Finally, day one can be called a success! Now in Guruvayur. Started this evening from tirunavaya, by bus to Kuttippuram then second connection to Kunnamkulam and then final one to Guruvayur. This is one of top three holiest cities of Kerala. At the center, you have the main attraction, a temple dedicated to Krushn. Though it's a very famous vaishnavaite pilgrimage center, unlike Tirunavaya, it does not have a place in list of 108 divya desam, the most important vaishnavaite temples in south India. I reached here at around 7:15 pm. Temple opens at 8 after the evening rituals and them closes at 9 with grand elephant procession. I queued in along with other hundreds. The darshan was unexpectedly real quick. Though today is the important day of Ekadashi, there was less rush.
The temple, again, very much built as per the keralite architecture. The protective wall, then the inner million-lamp wall and the sanctum sanatorium in the middle. All the wood work and the stone carvings are centuries old. I liked most, the idol of sleeping Vishnu in the backside of the temple, very detailed... This temple is completely painted with stories of Krushn's childhood.
The main deity here is small, but very beautiful! The inner part of the temple is covered with gold. Two huge ivory tusks grab your attention at the entrance. Like many other South Indian temples, this one also maintains number of elephants who participate in daily and festive activities. Soon after I visited all smaller temples inside, the procession started. Few priests lead the group with traditional music instruments, followed by an ornamented elephant and then other devotees. Entire group circles around the sanctum sanatorium.
I'm going to spend this night here, and start for Thrissur early morning tomorrow, next blog, by noon tomo...