You hear these words quite often in Kerala. Guruvayoorappan has a distinct place in every heart and every household. Guruvayoorappan Lord Krishna is THE GOD of God’s own country!
- Kutty Krishnan with Vishnu
Guruvayur is most famous for its temple, which is many centuries old and one of the most important in Kerala. According to belief, the temple is the creation of guru, the preceptor of the goods, and vayu, the god of winds. The eastern nada is the main entrance to the shrine.The temple’s deity is Lord Guruvayurappan in the form of Balagopalan (Krishna in the form of a child). While non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple, Lord Guruvayurappan has strong believers from many religions. In Kerala, This is probably the only site for several weddings and ‘Annaprasanam’, the first feeding ceremony of child.
- Guruvayoor Ambalam
Guruvayur temple is famous for two renowned classical literary works: Narayaneeyam by Melpathoor ��Narayana Bhattathiri and Jnanappana by Poonthanam. The temple also holds the annual festival (ulsavam) in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March) during which it hosts classical arts like Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Panchavadyam, Thayambaka and Panchari Melam. The place has given birth to many noted ethnic instruments like chenda, maddalam, timila, ilathalam and idakka.
- Koodiyattam, Panchavadyam, Kathakali
At the time of Tippu sulthan’s invasion the holy idol of Sri Guruvayoorappan shifted to Ambalappuzha temple and then shifted to Mavelikkara sri Krishnaswamy Temple.
- Guruvayurappan
Guruvayur Devaswom managing committee of the famous Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur has now changed the dress code and now women are allowed to wear churidars and pyjamas to enter the temple. Men wearing pants (trousers) and shirts are still not allowed.
- New dresscodes in Guruvayur
Before the decision came into existence, only women wearing sari or Kerala’s traditional mundu and veshti were allowed inside the temple. The change in the outdated custom is a great relief to thousands of female devotees from India as well as from abroad. The similar outdated custom still prevails in the Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala. If you are visiting Guruvayoor Temple the visit is not complete without visiting the nearby Shivan Temple at Mammiyoor, every devotee who goes to Guruvayoor is supposed to go to Mammiyoor also, as the ritual goes. If you have a day extra you can also visit Trichur to see Lord Vadakkunnathan.
Thulabharam is an important ritual at the Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur, Kerala. In the ritual, the devotee sits on the one side of a weighing balance. The other side of the weighing balance is filled with materials which he/she wishes to offer. The devotee offers materials of his/her weight or more, offering one’s weight of such materials as coconut, coconut water, butter, sugar, fruits, copper, silver, gold or any other material is a popular vow taken by devotees.
- Guruvayoor thulabaram
The Devaswom will supply most of the materials. There is no advance booking. But for the materials like flowers etc. which may not be immediately available, Devaswom should be informed at least a day in advance or the devotees can bring it. The weighing facilities are available on both sides of the entrance inside the Eastern Gopuram. The expenses involved can be remitted after the offering. For non-Hindus, the thulabharam facility is available near the Kalyana mandapam.
While listing about the features, specialities of guruvayoor I should tell you about Guruvayur Kesavan , one of the leading elephant names associated with the temple is that of Guruvayur Kesavan which was a legendary elephant. Am dam sure that no one can forget its existence. It has found a place for it in the temple’s folklore.
- Gajarajan- Guruvayur Kesavan, Vellia Kesavan
The temple is a major venue for Hindu marriages in Kerala. A record number of marriages take place each day at the temple sometimes crossing 100 in a single day. Devotees of Lord Guruvayurappan think it is highly auspicious to start married life in front of the lord.
- Guruvayur marriage stage
To enter the four walls of the temple, we need to obey rules and regulations set by certain individuals with covert intentions. But sadly these people never realize that the four walls cannot confine Lord Krishna. He is everywhere and he smiles and plays with all the people. Next time while waiting in the queue to enter into the Guruvayur Temple, just look around you will find Lord Krishna playing all around the temple, not only in the temple his presence his filled everywhere.
Kaakanae Krishna!!!! 
