Guruvayur Ekadashi Festival

This year the auspicious Guruvayur Ekadashi falls on 10th December 2016.

The Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur, unmistakably one of most sought after places of worship in Kerala, is all set to celebrate its most popular festival – Ekadasi . And the festive mood has already set in at every nook and corner of this temple town.

Ekadasi, the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight, is very auspicious to the Hindus. Of the 24 Ekadasis in an year, the Vrishchika Ekadasi (Suklapaksha) has got special significance in Guruvayur. It falls in the Mandala season. The Navami (9th day) and Dasami (10th day) are also very important.One of the most important rituals associated with Guruvayur Ekadashi, is the lighting of Ekadasi Vilakku (lamps). "Ekadasi Vilakku" starts a month before the Ekadasi day as offerings by different persons, families and organisations. On Navami day, the Vilakku is lit with ghee as an offering by Kolady family. The Dasami Vilakku which used to be an offering of Zamorin Raja, is now conducted by Guruvayurappan Sankeerthana Trust. After the temple is open on this day for Nirmalya darshan ( 3.00AM ), it is closed only at 9.00 am on Dwadasi Day (12th day), thus allowing continues darshan for devotees throughout Dasami and Ekadasi Days. Until the temple entry for all Hindus in 1947, Avarnas (lower caste) were allowed to come up to Thiyyarambalam on Dasami day (in between Manjulal and Eastern Gopuram). On Dwadasi day there is a custom of offering a token amount called Dwadasi Panam in Koothambalam for the welfare of the family.

A highlight of the Ekadasi is the memorial honour for Gajarajan Kesavan . The Karanavar or head of the elephant family places a wreath at the statue of Kesavan in front of Sreevalsam guest house and all the other elephants stand around and pay obeisance. On Ekadasi day, the Udayasthamana Pooja (continuous pooja) is conducted by the Devaswom itself . After the morning seeveli, on Ekadasi there is a grant elephant procession to the Parthasarathi temple since it is regarded as Geethopadesam Day also. On Ekadasi after night pooja the famous Ekadasi Vilakku with elephant procession takes place and provides a fitting finale to the festival.

Some of the most popular occasions of Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayur also take place during this time of the year. The Guruvayur Kesavan Memorial Day, Chembai Music Festival, Narayaneeya Day and Kalabhattam are just some of the occasions during which several hundreds of devotees reach Guruvayur town. However, the Guruvayur Ekadasi Vratham tops the chart of all festivities. Every year, the jubilance is felt not alone in and around the Sree Krishna temple but across Guruvayur town which gets drenched in celebrations during the festival. 

Importance of Guruvayur Ekadashi:

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.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.

Ekadasi Fasting:

The preparation for Ekadashi fasting begins on the Dasami day – the day before Ekadasi. On the Ekadasi day, devotees observe complete fast. The day is meant for spiritual uplifting through meditation, chanting and satsangs. Guruvayoor Ekadasi is also called Mokshada Ekadasi, as its observance leads to one's moksha or liberation.

There are also devotees who do not observe total fast. They avoid grains especially rice and consume fruits, nuts and milk.

The fasting comes to an end on the Dwadashi day with the consuming of food cooked in one’s house.

To know more about Ekadashi rituals and the significance of vrata please visit the link: https://devaayanamblog.blogspot.in/2016/11/significance-of-ekadashi.html