RESPECT INDIAN FLAG

Flag respect is the base and foundation of all flag etiquette decisions. Indian law says that the flag must at all times be treated with “dignity, loyalty and respect”. The “Flag Code of India – 2002″, which superseded “The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950″, governs the display and usage of the flag.The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. Disposal of damaged flags is also covered by the flag code.Damaged or soiled flags may not be cast aside or disrespectfully destroyed.They have to be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the flag.

If we learnt that some one burnt our national flag in Kashmir or in Pakistan then our blood boils. But we Indians what are we doing? So many are feeling pride by using the colours of tiranga as a fashion apparel.The national flag must never be worn as a garment or attached to any part of your attire. We are using flag tricolor as saree, flag in T shirts, cake cuttings, applying tri colours in face, Some proudly placed/pinned up on the clothes. Some one Set in cars. While some being taken right up to the office desks and some adorn the cubicles with the colours of the India. While some will wrap tricolour bands around their wrists and the sight of the Tricolor fills pride in every heart and In colours that bind, emotions of a country run.

A flag is the national symbol of a country and the Indian national flag was designed as a symbol of freedom. The Evolution of the Indian National flag sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. Our tri-coloured flag depicts the integrity, peace and unity of our nation amidst all the diversities. Therefore it is the duty of every Indian to respect our national Flag as it is definitely a matter of pride but we should not show our pride by depicting the flag in dire ways. Take pride in your work, the country will take pride in you. Not that any of us needed the prompting. The colours of the Indian flag are a construct of the nation. They are not colours that run. They are colours that are resident, Colours that inspire, Colours that remind, Colours that’re reminded.

We need to understand the true concept of patriotism and nationalism represented by the tricolor.No nation is complete without its sense of patriotism which arises out of national symbols like the national flag and we should respect country's flag because it is our country's highest and most recognizable symbol, and the way you treat it is representative of your attitude towards your country. Last but not least Don’t depict national flag in dire ways! Love for one's country is symbolized by the respect for the national flag. Respect for National Flag is a symbol for the moral values of the citizens of the country. Respect our roots Identity India. Be Indian. Behave Indian. 

26th JANUARY REPUBLIC DAY

Today is January 26^th Republic day. For every nation there are certain days which are considered as very Important days. In India the Republic Day is one of the Important day, perhaps the most important day of our country and holds a lot of value in every Indians heart and mind. It is on this day that the Indian constitution Came in to force and finally enjoyed the true spirit of freedom. Many great scholars and freedom fighters efforts are there to draft our Constitution. Every citizen of India should celebrate our Republic Day with utmost devotion and sincerity because this observance will remind us of our sacred duty to guard our Constitution. It is a day of remembrance, thanksgiving, and rejoicing. It is a day to remember and keep alive the fond memories of national heroes who have shed their blood for the freedom of our nation.

This day also marks the gratitude that we Indians prosper in a sovereign, secular and democratic soil that stands for the principles of justice, equality, fraternity and liberty; the golden words that form the spirit of our Preamble.

As we are celebrating our Republic Day it’s the time to Salute the Martyrs, soldiers and pay our homage to every Citizen of this Country who has contributed in the betterment of our Country in their own way and this post is dedicated to all the freedom fighters soldiers and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the country.It is the sacred duty of every Indian young and old to observe the Republic day of India.

On this special day and always let us rededicate ourselves to the noble principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity on which the Republic of India was founded. On this special day lets promise our motherland that we will do everything to enrich and preserve our heritage our ethos and our treasure. Let the glorious legacy of our freedom struggle continue to guide us in the new century.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY TO ALL.

PROUD TO BE AN INDIAN

JAI HIND.

23 RD JANUARY SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE BIRTHDAY

The history of India’s freedom shines through the immortal courage wisdom and truth of the heroic personalities like Mangal pandey, Vivekananda, keshab chandra sen, Bakim chandra chatterje, Subhash chandra bose, Bhagat singh, Rajguru, sukhdev, Mahatma Gandhi, and there were many great heroes born at the time of the freedom movement. Each of them followed their own method of attaining one goal - Independence for India. One such hero was Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately known as 'Netaji' who was born on 23^rd January 1897. A great Patriot and saint, that is the real identity of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who sacrificed his professional and personal life for the nation.

