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Guruvayur Temple: History & Worship

The Guruvayur Krishna Temple is located 30 km from Thrissur, Kerala and enshrines a youthful form of Krishna. Worship at the temple follows a protocol established by Adi Sankaracharya, with rituals conducted throughout the day and a break from 1-4 pm. According to legend, the idol was originally worshipped by Brahma and gifted to Vishnu, and was later installed at Guruvayur by the gods Guru and Vayu to protect it from the destruction of Dwarka. The east-facing temple has two gopurams and features mural paintings depicting Krishna's life. Major festivals include an annual ulsavam in Kumb

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197 views1 page

Guruvayur Temple: History & Worship

The Guruvayur Krishna Temple is located 30 km from Thrissur, Kerala and enshrines a youthful form of Krishna. Worship at the temple follows a protocol established by Adi Sankaracharya, with rituals conducted throughout the day and a break from 1-4 pm. According to legend, the idol was originally worshipped by Brahma and gifted to Vishnu, and was later installed at Guruvayur by the gods Guru and Vayu to protect it from the destruction of Dwarka. The east-facing temple has two gopurams and features mural paintings depicting Krishna's life. Major festivals include an annual ulsavam in Kumb

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Guruvayur Krishna Temple

<PICTURE OF TEMPLE>

DEITIES/SHRINES

MODE OF WORSHIP

Guruvayoor enshrines the youthful form of


Krishna. There are also shrines to Durga
(Edathidettu kkaavu Bhagawati), and Sastha.

Worship: It is believed that Aadi Sankaracharya


set up the worship protocol here. The Nirmalya
Darsanam is celebrated in the pre-dawn hours (3
am). The sanctum closes at 9 pm, and it stays open
throughout the day except for a break between 1pm
and 4 pm. A series of worship services are
conducted throughout the day. A festival image of
the deity is carried in procession around the temple
during various rituals. Worship at Guruvayur is
considered complete after visiting the Mammiyur
Mahadevar temple nearby

Location
The temple is located about 30 km from Thrissur and
75 km from Cochin International Airport.

LEGEND

Architecture

According to the legends, the idol worshipped here is more than 5000
years old. But there are no historical records to establish it. In the 14th
century Tamil literature 'Kokasandesam', references about a place called
Kuruvayur is made. As early as 16th century (50 years after the
Narayaneeyam was composed) many references are seen about
Kuruvayur. In ancient Dravidic, Kuruvai means sea, hence the village on
the coast may be called Kuruvayur.

Constructed on the basics of architecture it is east facing temple with two gopurams. The 23-ft
high 'deepastambham' (pillar of lamps) and the 'chuttu villakus' dazzle in the night. On the
walls of the sreekovil are wonderful mural paintings depicting the life of Lord Krishna. The
red-tiled 'koothambalam' is situated inside to the left of the east nada.

Legend has it that Guru - the preceptor of Gods (Brihaspati) and Vaayu
the wind God established this temple. Legend has it that this image was
originally worshipped by Bhrama and gifted to Vishnu who retained it
with him at Dwarka during his Krishnavataram. At the brink of
destruction of Dwarka, Krishna instructed Uddhava to seek Vayu's and
Guru's help to find a safe haven for the image. Accordingly Guru and
Vayu installed this image at Guruvayur, on one side of a lotus lake, on the
other side of which was a shrine to Shiva and Parvati.
It was Melpathur's Narayaneeyam through which the Temple got
publicity. The concept of Unnikrishna popularised by Poonthanam ,
Kururamma , and Villwamangalam brought more and more devotees to
Guruvayur.

Festival
The annual ulsavam or festival is celebrated in the month of Kumbha, this
festival starts with an elephant race. The mandala ulsavam is also celebrated for
a period of 41 days towards the end of each calendar year. Ashtami Rohini is
another major festival at this temple.

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