Sree Guruvayurappan Temple

Utsavam 

The utsavam in Guruvayur is in the month of Kumbham (Feb-Mar) and the celebrations are spread over a period of 10 days. The festival starts with the hoisting of the temple flag on the dwajasthamba on Pooyam day and ends with the holy dip (Aarattu) on Anizham day. A special event during the utsavam is the elephant race. The Guruvayur Devaswom has about 45 elephants now, all donated by devotees. No description of the elephants in this temple is complete without mentioning Padmanabhan and Kesavan. Padmanabhan was a very tall elephant and had a majestic bearing. He would allow no other elephant to carry the Thidambu. There are many stories about his kindness, devotion and unswerving loyalty to the Lord. In appreciation of his services, a gold chain was presented to him. A strange spectacle was seen in the Guruvayur temple in the year 1931, the day Padmanabhan died: the sandal paste with which the Lord was adorned split into two pieces and fell down. The two tusks and teeth of Padmanabhan are kept in Guruvayur.

Kesavan was donated by Raja of Nilambur and came to Guruvayur in 1922. He learnt from Padmanabhan the way he should conduct himself as a servant of the Lord. He was about 11 ft tall and would raise his front leg only when the Thidambu is to be mounted. All other riders, including his mahout, had to mount from the rear, using his hind leg. He was honoured with the title Gajaraja. In 1976, on Navami, he fell ill during the Sriveli. On the Dasami night, he used the drinking water (kept for him) to bathe and to clean his body and stood looking longingly in the direction of the Deity whom he had served for a long time. The morning of Ekadasi dawned. On the day Lord Krishna gave Vishwarupa Darshan to Arjuna, Kesavan lay prostrate on the ground with his trunk stretched towards the Lord. The Lord had given moksha to the Gajaraja, just before the Srikovil opened. Guruvayur Devaswom has erected a life size statue of Kesavan in one of their rest houses and his death anniversary is observed on Ekadasi day.

Ekadasi

The Guruvayur Ekadasi falls in the month of Vrischikam (Nov-Dec), on the 11th day of the bright fortnight. Once when Lord Mahavishnu visited the abode of Yama, he heard heart rending cries of people tortured for their sins. The Lord wanted to save them from more suffering and uttered the word Ekadesi. The very mention of the word removed all their sins. Observance of Ekadasi is believed to have a purifying effect. It is believed that the sins of a lifetime are washed away if one happens to see the Ekadesi Vilakku (festival of lights). Legend says that on Guruvayur Ekadasi, Lord Indra comes with Kamadhenu and gives all material wealth and offers worship to receive Sri Krishna’s blessings. On that day all the theerthas such as Kasi, Badri, Sabarigiri and Palani in addition to rivers like Ganga and Yamuna assemble in this sacred place. It is also said that it was the day on which the deity was consecrated, and also the day on which Lord Krishna gave Geethopadesam to Arjuna, who was unwell to see his relatives on inimical side. As a part of Ekadasi, a musical fest named ‘Chembai Sangeetholsavam’ is held, honouring Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, a great musician who was a devotee of the Lord. The fest lasts for 15 days, ending on Ekadasi night. Also, special illuminations called ‘Ekadasi Vilakku’ starts a month before. On each day, there will be special illuminations by many families and on the last day (Ekadasi), Devaswom itself performs Udayasthamana Pooja, the biggest offering of the Lord.

Ashtami Rohini (Sreekrishna Jayanthi/Janmashtami)

This is a special day in all Krishna temples in India. This occasion remembers the birth of Lord Krishna, falling in the month of Chingam (Aug-Sept), on the 8th day of the dark fortnight, mostly coinciding with Rohini day, thus called Ashtami Rohini. Guruvayoor Devaswom celebrates Ashtami Rohini with all its glory. There will be a Bhagavatha Sapthaham as a part of Ashtami Rohini celebrations, with the story of Krishnavatharam falling on this day. On this day, the devotees are given a birthday feast. There will be processions through the town by many organizations like Balagokulam and Guruvayoor Nair Samajam. Palpayasam and Appam are the main offerings to the Lord on this day.

Vishu

This is considered to be one among the two major festivals in Kerala, falling on the first day of the month of Medam (Apr-May). Guruvayoor Temple is constructed in a manner that on this day, the rays of the rising sun falls on the feet of the Lord. On this day, the temple opens half an hour earlier (2:30 AM) for Vishukkani darshan. Melsanthi arranges ‘Kani’ in the Namaskaramandapam in front of the sreekovil, as first seen by the Lord. Later, devotees go with closed eyes until they see Kani. For Kani, there will be rice, fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, arecanut, metal mirror, konna flower, holy texts and coins. For the first devotees who completes darshan, Melsanthi gives ‘Vishukkaineettam’.

In Vaishakham month

Vaishakham is the second month in Saka calendar, after Chaitram. It is the period between the New Moon dates in Medam (Apr-May) and Edavam (May-Jun) months in Malayalam calendar. This is considered an auspicious time for doing good things and worship. It is also believed that one will get salvation by doing good things on these days. It is also considered an auspicious time for reading Bhagavatham. During these days, Guruvayoor Devaswom conducts ‘Akhanda Bhagavatha Parayanam’. Akshaya Tritiya and Narasimha Jayanti come during this period.