Some people write history with a pen, some by their might, and some simply by virtue of being associated with someone. But if ever there was a man, who wrote history by his blood, courage and sheer determination, it was Subhash Chandra Bose. A brilliant  student, influenced by Swami Vivekananda ‘s teachings.He joined the Indian civil services in England but deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre he returned to India.His motivational leadership inspired thousands of Indians to die for the motherland, and his Indian National Army shook the foundations of the mighty British. He was one of the few politicians   who  worked towards Hindu-Muslim unity . He coined the nationalist phrase "Jai Hind" which later achieved popularity as a patriotic salutation in independent India.

Since childhood I have read number of stories about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. His life always fascinated me. In India, he is widely respected and hailed as a patriot and national hero, who advocated armed struggle as the only way to free India and stood against the British colonial forces. He has the distinction of both working with Mahatma Gandhi as well as embracing revolutionary nationalism through armed struggle.The only man in India who has guts to oppose Gandhi. But he repects Gandhi and he only labeled Mahatma Gandhi as the 'father of the nation'.

Bose advocated complete freedom for India, whereas the congress committee wanted it in phases, through a Dominion status.He was elected president of the Indian National congress twice in 1937 and in 1939, the second time defeating Gandhiji’s nominee.He brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand over India to the Indians, falling which there would be a revolt.There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of preseident and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.During World war II, India was declared as a warring state.Bose started a mass movement against this and the British Promptly imprisoned him.It was in 1941, that Bose suddenly disappeared. In November 1941, his broadcast from German radio sent shock waves amongst the British and electrified the Indian Masses.

The Axis powers assured Bose Military and other help to fight the british.He Formed the Indian National Army (INA) and a government by the name “Azad Hind Government” was declared on the october 21, 1943.INA freed the Andaman and Nicobar islands from the British and were renamed as Swaraj and shaheed islands. Delhi Chalo(Let’s March to Delhi) was the cry of the INA. India is calling, Blood is calling to blood. Get up, we have no time to lose. Take up your arms ! we shall carve our way through the enemy's ranks, or if God wills, we shall die a martyr's death. And in our last sleep we shall kiss the road that will bring our Army to Delhi. The road to Delhi is the road to Freedom. Chalo Delhi (March to Delhi)." Unfortunately, Bose, while travelling from singapore to Tokyo reportedly died in a plane crash.He was just 48.

Subhash Chandra Bose was endowed with great physical, mental and spiritual powers. But he never revealed his spiritual powers to anyone. He had a burning desire to make India a great and prosperous country. No other leader had such a strong aspiration for the freedom and progress of the country as Subhash Chandra Bose. He was the one who believed in action; not merely in speech like many other leaders. There are many great leaders in our country even today, but what is the use if they do not put into practice what they preach? They say a million things but do not put into practice even one!

Bose was the real person who practised what he preached. He often used to say that:

1.  "The greatest curse for a man is to remain a slave.

2.    The grossest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong.

3.    The highest virtue is to battle against inequity, no matter what the cost may be."

4.    A true soldier needs both military and spiritual training. As soldiers, you will always have to cherish and live up to the three ideals of faithfulness, duty and sacrifice. Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible. If you, too, want to be invincible, engrave these three ideals in the innermost core of your hearts.

In the book The Last Years of British India, Michael Edwardes, the distinguished British historian of the Raj, wrote of Bose: “Only one outstanding personality of India took a different and violent path, and in a sense India owes more to him than to any other man.

Last but not least It is very important to remember that India's freedom movement was in fact a movement of the masses and there were a number of great leaders with fierce patriotism and great visionary ideas who sacrificed their entire lives for the nation's cause. Let us pray and pay a heartfull tribute to all freedom fighters on the occasion of Netaji's birthday as his birthday is also observed as the National day of Patriotism every year. Many of us today cannot recognize Netaji's contributions to Indian Independence because we belong to a generation apart. But whatever little we come to know from authentic literature on him is simply awesome. Some half literates distort it even today, but his zeal, patriotism and power to dream is indeed exemplary. I have been his admirer since my childhood; still today his name makes me feel proud to be an Indian. 

A TRIBUTE TO GAJARAJAN GURUVAYUR KESAVAN

To whom the tribute is paying? Is he a freedom fighter? Musician? Martyr? Other than the keralites, all people will think what was the specialty of this elephant to which keralites are paying tributes? To understand the greatness of this elephant we have to be a true/pure human being. So leaving behind all the animal instincts hidden in ourselves (if any), let us have a close look at the divine qualities of this animal.

