The Guruvayurappan Sri
Krishna Temple is situated at Guruvayurpur or Guruvayur as it is known today.
This town is located in the Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.
The presiding Deity of
the Temple is Lord Mahavishnu appearing as a 4 feet tall Idol.
The Deity is supposed to
represent the same form of Narayana that was revealed to Vasudeva and Devaki,
when the Krishna avatar was born to them.
Lord Mahavishnu is
depicted as a blue-complexioned Person with a radiant smile. His four graceful
arms carry the conch Panchajanya, the discus Sudarshan Chakra, the mace
Kaumodaki and a lotus. The swan-like neck of the Deity is adorned with His
favourite Tulsi garland.
The story of the Deity is
mentioned in the Guruvanapura-Mahatmya, a section of the Narada Purana.
The Story of the Guruvayurappan Sri Krishna Temple
at Guruvayurpur (Guruvayur)
The day was a significant
one of many, about 5000 years ago. King Janamejaya, descendent of the Kuru
dynasty that ruled from Hastinapura, stood trembling in wrath at the news that
he had just received from the Brahmin Utanka. The curse cast upon his father,
the devout Maharaj Parikshit, had been fulfilled by a snake. Takshak, the King
of Nagas had surreptitiously gained access to Maharaj Parikshit’s presence and
bitten him, causing him to leave his mortal body. King Janamejaya had been
consoled by the sages present that despite the seeming tragedy, all had gone
well for his father; Maharaj Parikshit had gained the Supreme Abode of Lord
Krishna, Vaikuntha Dham.
But that information had
not brought him balm. Janamejaya seethed with revenge. Furthermore, he had
heard how the snake Takshak had bribed the Brahmin Kashyap who possessed the
antidote for the poison, into not providing the same.
Rage clouds one’s
intellect and blinds him to the inescapability of the dealings of Destiny. He
cursed the snake again in his mind and fumed, ‘That antidote could have saved
my father.’ He reflected for a while and made his harsh decision.
King Janamejaya summoned
his attendants and ordered them to make arrangements for a specific Mahayagna,
a great sacrifice. The news sent a current of fear throughout the land. Even
some of the priests who were asked to conduct the Yagna were appalled at the
idea. For the Yagna that was asked of them was the nemesis of all snakes; the
terrible Sarpayagna- snake sacrifice.
The King intended to
unleash his fury on all of serpent-kind.
Within days, the Yagna
was underway. The officiating priests, attired in somber black to symbolize the
destructiveness of their endeavor, began chanting the mantras in equally somber
voices. And with each name that was called, the serpent by that name was
irrepressibly drawn from his abode and consumed by the hungry flames. Screams
from the dying serpents rent the air as they fed the voracious appetite of the
blazing fire, in their hundreds and thousands.
The guilty Takshak
quivered in terror and wound himself more tightly around the legs of the throne
of the God Indra, whose protection he had sought. But it was only a question of
time, for the chanting of his name soon arose from the Earth below, swirled
into the Darbar of the King of Gods like the grim hand of God of Death- Yama
Himself, and began to drag Takshak down to his death, with the throne and Indra
in tow!
Horrified at his own
predicament, Indra leapt from his throne to safety and watched helplessly as
Takshak plummeted down towards the sacrificial fire. Death, it appeared, had
finally claimed the King of Nagas.
But that was not to be!
Takshak suddenly found
his deadly descent halted; the result of a command from the Sage Astika, who
was a guest at the Sacrifice below. King Janamejaya on his part was nonplussed
as well, and more so, on being asked by the great sage to spare the life of Takshak
and end the sacrifice. Sage Astika revealed that he was the son of Jaratkaru,
the sister of the respected snake Vasuki. On their behalf, he sought to save
the race of serpents, or what was left of it.
As per Vedic norms, the
Host of the Sacrifice is supposed to generously compensate all the attending
Brahmins and gift them as they pleased. Being a guest Brahmin at the Mahayagna,
Sage Astika was now asking King Janamejaya to fulfill his request accordingly.
King Janamejaya’s mind
was plunged into a dilemma. Here he was was on the very threshold of quenching
his thirst for revenge, and yet protocol demanded that he could not turn down
Sage Astika’s request. Finally it was the words of the author of the Vedas, the
venerable Vyasadeva that quelled the King’s emotions. Prudence and protocol
won, and Takshak was granted his wretched life! The sacrifice was ended and all
the attending Brahmins were munificently compensated.
