Guruvayur Temple Thrissur Kerala History and Interesting Facts

Guruvayur Temple Quick Facts

Guruvayur Temple Overview

Guruvayur Temple is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site located in Guruvayur, under the Thrissur (Thrissur) district of the Indian state of Kerala. About 30 KM from Kerala place is also known as Dwarka of Dakshin. Guruvayur Temple is the fourth largest temple in India. This temple is also known as "Bhuloka Vaikuntam". This temple is dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan (child form of Krishna).

The main festival of this temple is Guruvayur Ekadashi. Apart from this, the beauty of the temple is made on seeing the festivals like Janmashtami, Kumbham festival, etc. Guruvayur Shri Krishna Temple is famous for its rituals along with spiritual reasons. This temple is many centuries old, to see which thousands of devotees come here every day.

Guruvayur Temple History

Mythology behind the Temple:: There is no Historical evidence available regarding the establishment of Temple, but the construction of Guruvayur temple is described in a famous legend, which is related to Lord Guru Brihaspati and Vayu (wind god).

At the beginning of the present era, once there was a severe flood in Dwarka and during the flood Lord Brihaspati found a floating idol of Krishna. He made Kerala in the installation of that statue.

Due to the installation of the statue by Guru and Vayu, this place came to be called by the name of 'Guruvayur', since then this holy place is famous by this name.

It is believed that this idol which is now in Guruvayur was used by Lord Krishna in Dwapar Yuga. According to another belief, this temple was built by Vishwakarma himself and the temple was constructed in such a way that the first rays of the sun fall directly on the feet of Lord Guruvayur. The present temple in Kerala is mentioned in about the 17th century, the Krishna Temple is mentioned in the songs of Tamil saints of this time.

Guruvayur Temple Interesting Facts

1. The main attraction of this ancient temple built in Kerala is a four-handed idol of Lord Krishna located here, in which the Lord is holding a lotus flower with a conch shell, Sudarshan Chakra, mace, and Tulsi garland in his hands.
2. There is also a 7-meter-high Deepastambha (pillar of lamps) of the temple, which looks very grand after burning.
3. Here Lord Krishna is also known by the names 'Unnikrishnan', 'Kannan', and 'Balakrishnan' etc.
4. The Temple is also noted for two major literary works, 'Narayanayam' by Melpatthoor Narayana Bhattathiri and 'Jnanappana' composed by Poonthanam. Both these works are dedicated to Lord Guruvayurappan.
5. The forms of God and the incarnations of God are depicted in these writings. Narayaniyam composed in the Sanskrit language mentions 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu and in the Malayalam language Jnanappana, the harsh truths of life have been observed.
6. Like other temples before the independence of India, there was a complete ban on the entry of Harijans in this temple.
7. Mr. Kelappan, a Gandhi supporter from Kerala, raised his voice against this practice and started civil disobedience in the year 1933, in which Mahatma Gandhi and Mr. Kelappan threatened a fast unto death. His experiment was satisfying and instructive.
8. Fearing the threat given to them, the temple's trustees' opinion was taken by calling a meeting on behalf of the temple's trustees. In the meeting, on the basis of the majority given by 77% of the worshippers, the entry of Harijans into the temple was approved, and thus the entry of Harijans into the Sri Guruvayoor temple of Kerala from January 1, 1934, was a success of the decision day was accepted in principle. Approval was given.
9. Inside the Temple, there is a magnificent painting depicting the child's pastimes of Krishna.
10. In April 2018, the 'Ottupura' (Temple eating place) attached to the temple has been opened to all, including non-Hindus. Along with this, the temple management 'Guruvayur Devaswom' has also removed the restrictions related to the dress code in the dining venue and has allowed the devotees to wear pants-shirt and slippers-shoes.
11. There is a special dress code for entering the temple. Men wear a mundu at the waist and the chest remains open. Women wear saris. Girls are allowed to wear long skirts and blouses and salwar kameez are also allowed in during the summer, apart from this, mobile phones and cameras are strictly prohibited for security reasons.
12. Only People of the Hindu sect can enter the temple, entry of non-Hindu people in the temple is strictly prohibited.
13. The Temple opens at 3 am and darshan closes at 1 pm. The temple opens again at 4.30 in the evening and closes at 10 at the night. There are five pujas and three sivelis here. After entering the main place in the morning, the priest of the temple does not eat or drink anything till noon.
14. Marriage and Chhorenu are organized almost every day in the temple.
15. Free food is distributed in the temple daily in the morning and evening.
16. The festival of Shivali, a procession of elephants in Guruvayoor is very famous, where the deities living in the temple are taken out in procession with elephants.
17. Cultural programs and dances like Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Thyambaka, etc. are also organized during the annual festival in the Temple.