Guruvayurappan-the healer and protector

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Guruvayurappan-the healer and protectorMind is very restless, forceful and strong,O Krishna, it is more difficult to control the mind than to control the wind” Arjuna to Sri KrishnaSrimad Narayaneeyam is a devotional hymn consisting of 1036 verses written in the 16th century by a scholar-devotee=poet by name Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri, as an epitome of Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam. The immediate need for him to write this hymn, was his suffering from his ailment of paralysis, for the alleviation of which, he prayed to the Lord ofGuruvayoor. He wrote one hundred chapters at the rate of one chapter (dasakam--a bunch of 10 verses) per day, sitting in front of the deity. As the story goes, the author, Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri voluntarily transferred onto himself, the ailment of paralysis from

his Guru and relative, Trikandiyur Achuta Pisharoti ritualistically, in order to save him. In the process, he himself became a paralytic. He then got himself carried to the shrine at Guruvayoor where he could take shelter at the feet of Lord Krishna and get divine intervention. As he was continuing to suffer from excruciating pain due to his malady, he sought advice from the celebrated contemporary poet, Thunjath Ezhuthatchan, who suggested that Bhattatiri should “start with the fish”. Bhattatiri, being quick to understand the implication of this suggestion, viz., that he should compose a hymn in praise of Lord Guruvayoorappan giving an account of all His sportive incarnations beginning with the incarnation as fish (Matsya-avatara), he sat at the feet of the Lord and composed this great work, a dasakam a day, with ardent devotion. At the end of the

hundredth day, when he had completed all the one hundred dasakams, it is said that he had a glorious vision of the Lord and he was completely cured of his ailment. Bhattatiri composed Narayaneeyam when he was twenty-seven, completing it on November 27, 1587. It is said that on the hundredth day, when he completed writing the hymn, he had the coveted vision of the Lord and he also got cured of his ailment. Devotees believe that this hymn to Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of Guruvayoor is a panacea for all ailments, arthritic parqlysis in particular, and chant the hymn with all earnestness, sincerity and devotion. They comeall the way to Guruvayoor, offer worship and get cured. The expression “Hantha! Bhagyam Jananaam!”, comprising the last words of the opening sloka of this great work, Srimad Narayaneeyam, has become the

watch-word of Guruvayoor, because devotees of Guruvayoorappan believe that Narayaneeyam, known as the “Gospel of Guruvayoor” is identical with the Lord. They consider themselves extremely fortunate and blessed even to have been able to have a Darsanam of the Lord, who is the same as Brahman, the Supreme Consciousness. One can find the above-cited words inscribed right at the entrance of the shrine. The image of the Lord at Guruvayoor, believed to be of divine origin, is said to have been worshipped by Vasudeva and then by Lord Krishna Himself at Dwaraka. Before the divine ascent of Lord Krishna, He had instructed Uddhava, His devotee and minister, that this image would come floating when Dwaraka would be engulfed by the sea, after His departure. At his behest, Guru (Brihaspati, the Deva-guru), along with Vayu (the Wind-god), looked for a suitable spot

which was located by Parasurama, and as instructed by Lord Siva, installed the same at the present location, which later came to be known as “GURU-VAYU-OOR”, meaning the place of Guru and Vayu, the sanskritised name being “GURU-PAVANA-PURAM”. As the Divine ascent was at the beginning of Kali-yuga, the temple is believed to be about 5,100 years old. As the image had its origin in Vaikuntam, the divine abode of Lord Vishnu, devotees consider this shrine as Vaikuntam on earth, or Bhooloka-Vaikuntam. This work, composed in praise of Lord Krishna, and which is said to have received divine intervention at different stages, is considered to be a short and sweet substitute for Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam (cream of all Hindu sacred texts) and is recited by devotees all over the world as a general prayer and also as a panacea for all ailments causing

impairment or loss of motor function of nerves. Innumerable devotees flock to the Guruvayoor temple and offer worship to the Lord, reciting this hymn of prayer in the firm hope, belief and trust that they would be cured of their ailments. (Dr MP Bhattathiri) keralaonline Regards, http://www.hindushakti.tk Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.