Guruvayur
also
known
as
the
Dwaraka
of
the
South
is
the
one
of
the
most
popular
Hindu
pilgrimage
spots
in
Kerala,
attracting
thousands
of
pilgrims
from
all
parts
of
the
country.
It
is
situated
33km
North
of
Thrissur,
around
100km
from
Ernakulam.
The
main
attraction
here
is
the
Sree
Krishna
temple
known
as
'Guruvayoor
Ambalam'
one
of
the
greatest
Krishna
shrines
in
India.
The
structure
of
this
historic
temple
is
typically
Kerala
style
with
gopurams
(gateways),
repeated
mandapas,
sreekovil,
subsidiary
shrines
around
a
courtyard
circumbulatory.
The
idol
of
the
Sri
Krishna
Temple
is
said
to
have
been
worshipped
by
Lord
Brahma
himself
at
Dwaraka
and
gifted
to
Vishnu
in
his
Krishnavataram.
After
Lord
Krishna
left
this
earth
for
his
heavenly
abode,
and
the
holy
city
of
Dwaraka
was
to
be
submerged,
'Guru',
the
preceptor
of
the
Devas
and
'Vayu',
Lord
of
the
winds
were
entrusted
with
the
job
of
finding
an
equally
holy
spot
for
the
idol.
At
the
end
of
a
long
quest
for
an
appropriate
site
they
entered
Kerala
and
met
Parasurama,
legendary
creator
of
Kerala.
He
led
them
to
a
beautiful
lake
full
of
lotuses,
the
present
temple
tank,
'Rudratirtha',
beside
which
Shiva
and
Parvati
waited
to
welcome
them.
The
idol
was
duly
installed
at
this
spot
and
lovingly
called
Guruvauurappan,
or
the
Lord
of
Guruvayur.
Since
the
installation
was
done
by
Guru
and
Vayu
the
place
was
named
as
Guruvayurappa
and
later
on
as
Guruvayur.
Shiva
and
Parvathi
installed
themselves
in
Mammiyur
temple
at
the
opposite
bank
of
the
lake.
Guruvayur
temple
is
linked
with
Melpattur
Narayana
Bhattathiri,
the
author
of
'Narayaneeyam'
(16th
century)
a
Sanskrit
work
comprising
1000
slokas
(couplets)
of
inimitable
beauty
which
is
believed
to
have
been
composed
in
front
of
the
deity
here.