Kucheladinam

This is celebrated on the first Wednesday in the month of Dhanu (Dec-Jan). It is believed that it was on this day that Kuchela/Sudama, a classmate of Lord Krishna, went to see the Lord with ‘Aval’ (Beaten rice), thus getting the name. On this day, the main offering is also Aval Nivedyam. There will be a queue of devotees who come with this.

Poonthanam Janmadinam

This is celebrated on the Aswathi day in the month of Kumbham (Feb-Mar). It is the birthday of the devotional poet Poonthanam who is best known for his work ‘Jnanappna’ (In this poem, Poonthanam says: ‘Kumbhamasathilakunnu nammude janmanakshathramaswathinalennum’ (My birthday is on the Aswathi day in the month of Kumbham), thus it is celebrated so). On this day, there will be special programmes in Guruvayoor & Poonthanam Illam, situated in Keezhattur near Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. Jnanappana is read throughout the day.

Narayaneeyadinam

This is celebrated on the 28th day in the month of Vrischikam (Nov-Dec). It is believed to be the day on which Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, another devotional poet, completed his magnum opus ‘Narayaneeyam‘ and got cured of paralysis, thus getting the name. Narayaneeyam is read throughout the day. It is also believed that this day coincided with Guruvayoor Ekadasi in the year Melppathur wrote Narayaneeyam (1586–87). In 2013, there was such a coincidence once again. There will be Narayaneeya Sapthaham as a part of this.

Krishnageethidinam

This is celebrated on the last day in the month of Thulam (Oct-Nov). It is believed to be the day on which Samoothiri Manavedan Raja completed his magnum opus ‘Krishnageethi’, thus getting the name. Samoothiri was a contemporary of Melppathur & Poonthanam, and saw both of them during his lifetime. He got the source to write Krishnageethi after getting a peacock feather, believed to be that of Lord Krishna himself. He is also the founder of the art form Krishnanattam, which is based on Krishnageethi. Kottarakkara Thamburan, inspired of this, made a new art form called Ramanattam, and with some changes in Ramanattam, a new art form came. It is called Kathakali, the cultural icon of Kerala. Krishnanattam is played on all days except Tuesday and practice period (June-Sept).

Mandalakalam

This is the 41 days, consisting of the whole month of Vrischikam (Nov-Dec) and the first 11 days of Dhanu (Dec-Jan). There are special arrangements for ‘Malayidal’ and ‘Kettunira’ in front of the Lord Ayyappa shrine here. Guruvayoor Ekadasi, Narayaneeya Dinam & Kucheladinam are celebrated during this holy period.

Edatharikathukavu Vela

This is the festival of Goddess Durga, the sub-deity of the temple, held in the month of Dhanu (Dec-Jan). The Goddess here has more importance than other sub-deities, because she is believed to be the sister of Lord Krishna, who was here even before the main deity was intalled, and was shifted to the present place as a part of installing the new deity of Lord Vishnu. As a part of Vela, there will be ‘Kalamezhuthum Pattum’ held in front of the Goddess, from the first day of Dhanu until the Vela ends. There are two velas, one by the natives and the other by Devaswom itself. It is the only occasion in Guruvayoor on which fireworks are held. On this day, the nada closes an hour earlier, so that the Lord can also participate.

Navaratri

This is another major festival. All 9 days are considered very auspicious. On these days, the Goddess has special pujas. In the dusk of the 8th day (Durgashtami), the ‘Poojaveppu’ ceremony is held. The name came so that the books, musical instruments, weapons, etc. are placed for puja at the Koothambalam. On Vijayadashami day, many children come to have ‘Vidyarambham’. It is also the day of the first performance of Krishnanattam students.

The Poojas performed to the deity in this temple are Nirmalyam, Oilabhishekam, Vakacharthu, Sankhabhishekam, Malar Nivedyam, Alankaram, Usha Neivedyam, Ethirettu pooja, Seeveli, Palabhishekam, Navakabhishekam, Pantheeradi Nivedyam, Ucha Pooja, Seeveli, Deeparadhana, Athazha Pooja Neivedhyam, Athazha Pooja, Athazha Seeveli and Olavayana at 3 am, 3.20 am, 3.30 am, 4.15 am, 4.30 am, 7.15 am, 11.30 am, 4.30 pm, 6 pm, 7.30 pm, 7.45 pm, 8.45 pm, 9 pm and the closing of the temple at 9.30 pm respectively.

Info on the deity – Specific to the temple deity

The presiding, 5000 years old deity of the Guruvayur Temple is Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The deity is four-armed, in a standing posture, carrying the conch, the discus (Sudharsana Chakra), the mace (Kaumodaki) and a lotus. This image represents the majestic form of Vishnu as revealed to Krishna’s parents during the time of Krishna’s birth. Hence Guruvayur is also known as the Dwaraka of South India. He is currently revered according to routines written by Adi Shankara.