Guruvayoor history

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The Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple (Malayalam: ഗുരുവായൂര്‍ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണ ക്ഷേത്രം) is one of the most important and sacred pilgrim centres of Kerala. Located in the Guruvayur town of Trissur district in Kerala (south India) it is easily accessible by road and rail. The presiding deity is MahaVishnu, in standing posture with four hands carrying Sankhu, Sudarshana chakram ,lotus and mace.

He is worshipped as Balakrishna, the full avatar (Purnaavatara) of Mahavishnu . The idol is made of a rare stone known as patalaanjana Contents[hide] 1 History 2 Legends 2.1 Sthala Purana 3 Temple Architecture 4 Famous Devotees 5 See also 6 External links [edit] History Early History The Guruvayur temple is said to be at least 5,000 years old, having been installed after Krishna ascended to Vaikuntha. The idol is said to have been installed by Brihaspati and Vayu, and to have been blessed by Shiva and Parvati. The temple was built by Vishwakarma the divine architect. Over the years,

Guruvayur increased in popularity, especially in the 16th century when it had become the most popular pilgrimage centre in Kerala. Onslaught by invaders However, for several hundred years, Guruvayur became embroiled in conflict, as Muslim conquered much of Kerala and Europeans tried to colonise the area. In 1716 AD, the Dutch raided Guruvayur, looting treasures , the gold of the flag staff, setting fire to the Western Gopuram, etc. The temple was later repaired in 1747 AD. In 1755 AD ,the Dutch in war with the Zamorin destroyed the Trikkunavay temple and the Brahmins fled from there. Later the Zamorin of the area become the trustee of both Guruvayoor and Trikkunavay, and also their Melkoyma (Sovereign protector) of the temples. In 1766 AD , Hyder Ali of Mysore captured Kozhikkode (Calicut) and then Guruvayur. He set a ransom of 10,000 fanams (the currency of the day) to spare the temple. This fine was paid but due to insecurity pilgrim numbers plummeted. Finally, on the request of the Malabar Governor, Shrnivasa Rao, Hyder Ali granted a Devadaya (free gift) and the temple was saved from ruin. However, in 1789 AD Tippu Sultan, Hyder Ali's son, invaded the Zamorin's province. Fearing the destruction of the temple by Tippu Sultan, who had previously destroyed many temples, the idol was and the Utsava vigraha were taken to Ambalappuzha by Mallisseri Namboodiri and Kakkad Othikkan. Tippu Sultan destroyed what was remaining (the smaller shrines) and set fire to the temple. However, in what devotees consider to be a divine intervention, the temple was saved by sudden rain. Later, Tippu Sultan was defeated by the Zamorin and the English in 1792 AD. The idol and the Utsava vigraha that were protected at a secure location, were re-installed on September 17th , 1792. Unfortunately, the daily poojas and routines were seriously affected by these significant interruptions. Fire On November 30,1970, a fiery blaze broke out in the temple complex. It began from the Western Chuttambalam and raged for five hours, burning everything in its path except the sanctified Sreekovil. The Vigraha (idol), shrines of Ganapathy, Sastha, Bhagavathy and the flag staff remained miraculously untouched. People from all walks of life, irrespective of age, caste, creed and religion fought the fire. This shocking incidence of fire took place during the season of Ekadasivilakku.

