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The temple is open 03:00 am to 01:00 pm & 04:30pm to 08:30 pm.
A temple, famous all over India as a pilgrim centre, dedicated to Lord
Krishna popularly known as Guruvayoorappan. The Sreekrishna idol of this
temple is believed to have been worshipped by Vasudevar and Devaki at
Dwaraka. This shrine popularly known as ‘Dakshina Dwaraka’ (Dwaraka of
south) is in the form of a rectangle. There are a lot of mural paintings
around the ‘Shrikovil’ (Shrine).
The
Guru along with his disciple Vayudeva (god of air), found a
place which was recommended by Lord Paramashiva. Thus the
Guru and Vayu installed this deity and Paramashiva named the
place as Guruvayoor. The idol is carved out a stone called 'Pathala
Anjana Sila' and is utmost sacred. The place selected for
the installation was suitably sacred by the presence of Lord
Shiva.
The
outer enclosure has a 33.5-m tall gold-plated flag post and there
is also a 7 m high pillar of lamps, whose thirteen circular
receptacles provide a truly brilliant 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.
Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
The
Legends are
Once Sankaracharya was on his
aerial journey to Shringeri. While above Guruvayur he smiled at
the pompousness and vivacity of the procession of Sreebhootha Bali
(feeding celestial attendants) and tried to pass the temple
without making any obeisance to the Lord. Suddenly he came
crashing down and the procession stopped there at the northwest
corner. He soon recovered and saw the Lord in all his royalty.
Realizing the cause of his fall, Sankaracharya prostrated before
the Lord and tried to win the Lord's favour by chanting 8 slokas
in praise of Govinda, known as Govinda ashtakam. The small opening
in the roof over the North- West courtyard is in commemoration of
this event. Sankaracharya is believed to have instituted the
Mandala Vilakku (lighting of lamps for 41days).
Kururamma
was a childless widow. She adopted Unnikrishna as her son and
gave Him a lot of motherly love. Villwamangalam also saw the
Lord in the form of Unnikrishna but the Lord always
preferred Kururamma for her devotion.
Once an old Brahmin with severe stomach ache approached
Villwamangalam for relief. Villwamangalam could not cure him and
told that the pain is the result of his past karma. Dispirited and
dejected he unknowingly reached at Kururamma’s house. Kururamma
thought he is hungry and offered him some food. The Brahmin said
that he could not eat any food because of his stomach ache, which
even Villwamangalam could not cure. After listening to his
grievances, she told the Brahmin to have a bath in the tank, in
the name of Lord. After his bath, he was served food. He realized
that his stomach ache had disappeared. He ate the food and
expressed his gratitude to Kururamma.
One day Kururamma was washing her cloths. A few drops of water
unintentionally fell upon Chemmangatt Amma, another lady of the
locality who had finished her bath. She felt polluted and took a
second plunge in water to purify. She sarcastically told Kururamma
that now she was doubly clean and stated that today Villwamangalam
would be coming to her illam (house of a Brahmin) for bhiksha
(alms). By this she wanted to show her acquaintance with the saint
Villwamangalam. Kururamma replied that the saint would only
come to her illam and not to Chemmangatt’s illam. Kururamma sent a
member of her family to invite the saint, but he apologetically
refused since he had promised to go to Chemmangatt earlier. After
his daily worship, Villwamangalam started for Chemmangatt’s house
for the bhiksha. But the pilot who was to lead his way by blowing
conch to announce his presence could not produce any sound from
his conch (shankh). It was a bad omen and Villwamangalam was
bewildered. Then he remembered his refusal to Kururamma’s offer in
the morning, and decided that it is the Lord’s wish that he should
go to Kururamma’s illam. On this thought itself, the conch started
functioning and filled the air with its resonant sound. The saint
then turned his steps towards Kururamma’s house. The Lord was
always partial to Kururamma.
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