Guruvayur -Sri Krishna Ambalam

Guruvayur, a house-hold shrine in Kerala, and a sublime haven for Narayanopasana is a popular Punya Kshetra of global significance. No pilgrim centre, be it Saiva, or Vaishnava, or Sakteya can be placed on par with this divya dham, nor the claimant for priority ever wins, with regard to the ministration of a great variety of spiritual services covering every segment of human fife. The wide range of multitudinous religious ceremonies conducted in the august presence of Sri Krishna for blissful life by warding off evils confronting, or that may likely emerge in the course  of every venture, together with offering of grateful thanks, on successful fulfillment of desires, it is luring devout humans in millions to this mokshapuri throughout the year. No wonder the strangers are awe-struck at the offering of an infinite number of rituals - nithya and naimithika, encompassing every phase of the entire span of devotees existence, beginning with namakarna-christening; annaprasana-first rice feeding; aksharabhayasa-initiating into studies; Vyapararambha- inaugurating a vocation; Vivaha Subhakarya-solemnising marriage;
Shastyabdipuri - celebrating the sixtieth birthday etc., in addition to several rituals connected with giving tulabharam, donation of articles making endowments and the like, when relieved from life-taking ailments, or on crossing unaffordable obstacles in the ocean of life. Here is a shrine with a difference! And there lies its uniqueness!! That accounts for its
popularity!!!

Moreover, Lord Krishna, the presiding deity of this sacred shrine always flashes across the minds of the ardent devotees, whenever they think of celebrating of any subhakarya, and hastens them to His lotus feet for trouble-free progress and quick accomplishment of their speculation. As the Omni-compassionate Lord never lets down any pious man, the glory of the temple is growing horizontally and vertically with the passage of time, despite the test-tube scientists, subjecting the miracles of the Lord to microscopic investigation. And lo! to their shock, perhaps, the luminaries of other religions too, like Christianity and Islam embraced, and are embracing this creed with implicit faith, not out of external compulsion, but from the depth of inner conscience, overflowing with infinite bliss on realisation of its mightiest might. History, more than legends are replete with scores of instances of the honest confessions made by the mighty personages of other religions.

The Temple Complex

The sacred shrine is surrounded by strong high compound walls-prakaras on all sides surmounting with two grand, high towers on the eastern and western sides. Crossing the eastern portals devotees enter the well-decorated Nadapura - Pandal, adorned with a granite slab in the centre, called Balikallu, dedicated to Guru and Vayu, in front of which lies the dwajastambha. It is quite spacious enough to hold thousands of persons congregating at a time for several purposes, like annaprasana, marriages, tulabharam, discourses, entertainments etc. The ceiling of the pendal is attractively decorated with the portraits of several gods, prominent being Narasimha, Krishna in several poses, and the painting of elephant Padmanabhan, that served the Lord for long in a memorable way. There is Koothambalam - a big hall with dias in the south eastern corner meant for entertainment, and in front it lies a small shrine dedicated to Ayyappa. In the vast courtyard around, there are many rooms for several purposes, like storing, cooking, living etc. The Vathilmadam lying opposite the Srikoil is crowded with people doing meditation. Next to it there is a big mandapam. Then comes the much-venerated sanctorum, enshrining the image of Sri Krishna. The Lord in standing posture feasts the eyes and lifts the soul. The Kerala type of floral decoration of the Lord with ,brass lamps hung around lend charm and detain the devotees longer. As the flickers of the brass lamps mingle with the sparkles of sweet smiles of the Lord in such a grandiose manner, the beholders feel wafted to Repalli the divine stadium wherefrom that naughty Navaneethachor regaled the whole world with his inimitable antics and rollicking pranks. But they are dragged down to this noisy, saucy world by the other devotees waiting for that fleeting inexplicable joy. There is a little shrine behind the Karuvarai dedicated to Lord Vinayaka, and another at the north east for goddess Bhagawati. The temple well lies near the southern prakara and it is famous for its crystal clear water with a special taste of its own, due to possessing curative powers.

The Prayer Services

The dinacharya begins quite as early as at 3 a.m. To the melodious notes of Nadaswaram the Lord is awakened; this darsan is deemed very auspicious, and it is only after this, abhishek ritual starts followed by malar naivedya. Then the Srikoil is closed for conducting Usha Puja. After this, Shiveli - procession of miniature gold idol of the Lord begins in the inner prakara with 12 lighted lamps in front. Then commence the Ksheerabhisheka, Navakabhisheka followed by naivedyam that marks the close of morning puja. Madhyahnika Puja, the most important one commence at 11 a.m. and is over with elaborate rituals by 12.30. The Sandhya puja begins at 5.30 p.m. with another shiveli and blowing of conch shells. Deeparadhana follows. Regular rituals begin at 8 p.m. and again the procession for the third time. With burning of Truppaka -incense, the day's routine comes to a close. These elaborate sublime rites observed everyday are in strict accordance with agamas.

It lies 25 Km off Trichur, one of the famous cities of Kerala, accessible by bus and it is a rail head too.

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