The tears and curses of
the innocent however, do not go in vain. In his folly, King Janamejaya had
slain an umpteen number of virtuous and faultless Nagas by way of the Yagna.
Thousands of snake-wives were rendered widows and their children, orphans.
King Janamejaya incurred
their ire.
Tragically for the King,
the event took place on his wedding day, several months later. By the mere
touch of his beautiful bride, the charming Jyotishmati of Avanti, Janamejaya
suddenly found himself covered with festering sores, the worst form of leprosy.
His body racked with pain and he writhed on his royal bed in anguish. The most
renowned vaidyas and doctors were summoned and they tended to him day and
night, while his wives wrung their hands in frustration and grief. Finally the
medicine-men admitted their confounder at the nature and severity of his
ailment, and confessed their inability to cure the King of his affliction.
The severity of the
disease grew with time and a day came when King Janamejaya could tolerate it no
more. One of the four unavoidable miseries that constitute an inseparable part
of material life, Disease robs a man of his happiness, no matter how
magnificent and opulent his position. Janamejaya’s disease had robbed him, not
only of his happiness, but of his very will to live.
King Janamejaya decided
to end his own life.
It was when the King lay
on his bed one early morning, brooding and pondering on how he should perform
that ignoble task, that the darkness surrounding him was suddenly replaced by a
blinding light. He could feel, rather than see the presence of a personality of
an extraordinary kind. There soon became visible to him, the form of a muni.
But this was no ordinary
muni. His three faces shone with the knowledge of the Absolute. His six long
arms bore the trishul, drum, chakra, conch shell, japa-mala and the kamandalu.
He was none other than the author of the Avadhut Gita, the original Lord of
mystic yoga, the plenary expansion of Lord Vishnu, Lord Dattatreya himself.
Despite his infirmity,
King Janmejaya fell at his feet, for such a privileged darshan cannot be had by
all. Besides, he realized that the Lord’s visit was no mere coincidence. With
folded hands, he paid obeisance to the great Sage.
Lord Dattatreya regarded
the hapless King with compassion. The King’s eyes gushed with tears of sorrow
and they seemed to beg the Sage for a solution to his condition. No words were
necessary, for the great Sage knew all that was in the past, present and the
future.
Lord Dattatreya revealed
to the hapless King the cause of his wretched condition and the latter covered
his face in shame and grief. Placing a hand on the King’s shoulder consolingly,
Lord Dattatreya reassured him that there was indeed, a way out of his misery.
The great Sage’s words
were to the King, as the first rains are to the trees after the blazing hot summer.
Lord Dattatreya continued that the King had sinned gravely, and for any sin,
repentance was the key. Repentance felt and expressed from the heart, and in
certain conditions, acts of repentance performed in the prescribed manner,
could wash oneself of the worst sins.
But the King’s sin was by
far no ordinary one, and would need an appropriately potent means of
Prayashchitta or act of repentance. He was advised by the Sage to propitiate
Lord Hari of Guruvayurpur for his redemption.
The King was intrigued.
He had not come across this information earlier. He humbly requested the Sage
to elaborate on it.
The Sage closed his eyes
and intoned a prayer to the Supreme, for he was to deliberate on matters
concerning that very same Person. Then he began to speak.
At the beginning of the
Padma Kalpa (narrated Lord Dattatreya), a very worried Lord Brahma sat
contemplating his task of creation. For some unknown reason, he found himself
unable to begin his work.
At that time, he was
suddenly blessed with the appearance of Narayana Himself. The Latter gave Lord
Brahma, a fabulous Idol.
Lord Brahma accepted It
reverently and tears of bhakti began to uncontrollably stream down the face of
the Grandsire. For it was the wonderful form of Mahavishnu.
He beheld it in wonder.
It was made of the sacred ‘Pathalanjana Sila’ and was exquisitely carved. The
face was adorned with a bewitching smile and shone as if illuminated by a
thousand lamps. It was as if Lord Mahavishnu Himself was resting on his palms.
An overwhelming, divine stream of energy coursed through Lord Brahma’s body as
he held It.
Lord Vishnu smiled and
revealed to Lord Brahma that He Himself had worshipped the Idol in Vaikuntha
Dham. The Idol was therefore doubly blessed. He advised Lord Brahma to worship
the Deity.
