Guruvayur is a small town in Thrissur District  in Kerala state.It is located 29 kms West to thrissur town. Guruvayur  Temple, one of the five famous Vishnu temples in India, is the major attraction of the place. The deity of this temple is Lord Krishna, the idol  is carved out of a stone called "Patalanjana Stone". The temple is one of the oldest and most visited pilgrimage centres of Kerala. Ganapathy, Lord Ayyappa and Edathedattu Kavil Bhagavathy are the other idols in the temple.Only hindus can enter the temple. It was made in Kerala's temple Vastuvidya architecture .Guruvayur Temple has some rare literature works also. The diety is unique having four arms carrying , the mace ,the conch, the discus and the lotus.

According to legends Bhagwan Vishnu himself worshipped idol at Guruvayoor and he gave the idol to Brahma. In Dwapara yuga, Lord Krishna was born as son of Devaki and Vasudeva. When Krishna was going to heaven, he gave an idol to the guru  (the god of the Devas and Vayu), the wind God. Guru took the idol and came down to a place down south later established it in Thrissur and constructed this temple. This is why the place got its name Guruvayoor .Guruvayur is known as abode of Vishnu deva on earth, in malayalam it  is called as ‘Bhuloka Vaikunda’ .The Gruruvayur Utsavam begins with Aanayottam in the month of February.

Institute of Mural painting managed by Guruvayur Devaswom is located at the east gate of the Guruvayur temple. Guruvayur Anakotta, the elephant santuary is very popular and one of the largest Sanitarium in the world. It was established in 1989.  A visit to Guruvayur is considered incomplete without visiting the famous and oldest   mammiyoor temple which is situated at a distance of 200 metres from guruvayur temple. In Venkatachalapathy temple ,the idol is a form of Lord Vishnu is situated  near the Parthsarathy temple in Guruvayur. Narayanamkulangara Temple, Parthasarathi Temple, Tamarayur Vishnu Temple, Tiruvenkatam Temple, Perunthatta Shiva Temple are some of the famous temples in Guruvayur.

Chavakkad Beach, Chettuva Backwater Boating , Athirapilly Water Falls are the nearest tourist spots.

Article Posted By : jinivp  On July 20, 2013lView All Articles

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Guruvayur , Guruvayur temple