Shri Venkatachalapathy Temple ,Guruvayur

Shri Venkatachalapathy Temple , situated about a KM north east of the famos Guruvayur Temple, is an ancient and unique shrine in many respects.The most important fact about this Temple is that the diety worshipped here is the same as the Diety Balaji(Lord Venkitesa) worshipped in World famous Diety in Thirumala Temple at Thirupathy in Andhra Pradesh. The legend goes that late Pudusseri Vishnu Nanboodiri a famous astrologer had met a sage from Thirumala Temple who arrived in Guruvayur more than 1000 years ago .HE desired to establish a Temple for Venkitachalapathy in Guruvayur where there existed a Temple for Lord Krishna(Guruvayurappan).They discussed the matter in detail by sitting side by side in the Temple Tank of Guruvayurappan praying Him for permission.Lord Guruvayurappan agreed to the suggestion and the sage brought an Idol from Thirupathy and installed at the present Venkitachalapathy Temple here in Guruvayur. The location was known as Thiruvenkidam .It is believed that Lord Krishna desired to have yet another Temple for Him with name Venkitachalapathy to prove the phenomenon that "Whoever worship me in whatever manner I bless them in the same manner".It is also believed that the Lord Guruvayurappan Himself established this second Temple at the same place by making the Sage from Thirumala just an instrument As it is usual, there had been enemies against this second idol and went to the extent of multilating the idol by cutting the head and right hand of the idol unscrupoloususly.The later generation could not make out whose idol it was as all were kept in darkness about the matter.This situation is said to have continued until 1974 when some devotees togethe conducted a Devaprashna{Astrological search)and came to know the real identity of the multilated Lord.As a result another Idol was brought from Thirupathy via almost all Temples in South India to bring it finally to Thruvenkidam and reinstallation was performed in June 1977 in a Grand ceremony under the supervision of the Thantri of the Guruvayur Temple Brahmasree Chennas Parameswaran Namboothiripad & Periya Jeer Swamy of Thirumala who was the successor of the sage who originally brought the Idol to Guruvayur. Thus the Lord and the Divine Grace manifested again in Thiruvenkidam.Now most of the devotees who come to Guruvayur invariably perform a Darshan at Thiruvenkitachalapathy Temple also. There is another important feature about this temple is that after 600 years of installation of maindiety a Bhagavathy idol also installed in the Temple.This mother Goddess Bhagavathy with her generous blessing the Mother Goddess became popular.Venkatachalapathy and Mother Goddess had equal status in the Temple When the idol of Venkitachalpathy was multiilated Godess Bhagavathu assumed full responsibility and protected all devotees .So there soon grew an emotional tie between Mother Goddess and the devotees.She became the refuge and protector.No one returned empty handed from her Divine presence After the Idol of Thiruvenkatachalapathy was multilated ,it was the Mother Shrine who retained the tradition of this Temple.The Mother Goddess Bhagavathy continued during this cloudy period.This explains that for the the fact that the local people continues to recognise this Temple as Thruvenkidom Bhagavathy Temple as the Thiruvenkitachalapathy Temple happened to be known only in 1974. After the Devaprasnam mentioned above both Bhagavathu and Lord Venkitachalapathy (Venkatesa) were known to have equal status in the Venkitachalapathy Temple.The main Sreekovil belongs to Shri Venkitachalapathy. Bhagavathy Temple is in the south east end of the Valiyambalam Ganapathy,Saraswathy,Ayyappan,Naagaraja are also worshipped here as UPADEVATHAS A separate Shrine was also built for the original founder Ramanjaryar. After this reinstallation in 1977,an elaborate system of Poojas and rites have been prescribed. P)oojas are done three times for Venkitachalapathy and Bhagavathy.Milk and Navakabhishekams are done for Venkitachalapathy prior to Uchapooja.Poomoodal is done for Bhagavathy as a part of Uchapooja as offerings from devotees. Muttirackal and Poomoodal are the most popular offerings for Bhagavathy.Muttirackal is done by breaking ceremoniously a coconut at the feet of the Bhagavathy.This is done for removing all obstacles in the path of the devotee in all matters connected with his life like getting job, qualifying in examinations,Marriages,gettig childrens,building own houses,getting suitable brides/Bridegrooms for children,Looking after parents to keep them in harmony,visiting Temples and places,paticipating in competitions,participating in religious ceremonies ,going on pleasant tours and many more.Poomoodal on the other hand gran all wishes and ensure successes in all ventures. The most iportant festival of Bhagavathy is Makarachovva:: *****************************************************************