Trembling with gratitude,
Lord Brahma set the Idol in front of him and worshipped this form of Lord
Mahavishnu with utmost sincerity. And lo! The inspiration and knowledge to
create began to flow into him from the Idol in waves. Lord Brahma smiled with
relief, raised his arms and singing the praises of Lord Hari, launched into his
mission.
Thus by the Mercy of the
Deity of Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Brahma was able to complete his task of
creation.
Later, at the beginning
of the Varaha kalpa, there lived a king named Sutepas. He was a just ruler and
well-loved by his subjects. His wife was a chaste lady, named Prishni. The
kingdom's coffers were full and there was no dearth of anything. The land was
blessed with ample rain and as a result, the harvest of the land was bountiful.
Everything was perfect, but for one drawback that constantly hovered overhead
like a dark cloud, blotting out the sunshine in their lives.
The royal couple was
childless.
The fact that there was
no pitter-patter of tiny feet in their grand hallways, or the delighted shrieks
of a child's laughter echoing in their vast chambers greatly depressed the
Queen and her husband.
To beget a virtuous child
is considered a blessing. So the good King Sutepas and his Queen Prishni
undertook a deep penance to please Lord Brahma, for they were sure that he
would grant them their wish.
Sometimes, even the
seeking of a materialistic favour from a great Devotee of Lord Vishnu like Lord
Brahma has its merits. For one, it grants us the mercy and association of that
Devotee which is like nectar itself. And secondly, that merciful Devotee acts
to further advance our progress towards Krishna.
Lord Brahma did precisely
that, for King Sutepas and his wife.
King Sutepas and his wife
Prishni suddenly became aware of the resplendent form of Lord Brahma. The
Grandsire smiled at them for he was well aware of their predicament. But he
allowed them to pay him their respects and submit their plea to him.
In response, Lord Brahma
smiled again, for he was aware of the magnificent plan Lord Hari had in store
for the young couple.
Lord Brahma held out his
empty hands and uttered some prayers himself.
And lo! Much to the
surprise of the young couple, there appeared in his hands, the shining Murti of
Lord Mahavishnu. The same Deity, that Lord Brahma himself had reverently
worshipped at the beginning of creation!
Of course, King Sutepas
and his wife were not aware of the antecedents of that Deity, but they were
held spellbound by its beauty. The couple was further puzzled, when Lord Brahma
held the Idol out to them and indicated them to accept It. Although beside himself
with excitement, King Sutepas was not without the knowledge of the rules
governing religious rituals. He immediately bowed low to the Deity, chanted the
necessary mantras, performed the purification rites and held open a clean, new
cloth to receive the Idol.
Lord Brahma nodded in
appreciation and gently placed the Deity in the waiting hands of King Sutepas.
He informed them, that this great Deity had been worshipped by Lord Hari
Himself, and was the solution to all that ailed them.
Lord Brahma advised them,
‘Take charge of this Deity and worship Him as you have never done before.
Shower Him with your devotion and love. Offer unto Him your time, your deeds,
your actions, your thoughts, your very selves. And in return, He will shower
you with his Mercy.’
And so saying, Lord
Brahma ascended his vahana, the swan and vanished into thin air, leaving in his
wake, the soft but distinct chanting of the Samaveda.
King Sutepas and his wife
were ecstatic. They summoned the royal priests and installed the Diety as per
the Vedic rules. Then they began their ‘tapa’ or penance. Their worship of the
Deity progressed with such enthusiasm and fervor, that its warmth and fragrance
permeated skywards into the cosmos, breached its way into the Spiritual world
and awakened an Entity that lay resting on His giant snake-bed; the blue-hued,
staggeringly handsome, the Creator of Creators, Lord Mahavishnu.
His siesta now
interrupted, Lord Mahavishnu opened His lotus shaped eyes and gazed inquiringly
at the lovely Goddess Lakshmi, who sat by His feet, ever massaging them with
her fair hands. She smiled radiantly at Him, nodding her acquiescence. Lord
Mahavishnu smiled in return and vanished. If there is anything that can coerce
the Lord of the Gods to act immediately, it is the plea for help from His
sincere, beloved Devotee.
