Guruvayur Guruvayurappan Temple, Kerala

Address

Guruvayur Guruvayurappan Temple, Guruvayur Devaswom, Guruvayur, Thirssur Kerala- 680101. Phone: +91-487-255 6335, 255 6799, 255 6347, 255 6365

Deity

Unni Krishnan

Introduction:

• Location: Guruvayur, Kerala, India
• Dedicated To: Lord Guruvayurappan, a four-armed form of Lord Vishnu (in his avatar as Krishna)
• Administration: Managed by the Guruvayur Devaswom
• Significance: Referred to as “Bhuloka Vaikunta” (the Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth), it is one of the most prominent temples in Kerala.
• Presiding Deity:
  • Guruvayurappan: A four-armed standing form of Lord Vishnu, carrying the conch (Panchajanya), discus (Sudarshana Chakra), mace (Kaumodaki), and a lotus with a holy basil garland.
  • The image reflects the divine form revealed to Krishna’s parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, at the time of his birth.

Puranic Significance:

• Legend of Establishment:
  • The temple is believed to have been established by Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter) and Vayu Bhagwan (Wind God) after the fall of Dwaraka, when the idol of Lord Krishna was retrieved from the sea by Vayu and installed by Guru at Guruvayur.
  • The deity, Unnikrishnan (Child Krishna), is made from a special material called Padala Anjanam, not stone or metal.
• Legend of the Idol:
  • The idol is said to have been crafted by Lord Krishna himself, gifted to his devotee Uthava, and saved by Guru and Vayu during the destruction of Dwaraka.

Beliefs:

• Devotional Practices:
  • Parents often come to pray for the well-being of their children, seeking good health, happy married lives, and cures from ailments like leprosy.
  • Thulabaram: A unique offering where devotees donate items equal to their weight to fulfill vows.
  • Anna Prasanam: A ritual where the first rice feeding (Choru Oottal) for babies is performed at the temple. It is believed that the child will be blessed with nutritious food for life.

Special Features:

• Vaishnava Festivals:
  • The Vrishchika Ekadasi festival is a major celebration, starting 18 days before the Ekadasi day.
  • The temple owns 52 elephants, and a special elephant race is held to determine which elephant will carry the deity during festivals.
• Nirmalya Puja:
  • The temple opens at 3:00 a.m., and the first puja, known as Nirmalya Puja, is performed with the flowers and garlands from the previous day.
• Kai Neettam:
  • On Chithirai Vishu (Tamil New Year), the Melshanthi (chief priest) offers coins to devotees, a symbolic blessing believed to ensure prosperity throughout the year.

Festivals:

• Chithirai Vishu: Celebrated on Tamil New Year Day (April 14)
• Vrishchika Ekadasi: One of the most significant Vaishnava festivals celebrated at the temple.

Century/Period/Age

1000- Years old

Managed By

Malabar Devaswom Board.

Nearest Bus Station

Guruvayur

Nearest Railway Station

Guruvayur

Nearest Airport

Kochi

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