Lord Guruvayurappan

AUM THRILOKAYA MAHANAYA VIDHMAHE
ATHMAKRISHNAYA DHEEMAHI
THANNO GURUVATHAPUREESHA PRACHODHAYATH

Abhishekam for Lord Guruvayurappan is conducted once every month. Please refer to our website for the monthly scheduled abhishekam

Lord Krishna is worshipped as Guruvayurappan in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala, India. However, people from all parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as many other Krishna devotees from other parts of India go on a pilgrimage to this Temple town in order to worship Lord Krishna. According to legends, the Vigraham of Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna), which is made of a stone called Patala Anjanam or black Bismuth was originally worshipped by Vasudeva, father of Lord Krishna and represents the full manifestation of Lord Maha Vishnu. The Vigraham is in the standing pose with 4 arms carrying the shanku (conch), the chakra (discus), the gada (mace) and padma (lotus). The Vigraham was installed in it’s current location by Brihaspathi (Guru) and carried there by Vayu ( Wind God) and hence the town got it’s name Guruvayur meaning the place sanctified by GURU and VAYU.

Origin of the Vigraham in Guruvayur

Towards the end of his human incarnation, Lord Krishna instructed his minister Uddhava to take the Vigraham to a suitable place away from Dwaraka since Dwaraka was due to go under the Sea.

Uddhava sought out Brahaspathi the Guru of the Gods for help in installing the Vigraham. Brihaspathi (Guru) along with Vayu (the God of wind), set out in search of a sacred place. They met Parasurama (an earlier avatara of Lord Vishnu) at Kerala. Parasurama led them to a beautiful lake full of lotus flowers. Lord Shiva was doing penance there and Lord Siva told Guru and Vayu to install the idol at a spot near the lake and that the site should be known as "GURUVAYUPURA". Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi left for Mammiyur, on the opposite bank of the lake. The present tank called "Rudratirtha" is only a miniature of the original lake. When devotees go round the Krishna temple, from a certain spot, they look in the direction of Mammiyur and pray to Lord Shiva. A trip to Guruvayur is said to be incomplete without praying to Lord Siva at Mammiyur. It is said that the Guruvayur Temple itself was constructed under the mystical direction of Viswakarma, the Celestial architect.

Narayaneeyam and Gnanappana

There are several literary works extolling the glory of the Lord of Guruvayur. The most well known of these are The Narayaneeyam and Gnanappana. Narayaneeyam in Sanskrit was written by Meppattur Narayana Bhattatiri, one of the foremost sanskrit poets and savants of Kerala and Gnanapana was written by Poondanam Namboothiri in Malayalam. Both are works of great literary merit having as their themes the avatars of Lord Vishnu , the expoits of Lord Krishna in His Human incarnation. Narayaneeyam contains the essence of Bhagavata. The recitals of Narayaneeyam is believed to cure people from bodily ailments. Though its aim is the cure of ills of the present birth, it’s ultimate aim is moksha or liberation from the cycle of births and deaths.

Guruvayurappan Temples: Although the main Temple of Lord Guruvayurappan is located in Kerala near Trichur, there are hundreds of Guravayurappan Temples scattered over India and in all parts of the world where people of Indian origin particularly South Indians have settled down. The Vigraham, which is installed in the Parashakthi Temple was cast in Panchaloka (5 metals) as per the instructions and guidance of the Melshanthi (Chief Priest) of the Guruvayurappan Temple in India. The Vigraham itself was cast by a well-known Sthapathy in Nagerkoil, Tamil Nadu, and India and brought to Michigan where the Vigraham underwent all the prescribed Vedic rites for installation. We in Michigan are blessed to be able to worship Lord Krishna in all His Glory at the Parashakthi Temple in Pontiac. It is now a year since the Pratheeshta of the Lord took place in our Temple.

PARASHAKTHI (The Eternal Mother) Temple 551 W. Kennett, Pontiac, Michigan 48340 Phone - 248 - 322-4731 Maps & Directions e-mail: omshakthi@parashakthitemple.org