King Sutepas and his wife
were rendered shell-shocked. For it is no easy feat to bear the Darshan of the
Creator of the Universe. And whence they had sufficiently recovered from the
same, or indeed been empowered by Lord Mahavishnu to do so, they collapsed at
His feet. Torrents of tears of devotion streamed from the eyes of the couple
and washed the lotus feet of the Lord; even as they found their own selves
dangerously getting swept away by the emotional ecstasy of seeing the Lord in
Person!
Desire of a son, or
anything belonging to this world left their minds in an instant, for having got
the Darshan of Narayana Himself, everything else pales in comparison! Having
once achieved His Darshan, there is nothing in this world that remains to be
achieved.
And yet they had a role
to play in the destiny of that same world.
By the Mercy of Lord
Mahavishnu, they were once more reminded of their desire for an offspring. Such
are the leelas of Lord Hari, where everyone and everything has a role to play,
for His own divine reasons, and for His own divine entertainment!
So thrice, one after the
other, the King and Queen expressed their desire for a child.
And thrice, one after the
other, the Lord replied, ‘Tathaastu! So Be It!’
The Lord then smiled
benevolently at the couple, and not without a hint of mischief in His eyes.
‘You have won My heart
with your worship. And therefore my dear children, your child shall be none
other than I! I shall be your progeny!’
King Sutepas and his wife
were reeling in ecstasy. They were being blessed beyond their wildest
expectations. And then they observed that Lord Mahavishnu was looking back at
them intently, a conspiratorial smile playing on His lips. The couple looked
back at Him, not understanding.
The Lord brought their
attention to the fact that they had made their request to Him not once, but
thrice! And He had consented to each one, separately.
‘And therefore, My
children, I shall appear as your child, not once, but thrice. In this life and
two consecutive lives thereafter, you shall be man and wife. And I, your son!
And each time, I shall do you proud!’
And so saying, He
vanished, leaving the overwhelmed royal couple desperately struggling to come
to terms with what they had just heard!
And so it came to be.
Nine expectant months later, amidst the tumultuous sounds of the nagaras,
cymbals and mridangas, the royal midwife and her attendants rushed into the
chambers of King Sutepas and announced to him that he was now the father of a
baby boy, whose face shone like the Sun itself! The King sprang to his feet,
closed his eyes and offered a heartfelt prayer to Lord Mahavishnu. Then, unable
to contain himself, he rushed to the labor room to see his wife and newborn
child.
Prince Prishni grew up
and gifted the sacrifice of ‘Brahmacharya’ to the world. He taught the world
how, through celibacy, one can control the most irresistible instinct that
binds a human being to the material world.
Thousands of years passed
and as prophesized, Sutepas and Prishni took rebirth as the famous Sage
Kashyapa and his wife Aditi, respectively. By divine design, they too came to
possess the same Deity of Lord Mahavishnu and worshipped Him earnestly.
One of the most
celebrated avatars of Lord Krishna, the dwarf-brahmana Vamana was born to them
and it was He who humbled the mighty Bali, grandson of the great Vaishnava,
Prahlad Maharaja.
And finally in Dvapara
Yuga, the blessed Sutepas and Prishni took their most glorious rebirths as King
Vasudeva and Queen Devaki respectively. They too received the same Deity by the
grace of Sage Dhaumya, the Chief Priest to the Pandavas. To this couple was
born as their eighth son, the Emperor of all Creation, in His original
bluish-hued, lotus eyed, flute-bearing form, Lord Krishna Himself.
After relieving the
burden of Mother Earth by killing the Demon King Kamsa, Lord Krishna
established His kingdom in Dwarka.
Lord Krishna is the
Supreme Controller, the Supreme Benefactor; He is subservient to none. Yet He
too installed that same great Deity, Lord Mahavishnu in a Temple and worshipped
Him.
One must try and
understand why He did this.
Not all those who existed
in that era recognized the true position of Lord Krishna, either due to their
own prarabdha (Fate), or by the design of the Lord Himself. The Supreme Lord,
even when He appears in Person, is known to and perceived by only His true
Devotees.
But at the same time, for
the benefit of the non and semi-devotees who cannot approach Him directly, Lord
Krishna also establishes means for them to approach Him gradually,
step-by-step. By worshipping the Deity of Lord Mahavishnu, He wished to set an
example for such people, who by worshipping the same Deity, would ultimately
find their path to Him.
The wheel of Kaala or
Time continued to turn inexorably and the end of Dvapara Yuga slowly loomed
upon the horizon. One such day, the attendants guarding the private chambers of
Lord Krishna looked up in surprise. For they could have sworn that they had
seen their King entering His chambers just moments ago, and yet here He was
again, approaching them from the outside!
