HOMENEW2

Guruvayur Temple -2
The Legend (Contd.)
As the Lord prophesied, there came a huge devastating flood in the week that followed. The beautiful town of Dwaraka was completely destroyed and submerged under water. Uddhava had already left to Badrikashram for doing penance but before leaving, he had informed Brihaspati about the idol. By the time Brihaspati reached Dwaraka, everything was under water. But soon, he saw the holy idol of Lord Vishnu floating on the seawater. Brihaspati was overjoyed, but could not go near the idol which was fast moving away due to the fast flowing water. So, he called Vayu, the wind god and one among his important disciples. Vayu, with the help of Varuna, the sea god, created huge waves and brought the idol to the place where Brihaspati was standing. Brihaspati took the idol in his hands, but did not know where to install it. Suddenly, Sage Parashurama appeared there and told them to install the idol in an apt location in Bhargava Kshetra., the land made by him with his axe.
According to the wishes of the Sage, Brihaspati and Vayu took the idol and travelled by sky southwards to find an apt location in Bhargava Kshetra, today’s Kerala. Suddenly, they saw a large, beautiful lake, close to the sea. The cool breeze, lush greenery, chirping birds and animals running around happily – together made Brihaspati and Vayu experience a divine feeling. Added to this grandeur, they saw Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati dancing on the lake shore. Brihaspati and Vayu landed on the ground and prostrated before the divine parents of the world. Lord Shiva told them that he was waiting for their arrival, and that the apt location for installing the idol of Lord Vishnu was none other the place where they were standing. He also told that it was there the ten princes called Prachetas came to do penance upon Lord Vishnu for attaining the status of Prajapati, and He had taught Rudra Gita to them.
After hearing this, Brihaspati called Vishwakarma, the divine architect and told him to construct a temple for the deity which he did in no time. Brihaspati and Vayu installed the idol with all necessary rituals: Lord Shiva performed the first pooja to the deity, demigods headed by Indra showered flowers and Sage Narada sang songs. Since the idol was installed by Brihaspati and Vayu, Lord Shiva declared that the place would be known as ‘Guruvayur’. The deity came to be known as Guruvayurappan, meaning ‘The Lord of Guruvayur’. It is considered that Lord Vishnu resides here with his full power as in Vaikunta, and thus it is ‘Bhuloka Vaikunta’.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who were present throughout the divine moment, later shifted themselves to Mammiyur, a place on the opposite bank of the lake, where they appeared as a Swayambhu Linga along with their children Ganesha, Kartikeya and Sastha. A darshan at Guruvayur is considered complete only by worshipping Lord Shiva in Mammiyur.
After hearing this story, Janamejaya proceeded to Guruvayur along with his family, and stayed there for a year. During these days, he worshipped the Lord and also visited Mammiyur temple to worship Lord Shiva. Finally, on the day before the end of his worship, he had a darshan of Lord Krishna, after which his disease was cured. He returned to his country, and lived happily thereafter.
King Janamejaya was not the first, nor was he the last. Lord Maha Vishnu of Guruvayur has been the shelter and saviour of millions of devotees thereafter. It is said that He never disappoints those who are pure at heart and who seek his mercy.
Thus ends the legend of Lord Maha Vishnu of Guruvayur, Lord Guruvayurappan.
Connected anecdotes
It appears that an astrologer told Janamejaya that he was destined to die from a cobra bite on a particular day. When he returned after an year’s stay in the temple, he realized that the time of his death had passed. He asked the astrologer why the prediction was wrong. The wise man showed him the mark on his left foot where the cobra had bitten him. Since the king was wholly absorbed in the Lord, he did not feel the sting nor did it affect him. He had escaped death only because he was at that time in the temple where Anantha, brother of Guruvayurappa and the emperor of serpents was present.. It is said that in gratitude, he built the full-fledged temple at Guruvayur and set apart funds for the daily routine of the temple. However, another reference connects the same incident to a Pandyan king and gives credit to him for having built the temple!
It is said that with time, the temple lost its glory and was even subjected to financial constraints during the days when Kerala was ruled by the Perumals. The Perumal rulers were mostly Shaivites and neglected Vaishnavite shrines. The Shiva temple at Mammiyur received their patronage and with that, the worshippers also moved to the Shiva temple. However, one day, a holy man went to the Mammiyur temple for food and hospitality for the night. Though the temple was affluent, the temple authorities pretended they had nothing and directed him to the neighbouring Guruvayur temple.
When the holy man entered the precincts of that temple, he was courteously received by a Brahmin boy and sumptuously fed. The holy man was very much pleased and he pronounced a blessing. According to the legend, the fortunes of Guruvayur Vishnu temple progressed from strength to strength while the Mammiyur Siva temple began to decline.
To be continued….