Sri Uttara Guruvayurappan temple is located in Ram Nagar, Nanganallur, Chennai. It was once a thick forest populated by many ‘tapasvis'. Now called the
Gopalakrishnan, a bank officer and a member of the association, was also a philanthropist who donated his land and thus the ‘Guruvayurappan Asthika Samajam’ was born.
Another devotee, P V Subramanian, donated a piece of land where a thatched shed containing pictures of Lord Ganapathy, Sri Guruvayurappan, Sri Bhagavathi and Sri Ayyappan were placed for regular poojas. T V Anantharama Seshan, who later became the ‘melsanthi’ of the temple, performed poojas. He was a distinguished member of ‘The Hindu’ daily’s editorial board.
The temple is based on Kerala architecture and the kumbabishekam was performed on April 17, 1975. The idol of saint ‘Bilwamangal’ was installed in front of the Lord at the namaskara mandapam. The poojas and other rituals are based on mantra sidhantha. Poojas are performed thrice a day and ‘Sriveli’ is performed in a small chariot.
The members felt the need to construct a temple wherein the idols of the Gods and Goddesses could be consecrated. ‘Ashta Mangala Prasnam’, conducted by Brahmashri Vishnu Namboodiri of Pudusseri, revealed that the Lord gave darshan to His devotee, saint Bilwamangal, holding the chanku, chakra, gadha and padmam. The overjoyed saint offered Him a cup of fresh milk.
The Lord, who always accedes to His devotees’ wishes, said a temple would be built at that place and that the whole area would become a sacred place housing many temples.
There is proof now to His declaration. Nanganallur, which was once a thick forest, has now become a ‘temple town’. Thus, as per the ‘prasnam’, the idols of Lord Guruvayurappan, Sri Dharmasastha, Goddess Bhagavathi, Sri Prasanna Vinayaka, and the Navagrahas were consecrated. There is a separate shrine for Lord Venkateswara inside the temple, which was built recently.
Goddess Bhagavathi represents the Trinity of Goddesses - Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Durga. Thus, one can imagine the power of this ‘Shakti’.
The idol of Sankarshana was installed beneath the Peepal tree in a separate enclosure. Fresh milk is offered as neiveidhyam to the Lord every morning.
The Omniscient stands there with a mischievous smile always reminding us of his boyish pranks and also looks resplendent amidst all the lamps.
Sriveli is a procession in which the Lord is taken to all the eight quarters of the temple to inspect the neiyvediyams of the Ashtadikpaalakaas. This is done everyday at 8.00 a.m and 8.00 p.m.
‘Pal payasam’ is the favorite food of the Balagopal residing in the temple. So it is a special offering to the Lord. The other offerings include Sambar rice, Ven Pongal and Sweet Pongal. Curd rice is an offering done on daily basis after Sriveli in the morning. These offerings are distributed to the devotees visiting the temple at that time.
The Donations of the temple can be forwarded towards different types of Poojas done there. One can donate for the Flower decoration for the Lord and his chariot, taken during the Sriveli. Annadaanam is a regular practice followed during occasions like Onam, Vishu, and Kaisi Dwadasi. Anna prashanam (the ritual of first giving rice to a baby) and Thulabharam are also done in this temple.
A unique feature of this temple is that the outer walls of the sanctum and sanctorum are fitted with brass lamps like in Guruvayur. During Ekadesi, Pournami, Rohini star, Astami (eight day of moon) and special occasions, the lamps outside every shrine are lit. Donations towards the oil used can be done at a prementioned date.
‘Vibuthi kappu’ for Sri Sastha is done on request by the devotees. Goddess Bhagavathi is ‘Deepa Swaroopam’ and devotees can offer a garland made of bangles as an offering to the Goddess.
‘Narayaneeyam’, the magnum opus of ‘Narayana Bhattathri’, is recited with utmost devotion by men and women on the third Thursday of every month of Tamil calendar. Narayaneeyam is a treatise on the incarnations of Maha Vishnu. It is believed that the author, after finishing every stanza, got the approval of Lord Guruvayurappan in Kerala. Lord Krishna who is always ready to bless His dear ones, used to nod his head as if to approve Bhattathri’s outpourings. Bhattathri, who was inflicted by an incurable disease, surrendered himself to the Almighty, begging for cure. Thus, ‘Narayaneeyam’ was written in front of the Lord. Bhattathri was cured of his illness and became a normal healthy man. Thus, reading ‘Narayaneeyam’, at least one stanza everyday, is said to have a miraculous effect on the convalescing.
The Guruvayurappan Asthika Samajam conducts the Chithirai Tiruvizha festival with enthusiasm (usually in April). ‘Bhagavatha Sapthaham’ - narrating the leelas of Maha Vishnu in seven days - by scholars is arranged in the evenings. Apart from this, the month of Margazhi holds a favorite attraction for devotees who make it a point to visit the temple at the pre-dawn. The devotees are offered steaming hot Ven Pongal between 6.00 a.m to 7.00 a.m.
Gokulashtami, the birthday of
‘Danvantri’, the Father of Ayurveda (which is the fifth Veda) and the physician God is held with great reverence in this temple. Danvantri Day is celebrated every year with homam, the Dhanvatri mantram is repeated 108 times with great fervor, and prasadam is distributed to everyone. A poster of the Dhanvantri is given along with the prasadam.
‘Navaratri’ is a grand occasion. Goddess Bhagavathi is adorned with ‘Thanga Kavacham’. She radiates innocence, purity and beauty on all the nine days.
This divine scenario is indescribable. The whole place is also filled with the ‘Om Namo Narayana’ chant ringing all the time.
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2 comments:
Till when is the utsavam this year?
Great and useful article. Creating content regularly is very tough. Your points are motivated me to move on.
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