Guruvayur Temple

About Guruvayur Temple:

• Guruvayur Temple, also known as the Dwarka of the South, is a Hindu temple located in the small town of Guruvayur, in the Thrissur District of Kerala.
• It is dedicated to Guruvayurappan, a beloved form of Lord Vishnu worshipped as Baby Krishna.
• History:
  • It is ascertained that the main presiding deity is 5,000 years old.
  • In fact, the word ‘’Kuruvayur’’ has been mentioned in the Tamil literature called ‘’Kokasandesam’’ in the 14^th century CE.
  • References to Kuruvayur have also been made in the 16th century C.E.
  • However, the earliest recorded history of the Guruvayur temple can be traced back to the 17^th century C.E.
  • The present structure was rebuilt in the year 1638 C.E.
  • In 1716 AD, the Dutch plundered and set fire to the temple. It was rebuilt in 1747 AD.
  • In terms of devotees every day, it is the fourth biggest shrine in India.
• Features:
  • It is renowned for its traditional Kerala style of temple architecture, characterized by its gabled roof, wooden carvings, and intricate sculptures.
  • Structures like the Nalambalam (temple structure surrounding the sanctum sanctorum), Balikkal (sacrificial stone), and Deepastambam (pillar of lights) are situated on the temple premises.
  • The wall of the sanctum sanctorum is decked with ancient 17th-century murals.
  • Another famous sight here is the Dwajasthamba. It is a flagstaff, around 70 feet tall, fully covered with gold.
  • The Thulabharam is one of the most popular offerings at Guruvayur Temple. In this ritual, devotees are weighed against jaggery, coconuts, sugar, or bananas on a giant set of scales. This quantity is then given to the Lord as an offering.
  • The temple is also noted for being home to a large population of captive male Asian elephants.
  • The Punnathur Kotta elephant sanctuary is very close to the temple.