Most important poojas in Guruvayoor Temple.
UdayasthamanaPooja: This is the most popular offering, the booking for which are said to have been done for the next ten years. Udayasthamaya literally means from sunrise to sunset. Hence it implies worship from sunrise to sunset. It consists of 15 special Poojas in addition to all the routine poojas and begins after the morning Siveli. There is a special feast for the devotees. There is the Vilakku (illumination) in the evening. The Siveli in the evening takes 5 rounds instead of the usual 3. The tripuka marks the end of the udayastamanapooja.
Prasadaootu: These are arrangements for free feeding as Prasadams at the dining hall for thousands of pilgrims at 10.00 AM everyday. One can make an offering of any amount (min Rs 1) for this free feeding.
Elephants: Devotees offer elephants to Guruvayoorappan and today there are about 40 elephants kept with PunnathurKotta maintained by the Devaswam. The feeding of these elephants- Anayoottu is another popular offering that attracts many on-lookers. All the elephants are taken to the temple at around 10 A.M, and fed a sumptuous feast of fruits, molasses and boiled rice.
Tulabharam: A devotee is weighed against a commodity of his choice-banana, sugar, water, gold, in fact anything permitted inside the temple. If you want to be weighed against articles not permitted inside, do not worry. Arrangements are made for conducting the tulabharam outside the temple. Also, non-Hindus can perform the ritual outside.
Annaprasanam: This is the first rice-giving ceremony of a child conducted before the Lord Guruvayoorappa . All the itemsincluding cooked rice, payasam (sweet preparation of rice and jaggery; rice, sugar & milk) plantain etc. are placed on a banana leaf and the children are fed each of these.
Alroopams: You can offer miniature images in gold or silver, or replicas of different parts of the human body, eyes, nose, limbs etc. It is believed to cure whichever part is affected and therefore offered. You can place it after depositing in the hundi, an amount devised by you.
Picking up Kunnikkuru: You can offer this to develop your children’s intelligence and smartness. A handful of these seeds (Abrusprecatorious) are picked up and dropped thrice in the vessel kept for the purpose and an amount desired by the devotee is deposited in the hundi. BhagavatiAzhal: 10 or 20 wicks soaked in oil are kept in a sheath of plantain tree and lighted before the goddess Bhagavati. It is done after deeparadhana and athazhapooja.
Sayanapradakshina: Also called angapradakshina, the devotee circumambulates the temple, rolling along the pradakshina path with his eyes closed and chanting the Lord’s name.
Bhajan: This offering is the most fruitful and spiritually elevating- it is the complete dedication of oneself to God. It is austere worship, the devotees forgetting their worldly worries and associating them maximum with whatever goes on within the temple-heavy bath in the temple pond, drinking water from its well and having the Prasadam as food. Married people are expected to observe strict brahmacharya (celibacy) during the bhajan. Apart from these main offerings, there are a variety of archanas, alankarams, and naivedyams that can be offered. A list of all these offerings and their rates is displayed at the counters on the northern side of the temple.
BhagavatiAzhal: 10 or 20 wicks soaked in oil are kept in a sheath of plantain tree and lighted before the goddess Bhagavati. It is done after deeparadhana and athazhaPooja.
Krishnanattam: Krishnanaattam, which is the most important art form of the temple, is performed in the temple as an offering. Devotees can offer this as a vazhipadu or offering on a payment of the prescribed amount. Each days performance believably yields a particular benefit to those making the offering.
Most important places to Visit in Guruvayoor . / Sightseeing places in Guruvayoor
Elephant Park (Anakotta)
Anakotta (aka anathavalam), an elephant park with no parallel, has become a tourist sensation. Elephants belonging to Guruvayoor temple are kept in a ten acre plot near Mammiyoor. Walking alongside of fifty to eighty elephants is an experience, and is possible by travelling just 4 kms from Guruvayoor town. Read more
Palayoor Church
Christianity in Kerala dates back to the early period immediately after the days of Jesus. St. Thomas, one of his disciples, brought Christianity to India. Palayoor Church, 2 kms from Guruvayoor town, stands in testimony to the pioneering work of the saint. Initially built by St. Thomas, the Church is an interesting place to gain insights into the development of one of the major religions in Kerala.
Chettuva backwater
Chettuva is more than a brilliant mix of canals, coconuts and islets. Broadened backwater stretches into the receiving hands of Mother Ocean, about a kilometre past Chettuva Bridge. With rough waves, the harbour is wild and beautiful.
Tourists are only starting to discover Chettuva. The credit for putting Chettuva on tourism map goes to Rajah Group, a well settled local business.
One of the best ways to spend the extra hours you have after visiting Guruvayoor is to have boating at Chettuva. The place to get to is Rajah boat yard, which is on the left side before Chettuva bridge as you travel from Chavakkad along the highway.