On this day Vilakku was celebrated on a grand scale and all the lamps in the Vilakkumatam were lit. After the Seeveli procession had concluded, the function came to an end and the gates of Gopuram were closed. Around 1.00 am, somebody in the immediate neighborhood near the western chuttambalam saw a blaze from within the temple. Roused by the news, masses of people rushed to the temple and joined in fighting the fire with water and sand. Later, the fire force units of Ponnani, Trichur and FACT arrived and started fighting the fire. It was brought under control by 5.30 am. Seeing the uncontrollable fire , the authorities had already removed the valuables from the Sreekovil. The Ganapathy idol, Sastha idol and the main idol of Lord Guruvayurappan were shifted to the Koothambalam and then to a more safer place, the residence of the Tantri. The fire ravaged the whole of Chuttambalam, the entire Vilakkumatam on the west, south and north sides. The Chuttambalam was only 3 yards from the holy Sreekovil, however the fire did not even light a spark on the dry garlands at the Sreekovil. Renovation After the fire, extensive renovation work was undertaken. Eminent astrologers of Kerala were requested to attend the meeting and decide what the Lord desired. Except for the widening of the gates at the North and East entrance, everything other proposal put forth by the committee was approved by Lord Guruvayoorapan. The foundation stone for the renovation was laid by His Holiness Jagatguru Kanchi Kamakoti Matadhipathy Jayendra Saraswathy Swamikal. The ten round pillars in the two Vathilmatam were magnificently carved. The eastern pillar on the southern Vathilmatam, at the foot of which Melpathur meditated and wrote the Narayaneeyam was not removed. After the great fire, the Vilakkumatam, for the first time, was lighted on Vishu day,14th April, 1973. [edit] Legends Sri Narada purana mentions Guruvayurpura mahatmyan and describes how Janamejaya was cured of leprosy by taking refuge under the feet of Guruvayuruppa. The Pandavas handed over the kingdom to their grandson Parikshit, and left for the forest to spend their last days. Parikshit

died of the curse of a saint, who cursed that Parikshit will die of snake bite by Taksaka, the king of serpents. After the death of Parikshit he was succeeded by his son Janamejaya. Janamejaya conducted a sacrifice to destroy all the snakes of the world including Takshaka, who was the cause of his father's death . Hundreds of thousands of snakes fell into the sacrificial fire and were killed, but the sacrifice was stopped before Takshaka was killed, by a Brahmin called Astika. 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 Guruvayoor. Atreya told that in the temple at Guruvayyoor the effulgence of

Sri Hari is at its best and Vishnu showers his blessings on all devotees. Hearing this, Janamejaya wanted to know the full details of the Sthala purana and the greatness of the temple. [edit] Sthala Purana Guruvayur Temple entrance Bhagwan Vishnu himself worshipped idol at Guruvayur made out of Pathala Anjanam . Vishnu gave the idol to Brahma . Prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni did penance to Brahma, and pleased with their devotion Brahma gave them this idol. Sutapa and his wife Prsni worshipped the idol with such devotion that Mahavishnu Himself appeared before them for granting boon. In their over enthusiasm they asked thrice "We need a son equivalent to you" . Mahavishnu told

them that He Himself will be born as their son in three different janmas (birth) and in all the three janmas you will get the vigraha given to you by Brahma . In the first janma in Satya Yuga, Mahavishnu was born as Prsnigarba, as son of Sutapa and Prsni. Psrigarba instructed the world the importance of Brahmacharya to the world. In the second janma, Sutapa and his wife Prsni were born as Kashayap and Aditi and Mahavishnu was born as Vamana, their son in Treta Yuga. In Dwapar Yuga, Krishna was born as son of Vasudeva and Devaki . In Dwapar Yuga the idol was given to them by Daumya for worship. Sri Krishna established a big temple at Dwaraka and installed this idol. At the time of swargaarohana Krishna instructed his devotee Udhava to install the idol at a sacred place with the help of Brihaspathi, the guru of the Devas and Vayu, the wind God. They (Guru and Vayu) took the idol and came down to a place down south and installed it. This is why the place got its name Guruvayu, where ur means place. It is also said that Shiva and his Wife Parvati were present at the auspicious moment and because there was a lack of space in the temple premises, Shiva moved a little further away, and gives his blessings from Mammiyoor Temple, which is a ten minute walk from the Guruvayoor Temple. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayur is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as the ritual goes. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple premises. The temple tank is known as Rudra thirtham Elephant Sanctuary at Punnathur kotta, Guruvayoor. [edit] Temple Architecture The temple is built in a typical Kerala temple architecture . Vishwakarma, the divine architect built the first temple here. He built the temple in such a manner that Surya(Sun) himself pays obeisance to Vishnu on Vishu day. On the Vishnu day, 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.

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