OM
The Greatness of Guruvayoor
The
expression “Hantha! Bhagyam Jananaam!”, comprising the last words
of the opening sloka of this great work, Srimad Narayaneeyam, has become the
watch-word of Guruvayoor, because devotees of Guruvayoorappan believe that
Narayaneeyam, known as the “Gospel of Guruvayoor” is identical with the Lord.
They consider themselves extremely fortunate and blessed even to have been able
to have a Darsanam of the Lord, who is the same as Brahman, the Supreme
Consciousness. One can find the
above-cited words inscribed right at the entrance of the shrine.
The image of the Lord at Guruvayoor,
believed to be of divine origin, is said to have been worshipped by Vasudeva
and then by Lord Krishna Himself at Dwaraka. Before the divine ascent of Lord Krishna, He had instructed
Uddhava, His devotee and minister, that this image would come floating when
Dwaraka would be engulfed by the sea, after His departure. At his behest, Guru
(Brihaspati, the Deva-guru), along with Vayu
(the Wind-god), looked for a suitable spot which was located by
Parasurama, and as instructed by Lord Siva, installed the same at the present
location, which later came to be known as “GURU-VAYU-OOR”, meaning the place of
Guru and Vayu, the sanskritised name being “GURU-PAVANA-PURAM”. As the Divine ascent was at the beginning of
Kali-yuga, the temple is believed to be about 5,100 years old. As the image had its origin in Vaikuntam, the
divine abode of Lord Vishnu, devotees consider this shrine as Vaikuntam on
earth, or Bhooloka-Vaikuntam.