Exploring the rich history and traditions of Guruvayoor Temple in Thrissur, Kerala

Guruvayur Temple Early History -According to the legends, the idol worshipped in Guruvayur 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.

But according to Prof. K V Krishna Iyer (eminent historian), the Brahmins had begun to come and settle at Kodungalloor during the period of Chandra Gupta Maurya ( 321-297 BC). Trikkunavay in the Guruvayur documents is the same as Thrikkanamathilakam or Mathilakam mentioned in the Dutch and British records. And this place was in between Guruvayur and Kodungalloor. Guruvayur was Trikkunavay's subordinate shrine since they were destroyed by the Dutch in 1755. That way Guruvayur must have come into existence before 52 AD. The story of Pandyan King building a shrine here may be a reference to the Azhavars , but they are all silent in their writing about Guruvayur.

 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.

Ulsavam (Festival):

This is conducted in the month of Kumbha (Feb-March) and lasts for 10 days. The hoisting of the temple flag atop the flagstaff (Dwajastambham) about 70 feet high heralds the festival. On the 1st day, an elephant race is held. On the next 6 days, there are elephant processions in the morning, afternoon and night. In the morning, there is the Sribhuta Bali (Offering of oblation at various altar). There are various cultural programs like dance, music, religious discusses are held at Melpathur Auditorium (outside the temple) on all these days. On the 8th day, ‘Utsavabali’ (from 10 am to 4 pm) or oblations are offered to the Lord’s lieutenants. A sumptuous feast then awaits the devotees. Pallivetta or the hunting expedition of the Lord takes place on the 9th day. This hunt is symbolic of the destruction of Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and other such evils that plague us in our life. After that the Lord's Thidambu is takan to the Rudratheertha (temple pond) for Aarattu, amidst the chanting of mantras. Thousands of devotees also take the dip, chanting the Lord’s name to purge them of their sins. Then ucha Pooja (i.e, noon worship –this takes place at night only on this day) is held at the Bhagavati shrine. Finally, the Lord returns to the sanctum sanctorum after 11 circumambulations. The temple flag is then lowered signifying the end of the festival.

Vishu:

The Malayali New Year day, Vishu, falls on the 1st of Medam month (mid-April). As the belief goes, one’s fortunes for the year depends on the auspiciousness of the objects that one sees first at dawn on this day. Accordingly a kani (omen) consisting of konna flowers , raw rice, gold, betel leaves and nuts, yellow cucumber and coins, are so arranged in front of the family deity in the previous night itself, so that one sees them at first glimpse on waking up in the morning. Seeing the kani at Guruvayoor is considered very auspicious and hence millions of devotees stay overnight, blindfold themselves and set their eyes on the Kani and the glorious deity as the doors are as usual opened for the dharshan at 3 a.m.

 Vaishka:

The lunar month from the day following the new moon of Metam (April-May) to the following new moon. The observance of austerities or ‘Vratha’ during this month is considered especially sacred to Vishnu.

Ashtami Rohini:

In the month of Chingam (July-Aug), under the Rohini Nakshatra, on the 8th day of the waning moon of Sravana is the day of Lord Krishna’s birth i.e. Janmashtami. A very special day in all Sree Krishna temples, Guruvayoor Devaswom itself offer a niramala (full of garlands and vilakku), devotees flock in with appam (Cakes of rice paste and jaggery) considered the most favourite food of the Lord on that day.

 Kuchela’s Day:

This is observed on the first Wednesday of Dhanu (December-January). Kuchela was a poverty-stricken Brahmin and a childhood friend of Lord Krishna. One day, he went to seek Krishna’s help, at the instance of his life. He carried with him a small gift of beaten rice to offer his friend. On reaching Dwaraka, he was not only welcomed warmly by Krishna, and made to feel at home, but was also asked what he had brought for him.

  Major Attractions

Udayasthamana Pooja:  This is the most popular offering, the booking for which are said to have been done for the next ten years.  Udayasthamaya literally means from sunrise to sunset.  Hence it implies worship from sunrise to sunset.  It consists of 15 special Poojas in addition to all the routine poojas and begins after the morning Siveli.  There is a special feast for the devotees.  There is the Vilakku (illumination) in the evening. The Siveli in the evening takes 5 rounds instead of the usual 3.  The tripuka marks the end of the udayastamana pooja.

Prasadaootu:  These are arrangements for free feeding as Prasadams at the dining hall for thousands of pilgrims at 10.00 AM everyday. One can make an offering of any amount (min Rs 1) for this free feeding.

Elephants:  Devotees offer elephants to Guruvayoorappan and today there are about 40 elephants kept with Punnathur Kotta maintained by the Devaswam.  The feeding of these elephants- Anayoottu is another popular offering that attracts many on-lookers.  All the elephants are taken to the temple at around 10 A.M, and fed a sumptuous feast of fruits, molasses and boiled rice.

Tulabharam: A devotee is weighed against a commodity of his choice-banana, sugar, water, gold, in fact anything permitted inside the temple.  If you want to be weighed against articles not permitted inside, do not worry.  Arrangements are made for conducting the tulabharam outside the temple.  Also, non-Hindus can perform the ritual outside.

