Guruvayoor
About the city
Early History
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.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.
King Janamejaya, who was afficted with leprosy, didi penance at this shrine and got himself cured. A Pandya king was also saved from the curse of snakebite agter worshipping at Guruvayur. The temple opens at 3 a.m. for the Nirmalya Darshan, which is considered very auspicious. This is followed by several rituals like Shankabhishekams and alankara of the Lord as Bala Gopala and Vishnu. The gracefully decorated idol of Krishna with Shanku, Chakra, Gadha and Lotus in His Hands is awe-inspiring. The Lord is believed to have given darshan in this particular form to Vasudeva and Devaki at the time of His birth and to Arjuna during the Kurukshetra battle. The Seevili ritual at night is very fascinating when three elephants carrying the Lord,s image go round the shrine in a procession.
The spacious courtyard is called Koothambalam. Shrines of sastha, Vinayaka and durga are in the prakarams. Guruvayur is linked with many Krishna ddvotees like Poonthanam and Melpathur Narayana battathiri, who composed Narayaneeyam, a Sanskrit work comprising 1000 slokas. Thulabharam and Annaprasanam are among the vows fulfilled by devotees in this temple. Marriages are reqularly conducted here. Many devotees offer Udayaasthamana puja. Adi Sankara has laid down the rules for worship rituals.