Guruvayur Temple, Kerala

Guruvayur Temple is a prominent Hindu shrine located in the town of Guruvayur, Kerala, India. It is dedicated to Guruvayurappan, a four-armed manifestation of Lord Vishnu. The temple is overseen by the Guruvayur Devaswom Board and is considered one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus, particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, earning it the nickname Bhuloka Vaikunta, meaning “Heaven on Earth.” It is classified as one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams within the Vaishnavisam tradition.

At the heart of the temple is the deity depicted as Vishnu, with four arms holding a conch (Panchajanya), a discus (Sudarshana), a mace (Kaumodaki), and a lotus adorned with a tulasi garland. This idol represents the divine form revealed to Krishna’s parents, Vasudeva and Devaki, at the time of his birth. The rituals performed here follow the guidelines established by Adi Shankara, later formalized in a Tantric tradition by Chennas Ravinarayanan Nambudiri, whose descendants serve as the temple’s hereditary high priests.

The temple is managed by a specialized administrative authority under the Kerala government. Major festivals include a 10-day celebration named Guruvayur Utsavam in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, commencing with the hoisting of the temple flag on Pooyam star, Krishna Janmashtami (the birth of Krishna) in Chingam, the Guruvayur Ekadasi (observed on the 11th day of the bright fortnight in Vrischikam), and Vishu, marking the harvest festival at the beginning of Medam.

Within the temple complex, other deities such as Ganapathi, Ayyappan, and Bhagavathi are worshipped, with Bhagavathi receiving particular reverence. There are also two sub-temples, one dedicated to Ganapati and another to Nagadevathas (snake deities). It’s important to note that entry to the Guruvayur Temple is restricted to Hindus only.

Guruvayur Temple