Annaprasanam:  This is the first rice-giving ceremony of a child conducted before the Lord Guruvayoorappa . All the itemsincluding cooked rice, payasam (sweet preparation of rice and jaggery; rice, sugar & milk) plantain etc. are placed on a banana leaf and the children are fed each of these.

Alroopams:  You can offer miniature images in gold or silver, or replicas of different parts of the human body, eyes, nose, limbs etc. It is believed to cure whichever part is affected and therefore offered.  You can place it after depositing in the hundi, an amount devised by you.

Picking up Kunnikkuru: You can offer this to develop your children’s intelligence and smartness.  A handful of these seeds (Abrus precatorious) are picked up and dropped thrice in the vessel kept for the purpose and an amount desired by the devotee is deposited in the hundi. Bhagavati Azhal: 10 or 20 wicks soaked in oil are kept in a sheath of plantain tree and lighted before the goddess Bhagavati.  It is done after deeparadhana and athazha pooja.

Sayanapradakshina: Also called angapradakshina, the devotee circumambulates the temple, rolling along the pradakshina path with his eyes closed and chanting the Lord’s name.          

Bhajan: This offering is the most fruitful and spiritually elevating- it is the complete dedication of oneself to God.  It is austere worship,  the devotees forgetting their worldly worries and associating them maximum with whatever goes on within the temple-heavy bath in the temple pond, drinking water from its well and having the Prasadam as food.  Married people are expected to observe strict brahmacharya (celibacy) during the bhajan. Apart from these main offerings, there are a variety of archanas, alankarams, and naivedyams that can be offered.  A list of all these offerings and their rates is displayed at the counters on the northern side of the temple.

Bhagavati Azhal: 10 or 20 wicks soaked in oil are kept in a sheath of plantain tree and lighted before the goddess Bhagavati.  It is done after deeparadhana and athazha Pooja.

Krishnanattam: Krishnanaattam, which is the most important art form of the temple, is performed in the temple as an offering. Devotees can offer this as a vazhipadu or offering on a payment of the prescribed amount. Each days performance believably yields a particular benefit to those making the offering.

  

THE DAILY POOJAS IN THE TEMPLE

THE TEMPLE OPENS AT 3.00 AM

3.00am to 3.30am    Nirmalyam

3.20am to 3.30am  

Oilabhishekam, Vakacharthu, Sankhabhishekam

3.30am to 4.15am    Malar Nivedyam, Alankaram

4.15am to 4.30am    Usha Nivedyam

4.30am to 6.15am    Ethirettu pooja followed by Usha pooja

7.15am to 9.00am    Seeveli,Palabhishekam,Navakabhishekam, Pantheeradi Nivedyam, and Pooja

11.30am to 12.30pm    Ucha pooja (the noon pooja)

TEMPLE WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 1.30PM AND 4.30PM AND REOPENS AT 4.30 PM

4.30pm to 5.00pm    Seeveli

6.00pm to 6.45pm    Deeparadhana

7.30pm to 7.45pm    Athazha pooja Nivedyam

7.45pm to 8.15pm    Athazha pooja

8.45pm to 9.00pm    Athazha seeveli

9.00pm to 9.15pm    Thrippuka, Olavayana

9.15pm  

The Sreekovil will be closed. On the day of Special Illuminations called "Vilakku" the Thripuka is performed after that. The Sreekovil will be closed after Thripuka. Then the Krishnanattam, a colourful traditional dance-drama on Lord Krishna's life is enacted inside the Temple on specified days.

 *The timings given are approximate. It may vary if there is Udayasthamana pooja or on certain special occasions.

 Temple Customs

    Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple.

    The temple pond on the northern side is known as Rudratheertham. Devotees can purify themselves by taking bath here and can enter the temple preferably with wet clothes.

    Follow the temple rules and regulations, so that all can comfortably worship the Lord.

    Do not enter the temple wearing shirt, banyan, pyjama, lungi, chequered clothes, chapels etc. There are facilities to keep them outside the temple.

    Do not enter the temple wearing shirt, banyan, pyjama, lungi, chequered clothes, chapels etc. There are facilities to keep them outside the temple.

    Do not take video camera, mobile phone, radio, tape recorder etc. inside the temple wall.

    Do not touch on the big altar stone (Balikkallu) by foot.

    Immediately after marriage, the couples should not enter the Nalambalam.

    Do not spit in the temple premises.

    Do not retain babies and children for a long time within the Nalambalam.

    The receipt for the remittance for offerings (Vazhipad) can be obtained from the booking counters on the ground floor of the oottupura. Be careful not to get deceived by fraud agents for such bookings.

    Receipts obtained for the feeding of the poor etc. should be put inside the box for the purpose in front of the booking counter.

    Such items as miniature human figures, replicas of hands, legs, eyes, abnormal body eruptions etc. made of gold and silver can be obtained from the temple official, who are available near the Kodimaram (Flag-staff. Put the amount you wish to offer in the Bandaram (Hundi).

    Udayasthamana Pooja, Chuttuvilakku, Bhagavathy Chuttuvilakku, Namaskaram, Krishnanattam and offerings of the like, have to be booked in advance.

    Ornaments and such other costly offerings can be put in the Bhandaram.

    Enter the temple with an absolute sense of devotion.