- Special Features
Foundation Year1000-2000 years oldSthala TreeTheerthamRathamArchitectureOther SpecialityThe idol of the presiding deity Unnikrishnan in the temple is not one made of stone or a metal but of a mixture called Padala Anjanam.
- Sthala Puran
Guruvayur is a place established by Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter) and Vayu Bhagwan. The beneficial aspect of Guru in one’s horoscope brings in to him/her boundless benefits removing everything that is not good. Vayu being the authority of wind is both soft and wild. He blows softly making people happy. He also blows fast as a tempest destroying things. Lord Krishna was soft to Pandavas and a terrible hurricane to the Kauravas.
The idol of Lord Unnikrishna is made of a mixture called Padala Anjanam and not of stone or any metal. It is also said that the idol was designed and made by Lord Himself. He gave the idol to His devotee Uthava residing in Dwaraka and instructed him to deliver the idol to Prahaspathi-Guru Bhagwan when Dwaraka would be swallowed by a tsunami and added that Guru can install it in a place of his choice. As destined, Vayu became violent and blew fast. Sea became furious and devoured Dwaraka. He picked the idol floating in sea water, picked it up and installed it in Guruvayoor. The place derived its name from Guru and Vayu.
- Architecture
- Alankar of Deity
- Prayers and BenefitsSpecial Vratas and Prayers
Parents pray here for healthy food for their children, long happy wedded life and for cure from leprosy.
Offerings to DeityDevotees, realizing their wishes offer things of their choice to Lord equal to their weight, a practice called Thulabaram.
Stotras and Mantras
- FestivalsVrichika EkadasiThe temple celebrates many Vaishnava festivals among which the Vrichika Ekadasi is very important. The festival begins 18 days earlier. The temple has 52 elephants. They only open temple doors. As an elephant carries Lord during festivals, a running race is conducted among them and the winner elephant would thus become eligible to carry the Lord during festivals. The temple will be opened at 3.00 a.m. and the first puja is offered to Lord Krishna without removing the garlands etc. used in the previous day. This is known as Nirmalya Puja. Abishek follows then. Many visit the temple on Chithirai 1st – April 14 for the darshan when the Melshanthi (chief priest) offers Kai Neettam – offering a coin to the devotees considered a gift direct from Lord. Handful of coins are offered to Kerala politicians that day. This means that with the blessings of Lord Guruvayurappan-Lord Krishna, there won’t be money shortage for the devotee throughout the year.
- Sodasha Upcharas
- Prasadhas
- Social ActivitiesAnnadhanMarriageEar BoringHead ShaveDanaasEducation FacilitiesSocial DrivesOther Activities
- Arjita Seva
- Tags