Guruvayoor Temple

LOCATION

Guruvayur, the abode of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan, is located 29 kms north west to the cultural capital of the 'God's own country', Kerala. This narrow coastline strip of land on the south western edge of Indian subcontinent is one of the 10 paradises in the world. The geographical and bio diversity of Kerala with the coastline beaches and stretches of backwaters lined with the swaying coconut palms on one side and evergreen forests of the western ghats with very rich wildlife on the other side makes it a real paradise to the alien traveler.

HOW TO REACH GURUVAYUR

By road

Guruvayur is well connected with the other parts of the country by road and rail. The National highway is passing through Kunnamkulam which is just 8 kms away from Guruvayur. The private bus stand is towards the east of the temple, near Manjulal (the banyan tree). It is half an hour drive by car from Thrissur and busses ply every 5 minutes from Thrissur to Guruvayur. 

Kerala Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) runs bus services from all major locations of the state and  few inter-state services. The bus stand is 500 meters to the west of the temple. Both KSRTC and private busses offer interstate services to all major South Indian cities like Madras, Madurai, Palani, Salem, Coimbatore, Thiruchandoor, Mysore, Mangalore, Uduppi, Mookambika etc.

By railGuruvayur has got a railway station towards the east of the temple which is connected to the Madras-Mangalore main line at Thrissur. It has got computerised ticket booking facility and tickets can be booked to any locations from here. One from the Mangalore side can get down at the Kuttippram station. Regular buss services are available from there to Guruvayur. Those from the Madras/Trivandrum side can get down at Thrissur.

By air

Kochi international airport (Nedumbassery) is 80 kms from Guruvayur and the Calicut airport is 100 kms away. All major international flight services are operated from these airports.

HISTORY OF GURUVAYUR EARLY HISTORY According to the legends, the idol worshipped here is more  than 5000 years old. But there are no historical records  to establish it. In the 14th century Tamil literature  'Kokasandesam', references about a place called Kuruvayur  is made. As early as 16th century (50 years after the  Narayaneeyam was composed) many references  are seen about Kuruvayur. In ancient Dravidic,  Kuruvai means sea, hence the village on the coast  may be called Kuruvayur. But according to Prof. K V Krishna Iyer  (eminent historian), the Brahmins had begun to  come and settle at Kodungalloor during the period  of Chandra Gupta Maurya ( 321-297 BC). Trikkunavay  in the Guruvayur documents is the same as  Thrikkanamathilakam or Mathilakam mentioned in the  Dutch and British records. And this place was in  between Guruvayur and Kodungalloor. Guruvayur  was Trikkunavay's subordinate shrine since they were  destroyed by the Dutch in 1755. That way Guruvayur  must have come into existence before 52 AD. The  story of Pandyan King building a shrine here may be  a reference to the Azhavars , but they are all  silent in their writing about Guruvayur. It was Melpathur's Narayaneeyam through which  the Temple got publicity. The concept of Unnikrishna  popularised by Poonthanam ,Kururamma , and  Villwamangalam brought more and more  devotees to Guruvayur. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE DAILY POOJAS IN THE TEMPLE THE TEMPLE OPENS AT 3.00 AM 3.00am to 3.30am Nirmalyam 3.20am to 3.30am Oilabhishekam, Vakacharthu, Sankhabhishekam 3.30am to 4.15am Malar Nivedyam, Alankaram 4.15am to 4.30am Usha Nivedyam 4.30am to 6.15am Ethirettu pooja followed by  Usha pooja 7.15am to 9.00am Seeveli,Palabhishekam, Navakabhishekam, Pantheeradi Nivedyam, and Pooja 11.30am to 12.30pm Ucha pooja (the noon pooja) TEMPLE WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 1.30PM AND 4.30PM AND REOPENS AT 4.30 PM 4.30pm to 5.00pm Seeveli 6.00pm to 6.45pm Deeparadhana 7.30pm to 7.45pm Athazha pooja Nivedyam 7.45pm to 8.15pm Athazha pooja 8.45pm to 9.00pm Athazha seeveli 9.00pm to 9.15pm Thrippuka, Olavayana 9.15pm The Sreekovil will be closed.  On the day of Special Illuminations  called "Vilakku" the Thripuka  is performed after that.  The Sreekovil will be closed after Thripuka. Then the Krishnanattam, a colourful traditional dance-drama on Lord Krishna's  life is enacted inside the Temple on specified days. *The timings given are approximate. It may vary if there is Udayasthamana pooja or on certain special occasions.

   

        Contacting Temple

      

DEVASWOM OFFICE
Please dial any of the below mentioned P.B.X. Telephone Numbers (prefix code +91 487 if needed) 255 6335, 255 6799, 255 6347, 255 6365, 255 6538, 255 6670 or 255 6672 Fax Number +91 487 255 4844 Now dial the required extension number
Reception	100
Chairman Office	200
Rest room	202
Conference Hall	201
Administrator Office	220
Rest room	222
Chief Finance and Accounts officer	245
Assistant Audit Officers	252
C.A. to Administrator	221
Deputy Administrator (Admin)	250
Deputy Administrator (Finance)	240
Deputy Administrator (S and P)	230
Asst Manager (Office)	251
Asst Manager (Finance)	241
Asst Manager (A/cs I)	244
Asst Manager (A/cs II)	242
Asst Manager (Audit)	243
Asst Manager (Maramath)	257
Asst Manager (Live stock)	272
Asst Manager (Thapal)	253
Asst Manager (Purchase)	233
Asst Manager (R&T Suite)	235
Devaswom Inspector	234
Cashier	246
Fair Copy Section	254
Record Room	256
Computer Cell	247
The Official Website of the Temple is www.guruvayurdevaswom.org