A devotee's Experiences In Guruvayur

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Sri Guruvayoorappan Saranam,

 

Please find below, narration of a devotee's experiences in Guruvayur.

 

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Hare Krishna,

 

(Background : Last year a chain of legal complications on my

properties virtually went out of control towards bankruptcy . 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's

boundless compassion towards His bhaktas .

 

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya !!!

 

Sri KrishnaDasa