Guruvayur kesavan is regarded as the most prominent devotee elephant of Guruvayoor, the deity at Kerala. It was one of the majestic elephant which served the Lord with sincerity and uniqueness for all processions, festivals and ceremonies from 1916 to 1976, untill his death on the day of Guruvayur Ekadasi.In the year 1973 Kesavan was conferred the unique title "Gajarajan" (Elephant King), by the Guruvayoor Devaswom for his intelligence, good behaviour, love and devotion towards the Lord Guruvayoorappan. A life size staute of Keshavan with his own tusks was erected in front of the main temple entrance and every year during his death anniversay which falls on Guruvayur Ekadasi, all the elephants, line up in front of the statue for paying tribute and the chief elephant garlands the statue.

Gajaraja Guruvayur kesavan is quite an example of Bhakti (Devotion) always is holier than the Knowledge and associated ego. An elephant who served the lord with utmost devotion without ever chanting the slokas for 54 years, without anticipating anything without any wishes. The elephant, Guruvayur Keshavan still lives in the heart and mind of the Keralites through the narratives they get to hear from their older generations. These legends are the most common in the state of Kerala and told to the young children in order to create a sense of love and respect towards the true faith and their religion in their mind, from the young age.

My father use to say that who ever have seen him will never forget Kesavan and every keralite where ever they are, will have the photos or bamboo canvas of this gajaraja kesavan. When ever I visit guruvayur I will bow infront of his statue and ask to give his patience towards pure path of faith and devotion.

NAARAYANEEYAM DINAM ON 28TH DAY OF VRISCHIKAM MALAYALAM MONTH

Naarayaneeyam Day is celebrated at the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala annually on the 28th day of the Malayalam month of Vrichikam. In 2013, the Naarayaneeyam Day at Guruvayur Temple is on 13th December 2013.

"Naarayaneeyam" is the masterly work of Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri AD 1559-1632) A great devotee-poet who lived in Kerala during the 16th century AD. Naaraayaneeyam is a medieval Sanskrit text, comprising a summary study in poetic form of the Bhagavata Purana in 1036 verses divided into 100  Dasakas  or cantos. The work occupies a very high place in Sanskrit literature, both because of the intense devotional fervour of the verses, because of their extraordinary literary merit and one of the most popular religious texts in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.The devotional fervour of this work is extremely high and  the exposition of the Vedanta philosophy, especially in the last ten chapters, has no comparison.   The ruling sentiment is Bhakti  or devotion to the Lord, which serves as the means for attaining the four Purusharthas or  values of life, viz. Dharma  (righteousness), Artha (worldly prosperity), Kama (desire for sensual enjoyments) and Moksha (emancipation from worldly ties).

Tracing back to history Naarayaneeyam was written as an offering to Lord Vishnu after sitting in Bhajan at his lotus feet at a place called Guruvayoor in South India of Kerala.The reason for the offering was Achyuta Pisharadi, Guru of Bhattatiri fell a victim to a severe attack of paralysis and suffered unbearable pain.Bhattatiri, the devoted disciple could not bear the suffering of his Guru and therefore prayed that the disease may be transferred to him and his Guru freed of suffering. Bhattatiri accepted the "Karmavipaka Dana" by which the sins of his Guru were transferred to him which no one could cure.

  

A "Bhajanam" in the temple of Guruvayoor was considered as a sure cure for paralysis and so Bhattatiri went to Guruvayoor for 100 days of "Bhajanam" along with his younger brother, Mathrudatta. Before going to guruvayur Bhajan he met  Tunchath Ezhuthachan an eminent Malayalam poet and Sanskrit scholar of the time for an advice and the Sanskrit scholar told him to star with fish ("meen thottu koottuka").The disciples of Bhattathiri who heard this were shocked because Bhattathiri was a devout Hindu and therefore a vegetarian who would consider it sinful to eat fish. Bhattathiri however understood the inner meaning of Ezhuthachan’s advice and took it in the proper sense hence decided to present the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu starting with the fish, as narrated in the Bhagavatham in a series of Dasakas ( Groups of ten slokas) .

When Narayana Bhattathiri goes to Guruvayur to compose verses describing the Lord’s 10 avataras, he calls upon Lord Guruvayurappan to listen his composes and verses. He narrated the incidents in each avatara and used to ask Guruvayurappan if indeed these things happened then Lord Guruvayurappan must acknowledge that Bhattathiri is right by just nodding his head. Guruvayurappan agreed for that and Bhattathiri says he will compose about 10 or 11 verses every day, and he will finish his work in 100 days. Guruvayurappan wonders if Bhattathiri is seeking to claim that even God nodded His head in appreciation of his (Bhattathiri’s) verses. But Bhattathiri says he is only seeking to spread Guruvayurappan’s fame, not his own. He reminds Guruvayurappan that as Lord Rama he heard Lava and Kusa narrate the Ramayana and as he did so, he nodded His head in approval. The Ramayana has 24,000 verses, so He nodded His head 24,000 times. The work Bhattathiri is proposing to write is going to have only thousand-odd verses. Can the Lord can not nod a little over a 1,000 times Bhattathiri asks. Moreover, while He heard His story as Rama, He didn’t listen to the Srimad Bhagavatam that describes the Krishna avatara  and if he now does not listen to Bhattathiri’s work, will not the people say that the Krishna avatara is not as great as the Rama avatara, for the Lord listened to the Ramayana but did not listen to His exploits as Krishna ? Guruvayurappan then agrees to nod His head for each of Bhattathiri’s verses.

During the hundred days of his Bhajanam at the temple of Guruvayoor he summarized the entire Bhagavata Purana in 1034 verses at the rate of one Dasaka (canto) consisting generally of ten verses everyday. Each Dasakam ended with a prayer to the Lord of Guruvayoor to remove the ailments and sufferings. The 100th canto composed on 28th day of Malayalam month Vrichikam and it is a gem of a narration of the deity from head to foot. After 99 chapters in 100 Dasakam Guruvayoorappan had appeared in front of the poet in the form of venu gopala and On the same day he became completely cured of his disease.

This immortal composition, Naarayaneeyam, is so named for two reasons as mentioned by the poet himself in the 100th canto. It is about Lord Narayana and secondly because it was composed by Narayana Bhattatiri. These episodes are now being presented again by yet another Narayana!

To Guruvayur also, Naarayaneeyam is of utmost importance. No work of this magnitude has ever been dedicated and addressed to the deity of any other temple in India. It offers to the devout devotee an opportunity to visualise and worship Mahavishnu by reading it or listening to its rendition. It will shine and conjure up at Guruvayur in the heart of posterity. The Devaswom celebrates the Narayaneeyam Day every year with great enthusiasm and splendor.

In the Srimad Bhagavata and the Vishnu Purana it is told that the nine forms of Bhakti are Sravana (hearing of God's and stories), Kirtana (singing of His glories), Smarana (remembrance of His Name and presence), Padasevana (service of His feet), Archana (worship of God), Vandana (prostration to the Lord), Dasya (cultivating the Bhava of a servant with God), Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava) and Atmanivedana (complete surrender of the self). A devotee can practise any method of Bhakti which suits him best. Through that he will attain Divine illumination.

The literal meaning of sanskrit word Sravanam is hearing or listening to the name of God, being uttered, is one of the nine types of bhakti. But in the language of the Vedas, this word means " experiencing God through sravnedriyam or the instrument of hearing.Hearing of the holy name of the Lord (sravanam) is the beginning of devotional service and the best way of worshipping God. Although any one of the nine processes is sufficient, in chronological order the hearing of the holy name of the Lord is the beginning. Indeed, it is essential.Listening is an art, and it has to be cultivated. Hearing or reading stories full of Devotion (bhakti) is very pleasing to the heart and strengthens our love and devotion. In order to enter into deeper stages of bhakti we require a profound understanding about the nature of the Lord and our relation with him. 

Lord Krishna as Guruvayurappan has demonstrated the value of listening as a form of bhakti. If the Lord Himself listened to Naarayaneeyam and acknowledged each verse, the significance of Devotees (bhaktas) listening to the Narayaneeyam being recited or explained can be seen easily. Narayaneeyam is a summary of the Bhagavatha and its parayana (reading) confers great benefits; it is an effective faith therapy. It makes one God-conscious , it concerns mainly about our present life - Aarogyam (health and freedom from diseases) and saukhyam (happiness).

Last but not least The essence of Narayaneeyam is the presence of Guruvayurappan.

 DEDICATING THIS POST TO MY AMMA REDHI BHASKARAN.

GURUVAYUR EKADASI ON 13-12-2013.