One could not fault them
on this occasion however, for the handsome gentleman approaching them was none
other than the cousin, devotee and friend of their Lord, Shriman Uddhava
himself. The latter’s resemblance to their Lord was legendary, and often fooled
even those who interacted with Lord Krishna on a daily basis.
Uddhava was no mere
personality, for he was blessed with instruction on Bhakti and Yoga by the Lord
Himself, the dialogue between them being venerated as the Uddhava Gita.
One of the attendants
hurried inside to inform Lord Krishna of Shriman Uddhava’s arrival, and the
King of Dwarka being very fond of his cousin, immediately welcomed the latter
inside and embraced him.
Being instructed by Lord
Krishna Himself, and being fully capable of adhering to that instruction,
Uddhava was assured of gaining the Supreme Abode upon leaving his mortal body.
But true Devotees rarely think of their own welfare. They are more concerned
with the welfare, especially the spiritual welfare of the entire world, nay,
the entire creation itself.
Uddhava’s furrowed brow
was not lost upon the All-knowing Lord Krishna, but He smiled and waited for
his cousin to speak. At length, Uddhava looked up at Lord Krishna and summed up
his fears before Him.
‘Kaliyuga fast approaches
my Lord, and it must as well, for it is part of Your Divine Plan. And it will
also bring in its wake all the dangers characteristic of it.’
Uddhava suddenly leaned
forward and grasped Lord Krishna’s hand.
‘But I fear for mankind,
my Lord. Once You have left this world to return to Vaikuntha Dham, we shall be
all alone. Amongst us, there are many good men. Men who have faith in religion,
but are not spiritually advanced enough. They will be rendered unprotected,
helpless against the ravages of Kaliyuga and its evils. These good men and
their families will fall prey to the temptations of this Yuga and succumb to
degradation. There will be chaos and abomination all around. Is there no way
You can remain behind and protect us from the same?’
If there is anything that
draws the attention of Lord Krishna, it is the plight of those who are pure at
heart. And that is more so if His pure Devotee petitions their cause. In
response to Uddhava’s request, Lord Krishna smiled and got up from His seat,
beckoning Uddhava to follow Him. He led him into a room that appeared to be
illuminated by a thousand lamps. Shielding his eyes, Uddhava slowly began to
realize that the source of effulgence stemmed, not from any oil-lamp, but from
the Deity installed in the altar at the far end of the room.
They walked towards It
and Lord Krishna announced to his companion, ‘My dear Uddhava, behold this
Blessed Deity in front of you! After I leave this planet, I shall suffuse this
Idol with My own energy, I shall ingrain My very own Self into it. And I hereby
declare to you, that worshipping this Deity will protect all those pure at
heart, or seeking to be so, from the evils of Kaliyuga!’
Uddhava stood stunned,
overjoyed at his Cousin’s revelation. Then Lord Krishna gently lifted the Idol
from Its place and handed It to a very surprised Uddhava. Lord Krishna smiled
and said, ‘My dear Uddhava, what you hold in your arms is none other than the
God of Gods, Lord Mahavishnu Himself. This Idol was handed down to me through
the ages and now I charge you with Its care…’
Uddhava looked at Lord
Krishna, nonplussed. He could not comprehend the reason for His request. Lord
Krishna saw his puzzled expression and continued, ‘Uddhava, I must reveal to
you what is to happen in the next few days. This kingdom of Dwarka will be
overrun by the ocean, it will be completely submerged. I want you to take this
Deity and with the help of the Spiritual Master of the Gods- the Sage
Brihaspati and the Wind God- Vayu, install It in a place equally sacred to this
one.’
Uddhava’s mind was
reeling with what he had just heard. But Krishna’s wish was his command, so he
hurried out of the Palace holding the Idol of Lord Mahavishnu close to him, as
if It was dearer to him than his own life!
Dwarka’s terrible fate
was realized just a few days after Lord Krishna left the planet. One morning, a
seemingly innocuous wave was seen off the seashore of Dwarka. In seconds it had
grown in size and taken the form of a gigantic tsunami. Within minutes, it had
enveloped the whole of the town of Dwarka. Wave after wave of sea water invaded
the kingdom and within a couple of hours, all one could see was a seething
expanse of water. There was no indication of an entire kingdom having ever existed
there.
