotees at the sacred Guruvayur Temple. Rooted in ancient Kerala art forms, it narrates episodes from the Krishna Leela, depicting the life and exploits of Lord Krishna through mesmerizing music, vibrant costumes, and expressive gestures. Introduced by King Manavedan in the 17th century, this art form is a unique blend of devotion and artistry. Devotees can witness these performances as part of temple rituals.
The Narayaniyam is a medieval-era Sanskrit text, comprising a summary study in poetic form of the Bhagavata Purana, was composed by Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, a celebrated Sanskrit poet of Kerala. Even though the Narayaniyam is believed to be composed as early as 1585 CE,[2] the earliest available manuscripts came only after more than 250 years. The work contains detailed descriptions of Guruvayurappan, and the temple town of Guruvayur. Every year, the 28th of Malayalam month Vrischikam is celebrated as Narayaneeyam Day.
There is a strict dress code for people who wish to enter the Guruvayur Temple. ladies can wear saris and skirts, blouses and churidar while the men can wear plain white or cream dhoti. Children are allowed to wear shorts but without covering their upper body.
How to reach Guruvayur Temple?
Airport: Kochi International Airport is the nearest airport, which is about 80 km from Guruvayur. Calicut International Airport is another nearest airport around 100 km from Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple.
Railways: The Guruvayoor temple is well connected to the Madras-Mangalore main line at Thrissur (29 KMs from Guruvayoor). From Thrissur Railway Station, there are regular bus services to Guruvayoor. There is a Railway Station at Guruvayur (0.5KM from the Guruvayur temple) on the east of the temple which is connected to the Chennai – Mangalore main line at Thrissur where 6 Mail Express trains, 5 Passenger trains have a halt.
Road: Guruvayoor is well connected with other parts of the country by road transport. National Highway 17 (NH 17) passes through Kunnamkulam about 8 km away from Guruvayur. Several state owned and private buses, as well as taxis and other vehicles regularly ply between Trichur and Guruvayoor.
Reference:
