Trip to guruyavoor - Other wanderings!

While having our breakfast, we were planning to visit some of the well-known temples in Guruvayoor. We hired a cab for our round trip and visited Mamiyar temple, Parthasarathi temple and the elephant sanctuary.

In every temple in kerala, dress code is strictly followed. The male devotees have to enter the temple only with the dhoti and shalya. No entry to devotees, with pant and shirt.

At mamiyar temple we experienced the same treatment. But we were informed that the washed clean dhotis are available for rent just outside the temple. So myself and my brother took the dhotis and had the darshan of the lord. The lord in this temple is shiva . And there is also a separate sannidhis for Vishnu and goddess ammal. The temple is vast and neat and peaceful.

There is an interesting custom that I would like to share…

It is believed in the sanctum of Devi Bhagavathi, mantracised cocoanut breaking will indicate whether the wish we have in mind at the time of pooja will be fruitful or not. The wish could be the marriage, health, studies, job or progeny. They follow an interesting ritual.

At the counter ticket is to be bought for ten rupees. And at the counter coconuts without head tail, are kept in a basket. One coconut is to be taken and wetted in water kept beside the basket. The wetted coconut is to be taken to the Bhagavathi sannidhi, and coconut with the ticket is to be handed over to the priest. The priest performs the pooja and sprinkle water over the coconut given by the devotee. He will enquire the purpose of offering. After hearing purpose, the priest breaks the coconut. Based on the way in the coconut breaks, he will tell whether the purpose will be fulfilled or not!

The next temple we visited was one Shiva temple. I have forgotten about the name of the temple. But when we went there, the final pooja for the morning session had been over and the temple was shut for the morning. We wee told that the temple will be open only in the evening at 4.00 p.m. With a sad heart, we treaded back to the car.

Next, our driver took us to Parthasarathi temple. The time was 12.00 noon. The final magalaarathi was yet to be done. Here myself and my brother were unlucky. With the pant and shirt on we were denied the entry. And as in previous case, we could not find the shop that lends the dhothi. So we waited outside the temple at the main entrance. My wife and my sister in law went inside the temple to have darshan of the presiding deity, Parthasarathi.

But, we were not completely unlucky. We could have the darshan of the lord from outside. The deity was bedecked with lovely flowers. Even from the distance, it is was captivating sight. The Lord in his splendorous beauty. My wife, Sarasa told that the garbha gudi, was built in the form of a ratham. The deity of this temple was consecrated by Jagadguru Shankaraachaarya after he had the vishvaroopa darshanam of Lord. We observed that the local devotees throng to the temple at the time of mahamangalaarathi.

From here we drove straight to the elephant sanctuary. Here about 15-20 temple elephants were being tended. There were couple of care-takers who were bathing the elephants giving them relief from the hot sun.



It was told to us that the daily expenditure for all the elephants would be around Rs. 5000/-. Donors are welcome to take part in the scheme. After this visit, we planned to get back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon relaxation.