A somber man sat on the
shores looking out at the ocean, utterly dejected. Tears of disappointment
streamed down his face and fell to the ground along with the sea water still
dripping from his clothes and hair. Uddhava’s eyes strained to pick up the
Object he was assigned to protect, but without avail.
He had failed to preserve
the Deity of Lord Mahavishnu.
He felt he had let down
the whole of mankind.
Uddhava closed his eyes
and prayed fervently to Lord Krishna for a way out. Then he prayed to the great
Sage Brihaspati, the Guru of the demigods and Vayu, the God of wind for their
help, for it was with their consultation that he was to choose a spot to
reinstall the Deity.
Within seconds, Uddhava
felt the wind pick up in its speed and rush past him towards the sea. The gale,
now clearly visible, swirled above the waters in a spiral and formed an
impressive tornado. Before his bewildered eyes, the twister soon assumed a
human form which finally resolved into a handsome demigod, the God of Wind,
Vayu.
Uddhava stood awestruck
at the sight.
But Vayu was not alone!
Beside the God of Wind, was a Sage whose face depicted venerability, his very
presence causing Uddhava to bow low and deep in respect. The Sage was the Guru
of the demigods, the Maharishi Brihaspati.
Hovering above the
restless waters, they both smiled at and blessed Uddhava, but almost
immediately turned their attention to the waters beneath them.
They had a mission to
accomplish.
Their divine eyes scanned
the surging waves below, looking for their Object of interest and lo! They
could perceive the shining Idol bobbing between the waves. In a flash, Vayu had
swooped into the waters, passed under It and emerged to the surface, reverently
carrying the Deity on his own head.
On land, Uddhava jumped
to his feet with a cry of ecstasy. ‘All hail!’ he cried, ‘All glories to Lord
Mahavishnu! Glory to you all!’
There was hope yet for
mankind!
With a smile and another
blessing each for the magnanimous Uddhava, the sage Brihaspati and Vayu turned
to face north and with the speed befitting the God of Wind, they disappeared
from sight.
The divine duo scrounged
every inch of land in the north but alas; they could not find a place equal to
Dwarka in terms of sacredness.
Finally they turned and
headed southwards. Within seconds, they had passed through the Palakkad gap and
entered into the lush green tropical realm of another divine incarnation of Lord
Krishna, Lord Parshurama.
And as if destined to be,
they espied the heavily built, muscular form of the warrior-saint beckoning
them from below.
They descended to earth
and paid their respects to that individual who had taken upon himself to rid
the earth of the Kshatriyas who had become arrogant and proud from their power
and opulence.
Lord Parshurama revealed
to them that he too was about to commence a journey of his own to Dwarka. At
that given time, the subjects of his land were suffering from an epidemic of
severe rheumatism and they had pleaded with Lord Parshurama to find a solution
to their suffering. Narada Muni, the foremost Devotee of Lord Vishnu had been
visiting Kerala at the time. That respected Vaishnava had advised Lord
Parshurama to bring the Deity of Lord Mahavishnu from Dwarka and install the
same in his land. The Muni had promised that by worshipping the Deity, his
people would surely be rid of their ailment.
Lord Parshurama was
delighted to learn that Vayu and Sage Brihaspati were carrying with them, that
very same Deity, whose grace he sought for his people. ‘Please follow me, I
know the perfect place for installing this Deity’, he said.
They travelled for a
while and soon came upon a lake, which upon seeing, both the Sage Brihaspati
and Vayu were rendered awestruck by the sight.
The lake was ablaze with
lotuses of every size and color! Every blossom competed with its neighbor in
beauty and fragrance. Their brilliant petals curved gracefully towards the
heavens, as if offering themselves to Goddesses Laxmi Devi and Saraswati Devi
as their ‘asana’ or divine seats.
The crystal-clear waters
of the lake bespoke of a purity rivaling that of the waters at Gomukh, the
origin of the Ganges in the Himalayas. They appeared to promise one relief and
solace, not only from the heat of the most relentless summer, but in fact, from
the scorching ill-effects of Kaliyuga itself.
The banks of the lake
were adorned by equally beautiful trees, creepers and vines, bearing flowers
and fruit, whose colors and heady scents seemed to take form, reach out to the
visitors and intoxicate their senses. Multihued birds flitted from one branch
to another singing their mellifluous songs, music to the ears! Squirrels,
rabbits and other benign animals scampered around delightedly, adding to the
ambience of joy and peace.
