Lord Krishna · Kerala
Shri Krishna Mandir श्री कृष्ण मंदिर
A Kerala temple of laterite and teak in the monsoon rain: a round sreekovil under a green copper cone, a cloister of red tiled roofs, a wall of brass lamps lit at dusk and a lotus pond among coconut palms. Home to Krishna as four armed Guruvayurappan.
Today
Today’s Guruvayurappan
Four armed, holding the conch Panchajanya, the discus, the mace and a lotus, in yellow silk with tulsi and thechi garlands. The form worshipped at Guruvayur, as Krishna showed himself to Vasudeva and Devaki at his birth.
The tradition
About Shri Krishna Mandir
Kerala temple: circular sreekovil under a conical copper roof, nalambalam and vilakkumadam lamp wall; four armed Guruvayurappan type murti
The Kerala kshetram
Kerala temples follow the Tantrasamuccaya (1427 CE): a sreekovil within the nalambalam cloister, an inner court of bali stones, and an outer court with the dhwajastambham and the kulam.
Guruvayurappan
Krishna is worshipped here in his four armed Vishnu form, as at Guruvayur: Sudarshana in the upper right hand, Panchajanya the conch in the upper left, Kaumodaki the mace in the lower left and a lotus in the lower right, garlanded with tulsi.
The vilakkumadam
The wall of small brass lamps round the nalambalam is lit at dusk for deeparadhana. Lighting all of it together, chuttuvilakku, is a cherished offering.
Bali stones
The stones round the sreekovil and the great balikkallu in the valiyambalam belong to the guardian deities. Walk outside them and never step on or over them.
Dress
Traditional Kerala temple dress: men wear a mundu, bare chested (a veshti over the shoulder is fine); women a saree, set mundu or churidar. Customs vary between temples.
Deeparadhana
Kerala temples offer deeparadhana (lamps waved before the deity as the doors open) rather than a sung Hindi aarti. Devotees recite the Narayaneeyam or Achyutashtakam.
Ekadashi
Ekadashi is Krishna’s strongest day; Guruvayur Ekadasi in Vrischikam (November and December) draws vast crowds. Wednesdays and Thursdays are also kept for Vishnu in some homes.
Entry
Guruvayur itself admits only Hindus; this virtual temple welcomes everyone who comes with respect.
Offerings
What is offered to Lord Krishna
Tulsi തുളസി
Tulsi is the dearest offering to Vishnu and Krishna; the murti wears tulsi garlands.
Butter (venna) വെണ്ണ
Unnikrishnan, the child Krishna, loved butter; venna nivedyam is a favourite Guruvayur offering.
Lotus താമര
The lotus he holds in his lower right hand; lotuses are offered from the kulam.
Thechi (ixora) തെച്ചി
Clusters of red thechi are strung with tulsi into the garlands of Kerala temples.
Jasmine (mulla) മുല്ല
Rose റോസ്
Inside
What you can do here
Walk the compound and the halls, leave your footwear at the steps, ring the bell, light incense and a diya, offer tulsi at the deity’s feet, receive prasad, sit in the meditation garden and join the aarti with devotees from around the world, five times a day. The grounds also keep 3 small secrets, each with a story of Lord Krishna, for those who explore.
Five aartis a day
Every temple keeps the hours of a temple in India, so devotees everywhere gather at the same moment. Times may differ by a few minutes from temple to temple.
- Mangala Aarti5:30 am in India5:30 am your time
- Shringar Aarti8:00 am in India8:00 am your time
- Rajbhog Aarti12:00 pm in India12:00 pm your time
- Sandhya Aarti6:30 pm in India6:30 pm your time
- Shayan Aarti9:00 pm in India9:00 pm your time
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