Temples In India-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKASree Krishna Temple,GuruvayurA. BALAKRISHNAN NAIRThe famous Sree Krishna Temple atGuruvayur is situated in Chavakkadtaluk, Trichur district in Kerala State. It is29 kms. from the nearest railway stationTrichur, on the Madras-Cochin Harbour lineof the Southern Railways. There are busservices connecting Guruvayur with allimportant towns in Kerala and a fewimportant towns in neighbouring Karnatakaand Tamilnadu.The Guruvayur temple is a simple structurewith gopuras on either side and protectedby a great wall around. The Srikoil, theroof of which is gold-covered, is a twochamberedstructure built of granite walls.There are three rooms inside the Srikooil,the garbhagriha where the deity is installedbeing the innermost. Around, on the wallsof the Srikovil can be seen mural paintingsdepicting the Lilas of Krishna. The steps infront of the Srikooil are called Sopanam.Standing by, the Marar sings the Ashtapatiand hence the name Sopana Sangeetam.In front of the Srikovil is the Namaskaramandapai to the south of the mandapa isthe Tidapill the temple kitchen. To thewest of the Tidapill, is situated theSaraswathi Kettu where palm leaf recordsare kept to be worshipped on theNavarathri day. Just in front of the Kettuis the Ganapathi shrine, (in the southwestcorner of the main shrine). On the westernside is erected the beautiful ‘AnanthaSayanam’ sculpture. In the northern sidethere exists a small open hall where theTEMPLE INDIAtemple servants keep the cooked rice. Nearit is to be seen the Nrittam (dancing hall)where Vilwamangala is believed to havehad the darshan of the dancing Krishna.In front of the Nrittam and north of themandapa, there is the Rudrakupa, a well.Its water is reputed to possess digestiveand curative properties. As Siva is said tohave worshipped the Lord using the holywater, the well came to be called by Hisname. Coming to the eastern side, there isthe Vatilnadam, the halls on either side ofthe eastern entrance to the temple. Feastsfor priests and guests are held here. Thenthere is the Nalambalam, the enclosurearound the main shrine. An importantstructure is the eastern gopura, a twostoreyedbuilding. Here in its spacious hallare conducted Annaprasam andTulabharam. The Dhvajasthambha (flagstaff)rises up piercing through it. It is 110feet high and is covered with gold. TheBalikallu and Dipasthambha are alsosituated here. The big bell is placed in thesouth-east corner of the outer courtyard.Here, in the south-east, is also locatedthe Kuthambalam with its threeTalikakutams noted for its architecturalpattern and structural beauty. To its westis the Shastha shrine and beyond in theextreme south-west there is thePathayapura followed by quarters for thetemple priests. In the north-west cornerare the Uttupura with a side-entrance tothe Krishnanattamsala. The pathways inthe northern courtyard with concreteroofing have beautifully carved pillars withlovely sculptures of saints and sagesassociated with the temple. The passagethrough the northern wall of the templeleads to the temple-tank (Rudratirtha), as151