And yet despite this
sensual buffet, there was also paradoxically apparent, the distinct, grave aura
of Austerity and Detachment.
‘What is this place, my
Lord,’ whispered the Sage to Lord Parshurama, ‘I have not witnessed such
tranquility and sublime beauty even in Indraloka!’
Visibly enchanted as
well, Vayu gazed around and nodded in agreement, ‘To me, this place seems to
combine the sacredness of Vaikuntha Dham, the Abode of Lord Krishna and the Mount
Kailash, where Lord Shankara dwells!’
Lord Parshurama smiled
and replied, ‘You are right, this is no ordinary place. This place is
sanctified by none other than Lord Shiva Himself. Long ago, Lord Shiva
performed a very rigorous penance in the worship of Lord Mahavishnu. For years
on end, submerged inside the waters of this very lake, Lord Shiva did the
Latter’s namasmaran and in consequence, this holy place attained the name
Rudrateertham.’
Lord Parshurama looked
back into the distant past and continued, ‘Years later, there lived a King
Pracheenabarbhis and his wife Suvarna, who bore him ten sons, who were known as
the Prechethas. They journeyed to this very site in order to undertake the
worship of Lord Mahavishnu. They wished to attain the status of Prajapathithwam
or the King of all Kings. Sensing their presence and their desire, Lord Shiva
appeared before them and revealed to them the Rudragitam, a hymn in praise of
Lord Mahavishnu. He advised the Kings to chant the same with intense feeling
and vigour. And indeed, they did so, submerged in the Rudrateertham, for 10,000
years. Needless to say, their wish was fulfilled…’
Lord Parshurama’s words
were cut short by the sudden sound of gurgling water. All three turned to look
at the centre of the lake, for it was from that place that the sound
originated.
The placid waters of the
lake began to part and before their very eyes, two stunningly beautiful forms
arose to the surface.
The effulgence from their
bodies penetrated the surroundings, bathing everyone and everything with an
ethereal light. The small animals scampering around suddenly stood transfixed
by the sight. The birds stopped singing and looked upon them with hushed awe,
even the branches and leaves of the trees stood still in reverent silence.
The three individuals on
the bank of the lake fell onto the ground in obeisance. For that is the first
reaction of any jiva who witnesses Lord Shankara, the only God who exhibits the
characteristics of both, the malignant Rudra and loving Shiva! The destroyer of
the invincible asura city of Tripura, the drinker of the lethal poison
‘Halalal’ and the deliverer and protector of devotees like Markandeya!
And beside him, his
lovely consort, the Goddess Parvati, whose legendary worship and feminine
persistence won over the indomitable heart of Lord Shiva. And yet, also the one
to take the terrible form of Shakti and hold the entire Universe to ransom,
when angered by the killing of her son, Ganesha!
Lord Shiva blessed and
welcomed the trio in his grave voice. ‘Yes, this is indeed the very place
destined to house the Deity of the Supreme Lord Mahavishnu, who granted me His
mercy years ago. I urge you, Munishwar Brihaspati and Vayu, to install Him at
this sacred spot. Parvati and I shall move onto the bank of the lake opposite,
to Mammiyur. It will be our privilege to do so.’
Lord Shiva continued with
the benevolent smile so characteristic of him, ‘And because you both are
involved in this fortunate task, this place shall henceforth be known by a
combination of your names; Guru-vayu-rpur!’
Lord Shiva’s announcement
was met with cries of ‘All Hail’ and showers of flowers and blessings from the
denizens of the Heavens. Lord Parshuram, Sage Brihaspati and Vayu bent low with
folded hands.
Vishwakarma, the
architect to the Gods was assigned the task of building the Temple. It was a
tremendously important project, for this was no ordinary Temple. Vishwakarma
summoned all the divine skills at his disposal and applied himself to the task
with his whole self. As a special consideration to the Sun God, the Temple was
built in such a way that on the day of Vishu (Summer equinox), the Sun God could
pay his obeisance to Lord Mahavishnu. His first rays on that day fall directly
on the Lord's feet. The Idol was installed in the solar month of Kumbha. The
ceremony was begun on the seventh asterism of Pooyam (Puozhya) and completed on
the day of Anizham (Anuradha). The ceremony was supervised and blessed by Lord
Shiva and Goddess Parvati themselves.