Falling on the first Tuesday of the malayalam month of Makaram(January)this festival has become the festival of whole community.There is such an emotional approach to this festival that there will not be a single person in and around Guruvayur who does not visit and have Darshan of Bhagavathy on this day.The Makarachovva festival is inaugurated 10 days in advance in the Temple by hoisting the Flag of the Temple and collection of PARA(a measure of 10 Edangazhi)a conventional offering of grains to their full measure by devotees of the Bhagavathy.The Komaram [ {Oracle}or Velichappadu with a sicklelike sword in hand] collects the Para from 2nd day after Flag Hoisting from devotees all over the place from their home.The Oracle is supposed to possess the Power of Bhagavathy when he performs the role of Velichapadu{Komaram}.The velichapadu is accompanied by Drums etc.Besides,the Temple court yard is filled with Paras on the day of the festival offered by devotees direct to the Temple. This kind of PARAS are offered in many of the Bhagavathy Temples in Kerala.A nearby famous Temple of Bhagavathy at Thechikkottu kavu in PRAMANGALAM(Thrissur) is one of them. The acceptance of these Paras by the Komaram at the end of the festival procession is a colorful ceremony of charged devotion.Procession with Caprisoned Elephants at noon and earl morning and the final rites in the Pattupanthal are the important features of the Festival.On the Festival Day Laksharchana is also being conducted at the Temple.But the sense of intense and deep devotion that one derives on Darshan on this Day accompanied by the Aravanapayasam which is the special prasadam is beyond words.It is to be experienced to know the divine feelings! KARKIDAKA POOJA,VISHU VELA,NAVARATRI,are the other festivals relating to to Bhagavathy Temple being celebrated with devotion every year.It is expected to improve every year with the increased Devotees to celebrate these festivals with more gaiety! THE ANNUAL BRAHMOTSAVAM OF lORD vENKITACHALAPTHY: ******************************************************* THE ANNUAL bRAHMOTSAVAM starts on the Punatham star in MEDOM month of Malayalam and continues for a few days in the Venkitachalapathy Temple.This Utsavam is being celebrated every year since reinstallation in 1977. The Thantrasastra NaveenkaranKalasam was performed in the Temple in 2007 .This is an interesting process comprising of Thantric rites including reinstallation of the idol and rejuvenaion of the power of the dieties was conducted in 2007 by making use of one thousand pots(Kalasams)filled with various liquids and charges with Chaitanya(Divine Power)generated by the Mantras chanted by the priests are poured over the idol to rejuvonate the power of the diety as part of the Naveekarana Kalasam. Thantric rites for the rectification in the erosion of power of the diety due to omissions and commissions are an important part of the annual Festival.The rejuvenated energy overflows and envelopes sorroundings extending energy to all.Public feedings and cultural programmes are also conducted during the Utsavam. The Lord is taken on a caprisoned elephant followed with the drums five times each morning and evening during the first three days after the flaghoisting.This is important feature of the Utsavam. Most important days of the Brahmotsavam are the last three days.UTSAVABALI(Auspecious for Darshan)Pallivetta (Symbolic destruction of Evil)&Aarattu(Holy Immersion of the Lord in the Tank)which marks the culmination of the Festival. The Aarattu Procession withn the lord on the caprisoned Elephant taken around the roads in the village is a colorful sight and at the same time is a devotionally charged experience.The true Devotees wait at the gates of their houses with various offerings in their ecstasy to receive the Lord which happens only once in an year! After the procession returns to the the Lord is immersed in the tank following Thantri rites and the devotees who throng on the main Ghats of the Temple tank also simultaneously dip themselves in the Temple tank.Here again the emphasis on devotion dipping in the Temple tank charged with divine Power on the Idol immersion. After the Aarattu Lord is again taken on the mounted Elephant for NINE PRADKSHINAMS around the Temple and at the end of the ninth the Flag hoisted is lowered ans deposited and the Utsav comes to an end.However,the Utsavam really ends when twentyfive Kalabhishekams are done and with Athazhapooja and Sreebhoothabali the Brahmotsavam finally declared over.Then Ayyappan Vilakku Festival which is being conducted in the premises of this Temple on the 15th of December every year.At least for the Last 40 years the Ayyappan Vilakku by the Guruvayur Ayyappa Bhajan Sangham has become an important Annual event of this Temple THE PUBLIC ANNADANAM in the Morning,Noon and at night WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTION OF RELIGION CAST or CREED or numbers contributes weight immensely to the SOLEMN ,DEVOTIONAL&PIOUS ATMOSPHERE in which LORD AYYAPPA is present everywhere.. OHM! Namo VENKITESAYA! SWAMY SARANAM! AMME MAHAAYE ! Sreedharan Mundanat 21st December 2017, at Thrissur ( Courtsey:Thorough study of Net info+ many visits to the temple and discussion with local people)