The Krishna temple in the town of Guruvayoor in Kerala is one of the five famous Krishna\Vishnu temples in India. The others are Jagannath Puri in Orissa, Venkatachalapati in Andhra Pradesh, Nathdwara in Rajasthan and Dwaraka in Gujarat. Of course there are many other famous ones of Vishnu as well as of Krishna but these are considered to be the most popular.

ORIGIN OF GURUVAYUR EKADASI:-

Guruvayur Ekadasi is also observed as the Prathishta Dinam (installation day) of the temple. Though the temple is known as Sri Krishna temple, the idol made of Pathalanjana Sila, installed at the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum), is of Lord Mahavishnu.

There are 24 Ekadasis in a year and the Vrishchika Ekadasi (Suklapaksha) has got special significance in Guruvayur. Ekadashi that falls in the waxing phase of moon in the Malayalam month Vrishchikam (November – December) is observed as" Guruvayur Ekadasi" in the world famous Guruvayoor Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala. In 2013, Guruvayur Ekadasi is on December 13. It is believed that on this day the idol was installed. It is also on this day Lord Krishna preached the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra at Mahabharata Yudha (Mahabharata War) as per Malayalam calendar.

Another legend says that once when Lord Maha Vishnu visited the abode of Yama, he heard heart rending cries of people tortured for their sins. The Lord wanted to save them from more suffering and uttered the word Ekadasi. The very mention of the word removed all their sins. Observance of Ekadasi is believed to have a purifying effect. It is believed that the sins of a life time are washed away if one happens to see the Guruvayur Ekadasi Vilakku (festival of lights). Legend says that on Guruvayur Ekadasi, Lord Indra comes with Kamadhenu and gives all material wealth and offers worship to receive Sri Krishna's blessings. On that day all the theerthas such as Kasi, Badri, Sabarigiri and Palani in addition to rivers like Ganga and Jamuna assemble in this sacred place.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FORM OF GURUVAYOORAPPAN:-

Guruvayur is considered to be “Bhooloka Vaikunta” - the heaven on earth, as the idol was once worshiped by the Lord Mahavishnu himself in Vaikunta. The deity is in the traditionally orthodox form of Mahavishnu, with all the compliments - four arms each carrying sankh (conch), chakra (wheel), gadha (club) and padmam (lotus).

His lower right hand represents the revolving or creative tendency. This hand holds conch, symbol of the five elements ( panchajanyam). When blown, it produces a sound that is associated with the primeval sound from which creation developed.

His upper right hand represents the cohesive tendency. This holds the discus (sudarshana chakra) or the wheel. This has six spokes and symbolizes six-petalled lotus. It represents the limitless controlling of all the six seasons and is the fearful weapon that severes the head of demons. 

The upper left hand represents the tendency towards dispersion and liberation. This holds the lotus, symbol of the causal power of illusion from which the universe rises. This lotus is called Padma. It is the symbol of purity and represents the unfolding of creation.It is the truth from which emerged the rules of conduct and knowledge.

The lower left hand holds Gada (Mace), the symbol of primeval knowledge. It represents the notion of individual existence. This is named Kaumodaki and is the elemental force from which all physical and mental powers are derived.

Lord Guruvayurappan is the owner of the largest number of elephants in India and on the Ekadasi day there are special elephant processions. Special rituals and celebrations are held at the Lord Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple Ekadasi Vilakku (lamps) is an important ritual associated with Guruvayur Ekadasi. The temple remains open throughout Shuklapaksha Dasami and Shuklapaksha Ekadasi. The temple only closes at 9 hours on Dwadasi day, the day after Ekadasi. Also on the Dwadasi day there is a unique custom of offering Dwadasi Panam in the Koothambalam. The Dwadasi Panam is a token amount of money and it is considered highly auspicious.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF GURUVAYUR:-

One of the oldest idols in worship is that of Lord Guruvayurappan.The idol of Guruvayur is unique since it is curved out of “Paathalanjana sila” and is considered extremely sacred. Tracing back to history Prasni and Sutapas were a childless couple, who prayed to Lord Narayana for progeny. The Lord appeared before them and Prasni said that she wanted the Lord Himself to be born as her child. The Lord promised that since she had repeated her request three times, He would be Prasni’s child for three births of hers.

