GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE

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GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE Location : 29 Kms North-West Of Thrissur, Kerala

Popularly Known as : Dwaraka of the South

Dedicated To : Lord Krishna

Significance : Most Important Pilgrim Centre in Kerala

 

 

Guruvayoor, where the famous Sree Krishna Temple is situated, is one of the most

sacred and important pilgrim centres of kerala.

 

The walls of the sanctum sanctorum are inlaid with exquisite mural paintings and

carvings.

 

In Kerala, this is probably the only temple that hosts the maximum number of

marriages and rice feeding ceremonies (the ritual first meal for infants).

 

It was also the hub of the 'Guruvayoor Sathyagraha' , a historic movement

demanding temple entry rights for the 'so called' lower castes.

 

 

 

The historic temple is shrouded in mystery. According to local belief, the

temple was created by 'Guru', the 'preceptor of the gods' and 'Vayu', the 'god

of winds'. The eastern 'nada' is the main entrance to the shrine.

 

In the 'Chuttambalam' (outer enclosure) is a 33.5-m tall gold-plated

'Dwajastambham' (flagpost). There is also a 7 m high 'Deepastambham' (pillar of

lamps), whose thirteen circular receptacles provide a truly brillant spectacle,

when lit.

 

The square 'Sreekovil' is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple, housing

the main deity. Within the temple, there are also the images of Ganapathy, Sree

Ayyappa and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagavathy.

 

 

Punnathoorkotta, which is at a distance of 2 kms from Guruvayoor is home of 50

temple elephants, offers unusual spectacles of the gentle pachyderm.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Guruvayur, also known as the Dwaraka of the South, is one of the most

important pilgrimage centres in India. The idol of the famous Sri

Krishna temple here is said to have been worshipped by Lord Brahma

himself at Dwaraka. After Lord Krishna left this earth for his

heavenly abode , and the holy city of Dwaraka was to be submerged ,

Guru , the preceptor of the God, and his disciple Vayu, God of Winds

were entrusted with the job of finding an equally holy spot for the

idol . At the end of a long guest for an appropriate site the entered

Kerala and met Parasurama , legendary creator of Kerala. He led them

to a beautiful lake full of lotuses, the present temple tank,

Rudratirtha, beside which Shiva and Parvati waited to welcome them .

The idol was duly installed at this spot and lovingly called

Guruvayurappan or the Lord of Guruvayur.

 

THE FIRE AND RENOVATION

 

On November30,1970,a massive fire broke out in the temple. It begin

from the western chuttambalam and raged all around for five hours,

but the Sreekovil, the Vigraha, sub-shrines of Ganapathy, Sastha,

Bhagavathy and flag-staff remained unaffected. People from all walks

of life, irrespective of age , caste, creed and religion fought the

fire to set a glorious example. Later, the temple was once again

built to the glory of the Lord.

 

This shocking incidence of fire took place on 29th November during

the season of Ekadasivilakku. On this day Vilakku was celebrated on

a grand scale and all the lamps in the Vilakkumatam were lighted.

After the Seeveli procession, 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, the whole lot of people,

irrespective of caste, colour or creed 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 which seems to have started from the western Vilakkumatam.

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

gutted the whole of chuttambalam, the entire Vilakkumatam on the

west, south and north sides. The Chuttambalam was only 3 yards off,

but still the fierce fire did not touch even the dry flower garlands,

which hung on the corner of the Sreekovil.

 

Eminent astrologers of Kerala were requested to attend the meeting

and decide about the Lord's approval for above mentioned changes.

Except the widening of two doors everything else were approved. 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 the Vishu day,14th April, 1973.

 

-From 'kerala.com'