Located 29 km north-west of Thrissur District in God's Own country Kerala, Guruvayur is one of the most important pilgrimage centres of South India.Guruvayur is alos called the Bhoolokavaiunta- the heaven on Earth!
The Square Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum of the temple , housing the main deity of Lord Krishna ,an incarnation of Lord Maha vishnu .It is at this temple that Melpathu Narayana Bhattathiri composed his well known Sanskrit devotional poem Narayaneeyam .The temple is renowned for its healing powers .Several offerings are made to the deity here for the simple Archana (offering of flowers) to the expensive and elaborate Udayastamana Pooja or Thulabharam whre a devotee is weighed against offering of bananas , sugar jaggery or coconuts .Guruvayur is the site for weddings ceremony of a child .Thsi is probably the only site for serveral wedings and Annaprasanam th first feeding ceremony of child.
With in the temple, tehre are also the idols of Ganapathy, Sree Ayyappa and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagavathy. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple .The walls of the sanctum sanctorum are inalaid with exquisite mural painting s and carvings .The eastern nada is the main entrance to the shrine.
Just is front of the temple there is a huge tower of light,It has thirteen discs including basement oandis 24 feet in height .There are for Deepasthambams made of brass, inside th temple .One at northern wing was smashed by the Gajarajan Kesavan .The eastern tower , Kizhakke Gopuram (eastern tower) is 33 feet and atinjhare Goupuram (western tower ) is 27 feet in height .
In the chuttambalam (outer enclosure) isa the tall 33.5 m high plated wajasthambam (flag post) tehre is also a tm hgih dispastambham (pillar of lamps) , withits thirteen circular receptacles, which provide a truly gorgeous spectacle when lit.The temple is dedicated to Krishna known here as Guruvayurappan or the Lord of Guruvayur.