Prasni then prayed that she must have an idol of the Lord to worship. The Lord gave her the idol that is now being worshipped in the Guruvayur temple. In all the three births that Prasni took, she worshipped the idol given to her by the Lord.As promised, the Lord was born as Prasni’s son, and took the name Prasnigarbha. In her next birth, she was known as Aditi and was the wife of Kasyapa. As Aditi, she was privileged to be the mother of Vamana. In her next birth, Prasni was born as Devaki. She married Vasudeva, and the Lord was born to her as Krishna. The idol of Lord Vishnu which is found in Guruvayoor is one which had been worshipped by Devaki and Vasudeva and one can easily imagine that it must also have been worshipped by Lord Krishna himself. This is the greatness and glory of this particular idol of Lord Vishnu – that Vishnu himself had done puja to it in his incarnation as Krishna.

After the kurukshetra battle queen Ghandhari cursed Lord Krishna for playing a major role in the battle that resulted in the slaying of all her 100 children. Though the lord was much above such curse, he took it upon him happily. One day Uddhava was summoned by Krishna and was told that Dwaraka would be immersed in the sea after Krishna leaves Dwaraka to Viakunta.Finally at the time of Krishna's ascension to Vaikunta, his devotee Udhava became sad thinking how he will live without the Lord. Then Lord Shree Krishna gave Udava his idol and instructed him to entrust Brahaspathi (the Guru of Devas) with the task of taking the idol to a suitable place where people could worship it, so as to get salvation in Kaliyuga. A deluge had closed in on Dwaraka, but Guru salvaged the idol floating in the water, with the help of his prime disciple, Vayu. Guru and Vayu went around the world in search of an ideal place. They met Parasurama in Kerala, who was himself worried because of the widespread serious ailments amongst the people of the area. Sage Narada had earlier told Parasurama that installing the idol of Lord Krishna in Kerala and regularly worshipping it would rid the people of Kerala of all their ailments. Parasurama felt very happy and lead guru and vayu to a lush green spot with a beautiful lotus tank where they felt the presence of Lord Siva. Lord Siva along with Parvathy welcomed them and said, "This is the same spot you are looking for, here it was, I imparted the Rudrageetham to the Prechethas" The idol was installed there. Siva with Parvathy left to the opposite bank, at Mammiyur. Siva permitted Guru and Vayu to perform the consecration rites and blessed them that henceforth this place would be known as GURUVAYUR (since the installation was done by Guru and Vayu).It is in memory of this that worships in Guruvayur will be complete and accomplished only with a worship of Mammiyur Siva also.

Guruvayur became divine on account of the "tapas" performed by Lord Siva for years under the waters and later by the Prechethas (the ten sons of Pracheenabarhis and Suvarna are together called Prechethas) in the Rudratheertham - the sacred tank on the northern side of the present temple - where Lord Guruvayurappan has His Arattu (holy bath on the last day of Annual Utsavam). Prechethas (the ten sons of Pracheenabarhis and Suvarna) came to this place to do tapas to attain "prajapathithwam" (king of all kings) from Lord Mahavishnu. Sensing the motive of Prechethas, Lord Siva emerged out of the Rudratheertham and revealed to them the "Rudrageetham", a hymn in praise of Mahavishnu. Siva suggested them to chant it with all their heart to get their wishes fulfilled. The Princes won the favour of Mahavishnu after rigorous tapas for 10,000 years under the waters of Rudratheertham chanting Rudrageetham.

The word Guruvayur also has an esoteric meaning. It stands for the body of the human being which is the abode of wind. The five pranas or vital breaths are what sustain the body and make it function properly.Guruvayur is also hailed as "Bhuloka Sri Vaikuntham" meaning Heaven in Earth. where the deity reveals himself to his devotees in the same majestic form in which he welcomes them in Vaikuntha, his celestial abode. Even though the idol in Guruvayoor is that of Vishnu it is still known as a Krishna temple since the boy Krishna is always said to be running around incognito in the temple precincts.When devotees enter the temple, they must worship Him by reciting the namam ‘Narayana.’ Then they must recite ‘Guruvayurappan.’ And then finally they must worship by saying the name ‘Krishna.’

Gurunaadhan thuNa chaika santhatham 

thirunaamangal naavinmel eppozhum

Piriyaatheyirikkanam nammude 

nara janmam saphalamaakkiduvaan

May my Gurunathan help me (thuna chaika) to keep the auspicious names of Lord continuously on my tongue (naavinmel eppozhum) and to make this human life (narajanmam) meaningful and fruitful!(saphalamaakkituvaan).