Kannappane Guruvayoorappanaanaan | Guruvayoor | tam adbhutam baalakam
The presiding deity of the sacred Guruvayoor temple, Lord Guruvayoorappan, is believed to have existed even before the incarnation of Sri Krishna. According to tradition, Sri Vasudeva and Sri Devaki worshipped Sri Adi Keshava Perumal, and it was this very Adi Keshava who incarnated to them as their divine child — Sri Krishna.
Sri Swamiji often remarked that the shloka from Srimad Bhagavatam (10.3.9–10), which vividly describes the divine form of the newborn Krishna, matches perfectly with the murti of Guruvayoorappan:
तमद्भुतं बालकमम्बुजेक्षणं
चतुर्भुजं शङ्खगदाद्युदायुधम् ।
श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं गलशोभिकौस्तुभं
पीताम्बरं सान्द्रपयोदसौभगम् ॥ ९ ॥
महार्हवैदूर्यकिरीटकुण्डल-
त्विषा परिष्वक्तसहस्रकुन्तलम् ।
उद्दामकाञ्च्यङ्गदकङ्कणादिभि-
र्विरोचमानं वसुदेव ऐक्षत ॥ १० ॥
This passage describes the Lord with lotus-like eyes, four arms, adorned with conch (Panchajanya), discus (Sudarshana), mace (Kaumodaki), and lotus, wearing a yellow garment (Pitambara), marked with Shrivatsa, adorned with Kaustubha jewel, and surrounded by divine brilliance — all of which are seen in the sanctified image of Guruvayoorappan.
After spending eleven divine years in Brindavan, enchanting the world with His leelas, Lord Krishna moved to Mathura to vanquish Kamsa and Jarasandha. Later, He established Dwaraka as His capital and carried with Him the family deity — Sri Adi Keshava Perumal — to continue His worship.
As the time for Krishna’s divine departure approached and waters flooded all over, the sacred murti was entrusted to Sri Uddhava, a great devotee who regularly recited the Srimad Bhagavatam before the deity. At the time of his own departure, Uddhava handed the deity to Brihaspati (the Guru of the Devas) and Vayu (the Wind God), instructing them to find a worthy location for its consecration.
As they wandered in search of a sanctified site, they arrived at a serene place where Lord Shiva was imparting the knowledge of the Rudra Gita to the Prachetas on the banks of the Narayana Saras. Lord Shiva, recognizing the sanctity of the murti and the moment, directed Brihaspati and Vayu to consecrate the deity at that very place. Thus, the temple was established and the place came to be known as Guruvayoor derived from the names Guru (Brihaspati) and Vayu.
The temple tank, located to the north of the sanctum, is known as Rudratheertham. As per legend, for thousands of years, Lord Shiva used to bathe at the southern bank of this pond. Since Shiva is also called Rudra, the tank earned its sacred name.
Sri Swamiji, in deep devotion, has sung of this divine kshetra in a beautiful Madhurageetham composed in Raga Hindolam, celebrating the grace and serenity of Lord Guruvayoorappan.
To listen to this kirtan:
pallavi
kaNNappanE guruvAyUrappanAnAn – en eNNamellAm niRaindavanum annavanE || ka ||
It is Krishna who became Guruvayoorappan
He is the one who fills my thoughts
Anupallavi
kaLabamum thuLasiyum thAmaraiyum aNindu
kaLabam mIdhERi ulA varuvAn || ka ||
Smeared with fragrant paste, and wearing a garland of tulsi and lotus, he parades around seated on a young elephant.
charaNam
uddhavan uraittha than kadhaithanaik kETTu
Hearing Uddhava narrate His story
mINDum mINDum kETka Aval koNDu
And desiring to hear it again and again
parasurAma thalamthanil nArAyaNa sarasarugil
He came to Parasurama kshetra near Narayana Saras
bhAgavatham kETka AvalAgak kuDikoNDuLLAn || ka ||
and resides here with the ardent desire to listen to Srimad Bhagavatam
