Hinduism: Details about 'Guruvayoor Temple'
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LegendsSri Narada purana mentions Guruvayurpura mahatmyan and describes how Janamejaya was cured of leprosy by taking refuge under the feet of Guruvayuruppa. The Pandavas handed over the kingdom to their grandson Parikshit, and left for the forest to spend their last days. Parikshit died of the curse of a saint, who cursed that Parikshit will die of snake bite by Takshaka, the king of serpents. After the death of Parikshit he was suceeded by his son Janamejaya. Janamejaya conducted a sacrifice to destroy all the snakes of the world including Takshaka, who was the cause of his father's death . Hundreds of thousands of snakes fell into the sacrificial fire and were killed, but the sacrifice was stopped before Takshaka was killed, by a Brahmin called Astika. Since Janamejaya was responsible for the death of millions of snakes, he was afflicted with leprosy. He lost all hope of a cure. One day Sage Atreya (son of Atri) came before Janamejaya and told him to take refuge under the feet of Krishna at Guruvayoor. Atreya told that in the temple at Guruvayyoor the effulgence of Sri Hari is at its best and Vishnu showers his blessings on all devotees. Hearing this, Janamejaya wanted to know the full details of the Sthala purana and the greatness of the temple. Sthala PuranaBhagwan Vishnu himself worshipped idol at Guruvayoor made out of Pathala Anjanam . Vishnu gave the idol to Brahma . Prajapati Sutapa and his wife Prsni did penance to Brahma, and pleased with their devotion Brahma gave them this idol. Sutapa and his wife Prsni worshipped the idol with such devotion that Mahavishnu Himself appeared before them for granting boon. In their over enthusiasm they asked thrice "We need a son equivalent to you" . Mahavishnu told them that He Himself will be born as their son in three different janmas (birth) and in all the three janmas you will get the vigraha given to you by Brahma . In the first janma in Satya Yuga, Mahavishnu was born as Prsnigarba, as son of Sutapa and Prsni. Psrigarba instructed the world the importance of Brahmacharya to the world. In the second janma, Sutapa and his wife Prsni were born as Kashayap and Aditi and Mahavishnu was born as Vamana, their son in Treta Yuga. In Dwapar Yuga, Krishna was born as son of Vasudeva and Devaki . In Dwapar Yuga the idol was given to them by Daumya for worship. Sri Krishna established a big temple at Dwaraka and installed this idol. At the time of swargaarohana Krishna instructed his devotee Udhava to install the idol at a sacred place with the help of Brihaspathi, the guru of the Devas and Vayu, the wind God. They (Guru and Vayu) took the idol and came down to a place down south and installed it. This is why the place got its name Guruvayoor, where oor means place. It is also said that Shiva and his Wife Parvathy were present at the auspicious moment and because there was a lack of space in the temple premises, Shiva moved a little further away, and gives his blessings from Mammiyoor Temple, which is a ten minute walk from the Guruvayoor Temple. Every devotee who goes to Guruvayoor is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as the ritual goes. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple premises. The temple tank is known as Rudra theertham Temple ArchitectureThe temple is built in a typical Kerala temple architecture . Vishwakarma, the divine architect built the first temple here. He built the temple in such a manner that Surya(Sun) himself pays obeisance to Vishnu on Vishu day. On the Vishnu day, the first rays of Sun fall directly at the feet of Bhagwan Vishnu The main entrance to the temple is through the eastern side. There is also an entrance from western side. The idol is visible from the main entrance itself. Famous Devotees
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