As the Idol was once
worshiped by Lord Mahavishnu Himself in Vaikuntha, Guruvayurpur became known as
‘Bhooloka Vaikuntha’ or the Abode of Lord Krishna on Earth. Worshipping this
Deity has alleviated the suffering of millions of devotees since then. More
importantly, worshipping Him has either sown the seed of, or nourished if
already present, pure devotional love for that Supreme Being, that Cause of all
Causes, that Fountainhead of Bliss, Lord Krishna…
Morning had gone on to
become afternoon, evening and finally night. The oil-lamps had begun casting
their soothing orange-yellow glow upon the Palace walls. But time stood still
in the King’s bedroom. The room was enveloped in pin drop silence; even the air
within it had been stilled with the profoundness and intensity of Lord
Dattatreya’s sacred tale. And when the Lord had finished his narration, he
found the King Janamejaya staring at him, unmoving, with folded hands, tears of
ecstasy streaming down his leprosy-ravaged face.
After a considerable
while, when the King found himself capable of speaking, he whispered, ‘O my
Lord, your holy narrative is like balm to my tormented soul. I thank you a
thousand times for relating it to me. I am indeed blessed a million times over
to be able to hear it!’
Lord Dattatreya smiled
and continued, ‘My King, your Prayaschitta or act of repentance is destined to
be fulfilled at the blessed feet of Lord Mahavishnu at Guruvayurpur. Having
done so, you will be free from the burden of sins that you have incurred from
your Snake Sacrifice. Cleave, my dear King, cleave to the holy feet of Lord
Mahavishnu and pray for His mercy, He will surely grant it to you!’
King Janamejaya stood
abruptly, infused with new vigour. He fell at the feet of the Sage and said
earnestly, ‘My Lord, You are my Saviour. I shall do as you say!’
Lord Dattatreya smiled
and nodded in approval.
True to his word, the
next morning, accompanied by Lord Dattatreya, the King left for Guruvayurpur
clad in the simple garb of a mendicant.
They travelled to
Guruvayurpur and took residence in a small hut near the Temple. For four
months, under the expert guidance and supervision of Lord Dattatreya, King
Janamejaya undertook severe penance and worship of Lord Mahavishnu. He spent
hours in front of the Deity, chanting His holy name. Eating nothing but fruits
and roots and then sometimes nothing at all, the King pursued his sadhana with
rigid determination.
It is said that upon
devotedly and constantly chanting the Name of Lord Hari, a time comes when the
image of the Lord replaces every other thought in the Devotee’s mind. Every
day, King Janamejaya awoke to the memory of the Lord, he ate, bathed, chanted,
and went to sleep remembering Him. Indeed, there may have come a time when the
King was so immersed in the contemplation of the Lord that his illness ceased
to trouble him anymore!
But the sincere efforts
of a Devotee in pleasing Lord Krishna never go unheeded.
One night, whilst asleep,
the King experienced the sensation of soft lotus hands moving gently over his
body. He woke up with a start, but in the darkness of the night, and drowsy as
he was, the King was not able to ascertain anything.
King Janamejaya awoke
next morning with a very queer sensation. For the past many months he had grown
almost accustomed to the excruciating pain that rent his body on awakening from
sleep. But this morning was different. Even before he opened his eyes, he was
able to perceive the absolute absence of any kind of pain. He sat up with a
start and gasped in surprise. His malady had completely disappeared. The
painful sores, the purulent discharge, the deformities in his limbs, it was as
if they had never existed!
King Janamejaya stood up
slowly and looked up towards the heavens. Then he rushed into the Temple and
fell at the lotus feet of Lord Mahavishnu. Tears of gratitude flowed from his
eyes and threatened to drench his simple bark clothing. He was unable to speak
and he could only intone the words ‘Thank you, my Lord’ over and over and over
again.
King Janamejaya returned
to his kingdom, blessed and healed by the mercy of the Lord Mahavishnu of
Guruvayur.
King Janamejaya was not
the first, nor was he the last. Lord Mahavishnu of Guruvayur has been the
shelter and saviour of millions of devotees thereafter. It is said that He
never disappoints those who are pure at heart and who seek his mercy.
Thus ends the legend of
Lord Mahavishnu of Guruvayur, Lord Guruvayurappan.
