My Recent Experiences in Guruvayoor Temple

June 26, 2006

Hare Krishna, (Background : Last year a chain of legal complications on my properties virtually went out of control dragging me towards bankruptcy . And I could only take refuge at the lotus feet of the Lord of Guruvayoor ( Sri Krishna). The merciful Bhagavan innovatively brought those issues to a successful conclusion . As a

humble thanksgiving , I booked a Krishnanattam ( * See the details given below) . My pilgrimage to Guruvayoor was to offer this Krishnanattam ( story : Banayudh) on it’s specified day . ) * KRISHNANATTAM - Krishnanattam is presented as a routine offering to the Lord. Devotees offer this and it is

staged inside the temple between 10.00 pm and 3.00 am. ( Saint Vilwamangalam could have visions of the Lord, independent of the Deity . Once in Guruvayoor he failed to have the Lord's vision in

the central shrine. It was night time and the Krishnanattam was being staged in the courtyard. The Saint ultimately found Bhagavan on the stage . Since then, Krishnanattam came to be staged in the northern bahyankana (outer courtyard) instead of the eastern bahyankana. And it begins only when the central shrine is closed after the last puja at night. (This is because Bhagavan Krishna will be on the stage when Krishnanattam is performed ). The various benefits of Krishnanattam as an offering are listed here. Avatharam for a birth of a child Kaliyamardhanam to remove the effect of poison Rasakreeda well being of unmarried girls, to end disputes between couples Kamsavaddham to remove enemies Swayamvaram for a happy matrimony Bana yuddham to remove impoverishment, for good farm production Vividha vadham to eliminate

poverty and increase yield from farms Swargarohanam for peace of a departed soul My Pilgrimage I was reading Narayaneeyam during part of the journey . Also, I chanted Hare Krishna mantra as much as possible . Reaching Guruvayooor at 5 PM, I boarded a hotel near the temple and fter a bath , proceeded to the temple . The Devaswam authorities confirmed my booking and said that Krishnanattam will be performed from 10 PM . Then I joined the long queue for darshan .

I was chanting Hare Krishna mantra all the while knowing that the entire temple premises is the physical body of Bhagavan Krishna and He is not constrained to the Sanctum sanctorium only . Suddenly I could see , a group of Vaishnavas , chanting Hare Krishna mahamantra beautifully and dancing to it . I joined them to enjoy the nectar of Hari-namasankirtana . Ecstatic tears were running down my cheeks . Because of the large number of devotees around, I was allowed only a very short darshan . I couldn’t even see Bhagavan properly . It was not a disappointment because my past experiences have taught that one has to pass Bhagavan’s test prior to having His darshan . After leaving the temple , I had a quick dinner and bath in

my hotel ; and thereafter entered the temple for Krishnanattam . At 10 PM Krishnanattam started . The story (Banayudh) included the following : · Bhagavan Krishna, wife Satyabhama and Garuda enters the stage and blesses the audience . · They get ready for the fight with Narakasura and his army. · Garuda fights with Narakasura’s minister but couldn’t kill him. · Krishna fights with the Asura-minister and kills him using Sudarsana charka. · Being furious at the slaying of his minister, the dreadful Narakasura enters the scene making frightening gestures. · Narakasura fights with Krishna . Bhagavan pretends to be fainted by the Asura’s arrows . Narakarura rejoices at his ‘Great Victory’ . · Garuda fights with Narakasura but could not beat him . · Satyabhama tried to wake up her husband , but failed

to do so . Then the valiant Queen prepares herself for the fight . She takes up her husband’s bow and arrows; and begins to fight with Narakasura. · Krishna stops His “acting” and pretends to wake up. A visibly pleased Bhagavan congratulates first Garuda by patting on his back and then Satyabhama by embracing her lovingly . · Krishna takes up His mighty bow and arrows , fights with Narakasura and after defeating totally kills him using sudarsana charka . · Krishna hears from Narada Muni that his grandson Aniruddha is captured by king Banasura . Bhagavan prepares for a war against Banasura . To help Banasura, Lord

Siva, accompanied by Lord Kartikeya and the army of Ghosts, fight against Krishna . With His arrows Krishna faints Lord Siva ; and Lord Kartikeya is beaten by Pradyumna . Banasura attacks Krishna with numerous weapons in his thousand hands. But Krishna using His Sudarsana chakra cuts off all but four of the Asura's hands . Lord Siva regains consciousness and prays to Krishna to spare Banasura's life ; and Krishna

agrees . Banasura offeres his obeisances to Krishna by falling on His feet . Lord Siva glorifies Bhagavan Krishna calling Him the God of Gods . Krishna also praises Lord Siva. · Two ghost-brothers named Ghantakarnas ( Devas under a curse) happen to see the meditating Krishna . They offer obeisances to Krishna in their crude manner ( taking liberties like touching His body , fondling His hair lovingly , etc). The merciful Krishna tolerates them with a smile ; and finally removes their curse , blesses with knowledge and grants them liberation . · Bhagavan Krishna blesses the audience by showering flowers . This Krishnanattam was one of the greatest experiences in my life . I could really feel Bhagavan Krishna's presence

on the stage ; and His every move really melted my heart . The Krishnanattam finished at 2 AM . I returned to my hotel to freshen up quickly and thereafter proceeded to have a pleasant bath in the temple pond ( Rudratheertham) . Then I joined

the queue of devotees seeking ‘nirmalya’ (pre-dawn) darshan . I was continuously chanting Hare Krishna mantra. In spite of the long queue, I got the opportunity to have a long and blissful darshan at 3.15 AM . I cried with joy at the realization that Bhagavan Krishna is quenching the thirst of my heart by giving darshan to my heart’s content . I returned home chanting Hari-nama and relishing Bhagavan Sri Krishna’s boundless compassion towards His bhaktas . Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!! Sri KrishnaDasa Rajeev

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