Apart from different types of boats, they also operate a couple of house boats.They also have set up an up market Ayurvedic resort in one of the islands.
Half an hour car or auto rickshaw ride takes you to Chettuva. About 8 kms from Guruvayoor, Chettuva is along the Chavakkad - Cochin coastal highway.
Blangad Beach
Blangad beach is only a few kms away from Chettuva backwaters and harbour. Although not a great swimming spot, the beach is good choice for evening strolls as well as watching sun sets. Best time to be here is around 5 PM, to see fishermen in action as they reach back from sea. Blangad is near Chavakkad and is about 7 km from Guruvayoor.
Tour itineraries along with Guruvayoor/ Which all places I can visit along with Guruvayoor ?
Athirapally- Guruvayoor2 Days
Athirapally-Guruvayoor -KodungallurHills&Beach Tour
Athirapally-Guruvayoor -Alleppey/ kumarakom Houseboat Tour 2 Days
Athirapally - Guruvayoor -Cochin Tour 2 Days
Trivandrum – Kovalam – Alleppey – Kumarakom – Thekkady - Munnar - Athirappilly– Guruvayoor- Cochin
Most important temples to be visited along with Guruvayoor Temple .
MAMMIYUR SIVA TEMPLE
This temple is situated 1km north of Guruvayoor temple. There is a common belief that one who visits Guruvayoor temple should also visit Mammiyur to complete his pilgrimage. It has prathishtas of Siva in Linga form and Parvathi in the form of bronze mirror image. Rudrabhishekam is the main offering.
NARAYANAMKULANGARA BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE
This shrine in Mammiyuramsom was closely associated with the extinct Jamelliyurillam.The family enjoyed the right of offering the paddy when the procession headed for Guruvayoor for the meenapooram, till the pooram celebration was stopped due to Tipu s invasion. Pana( songs) in praise of the goddess with the Thalapoli on the last night of first 10 days of Makaram is still celebrated. Navarathri ,Nira , Puthari, and mandala pooja are also celebrated. Vishuvela is celebrated on the day following Vishu.
THRISSUR VADAKKUNNATHAN TEMPLE
SreeVadakkunnathan(Siva) Temple im the heart of Thrissur town is one of the most ancient graama - kshetras of Kerala with exquisite wood carvings and mural paintings. The main offering in the temple is Abhisheka with ghee(Neyyabhishekam) and is considered a cure for all types of disease especially for those relating to head.
KADAVALLUR SREERAMA TEMPLE
The Sreerama temple, Kadavallur is famous for the great Anyonyam which comprises four rigorous tests to examine the proficiency of participants in Rigveda. Sreerama is worshipped in three forms, morning as in Vanavaasa, at noon as in SethuBandhana, and at night as the King of Ayodhya. The important offerings of the temple are Appam and Payasam.
NELLUVAI DHANVANTHARI TEMPLE
Dhanvantharimoorthy is the Prathishta in the temple. The deity is worshipped by all for getting cure of diseasesof all kinds. The principle offerings of the temple are Vennachartal and Palpayasam.
THRIPRAYAR SREERAMA TEMPLE
The Sreerama temple at Thriprayar is very ancient. Here there is no Pratishta for Hanuman. The principle offerings are Vedi(fireworks) and meenoottu(feeding fishes) for Sreerama and Aval for Hanuman (considering the very presence of the deity along with SreeRama).
How to reach Guruvayoor?
How to reach Guruvayoor by Road?
Guruvayoor is well connected with the other parts of the country by road and rail. The National highway is passing through Kunnamkulam which is just 8 kms away from Guruvayoor. The private bus stand is towards the east of the temple, near Manjulal (the banyan tree). It is half an hour drive by car from Thrissur and busses ply every 5 minutes from Thrissur to Guruvayoor.
Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs bus services from all major locations of the state and few inter-state services. The bus stand is 500 meters to the west of the temple. Both KSRTC and private busses offer interstate services to all major South Indian cities like Madras, Madurai, Palani, Salem, Coimbatore, Thiruchandoor, Mysore, Mangalore, Uduppi, Mookambika etc.
How to reach Guruvayoor by rail?
Guruvayoor has got a railway station towards the east of the temple which is connected to the Madras-Mangalore main line at Thrissur. It has got computerised ticket booking facility and tickets can be booked to any locations from here. One from the Mangalore side can get down at the Kuttippram station. Regular buss services are available from there to Guruvayoor. Those from the Madras/Trivandrum side can get down at Thrissur.
How to reach Guruvayoor by Air ?
Kochi international airport (Nedumbassery) is 80 kms from Guruvayoor and the Calicut airport is 100 kms away. All major international flight services are operated from these airports.
Best time to visit Guruvayoor
Guruvayoor is a temple city it is a 365 days destination.
April – May end it will be summer and June to August end it is monsoon season.
September to March it is pleasant climate in Kerala.