Guruvayur, the small village in Thrissur district, is known to the world as the location of the famous Sree Krishna temple. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage centres in Kerala and the entire country. The main deity is referred to as “Guruvayurappan” and the temple is said to be “Bhuloka Vaikunta”, the heavenly abode of Lord Vishnu on Earth. Vishnu is installed within the temple in the form of Lord Krishna. Temple has two entrances in each direction known as “Kizhakkenada” and “Padinjarenada”, one can enter the temple from any of these two gopurams. The temple facing the east has a pillar of lights in the front known as “Deepastambham” which is around 24 feet high.
The main entrance has a long way into the temple, which is lined by different shops in the sideways. You can purchase brass lamps, Kathakali showpieces, Kerala saree items, turmeric etc from these shops upon your journey back from the temple. Guruvayoor temple has a large stage in its front compound for many cultural art forms to be performed. K.J. Yesudas, Manju Warrier are among many celebrities who got an auspicious opportunity to perform in Guruvayoor temple, which is considered to be the greatest boon of Gods and Goddesses.
The lengthy queue for entering the temple is visible from a long distance. A lot of devotees come regularly to worship Lord Krishna, thus if you are planning to visit the temple be sure to spend at least one hour in the long queue. The central shrine of the temple is square-shaped with two stairs and three rooms within. The inner room of Sree Kovil is where the idol of Sree Krishna is kept for worship. An interesting fact about the idol is that all day long the dresses of Lord Krishna are constantly changing to depict the growing age of Krishna as the day progresses. For instance, one can witness the deity in the form of Bal Krishna in the morning but in the evening the idol will be dressed as the king of Dwaraka.
The architecture and grandeur of the temple never fail to mesmerize the visitors. There are certain strict rules and policies for anyone entering the temple, only Hindus are allowed inside upon following appropriate dress code. A visit to this ancient Krishna temple is sure to leave you in admiration for the great ambience and spirituality prevailing in the surrounding.
Contact Details
Guruvayur Temple
Guruvayur Devaswom,
East Nada, Guruvayur, Kerala 680101
