ഓം നമോ ഭഗവതേ വാസുദേവായ
History of SREE GURUVAYURAPPAN TEMPLE, KOLKATA!
The Lord Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur, Kerala, popularly known as the abode of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan is considered amongst the top five pilgrim centers for Hindus in India currently. In the year 1977, a few Guruvayurappan devotees in the great city of Kolkata joined together and formed a Bhagawatha Sapthaham Committee with the sole purpose of conducting Sreemad Bhagawatha Sapthaha Yagnam at Kolkata by Thirunamacharya Late Brahmasree Anjam Madhavan Namboodiri of Guruvayur. His disciple – brother Brahmasree Anjam Krishnan Namboodiri for reading and lecturing and Brahmasree Puliyanoor Subramanian Namboodiri, Thantri of Chottanikkara Temple for Pujas, accompanied him regularly. Since then, conducting this Yagnam had become a yearly feature. A few years later the committee got reconstituted and renamed as “Sree Guruvayurappan Samajam, Calcutta (Regd.)" and got registered with the appropriate authority. Members desired to have a Temple for the Lord and as a first step obtained astrological clearance which prophesized that the Lord was much pleased to have HIS presence in this Eastern part of India.
Trickling funds were getting accumulated out of yearly Saptaham Yagnam’s collections and the first portion of the present premises was bought. At that point of time, Thirunamacharya proclaimed that when 11 Bhagawatha Saptahams were held consecutively, Lord’s temple would come up and this gave enormous confidence and enthusiasm to the Governing members to go all out for fulfillment of this desire. Additionally, the adjacent plot was also purchased. Ashtamangalya Prasnam by eminent astrologers from Kerala was conducted wherein lots of vital and intricate points were clarified and Guruvayur Temple Thantri Brahmasree P.C. Diwakaran Namboodiripad and his son, Acharya Ratna Dr. P.C. Dinesan Naboodiripad were chosen as Thantris of this temple. Eminent Temple Architect Brahmasree Kanippayur Krishnan Nambodiripad was selected as the Temple Architect. The visiting H.H. Kanchi Kamakoti Sri. Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal ceremoniously laid the foundation stone on 17th January 1987 and gave HIS blessings for the early consecration of the sacred temple.
As a preliminary step, the sacred ‘Shadadhara Pratistha’ was performed in a most traditional manner by our Tantris in the year 1994. Construction activities were commenced and dedicated devotee-members came forward to assist in whatever manner required for early completion of the project. Black stones, selected and approved by our temple architect Brahmasree Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad, were brought all the way from Pattambi riverside in Kerala and a team of 10 eminent sculptors worked day and night at the temple. Assistance in kind and cash were pouring in from devotees who all desired for early completion of the temple Idols – Lord Sree Guruvayurappan, Lord Ganesh, Lord Ayyappa (Sastha), Goddess Bhagawathi (Durga) and Lord Hanuman which was prepared under the direct supervision of the temple architect. These were kept in Jaladhivasam for 41 days, which is a traditional system before final installation of deities.
Tantris with their eminent team of Rithwiks and Drummers arrived with all the required Puja items of rare variety in the 3rd week of January 1995, as by that time, the temple structure of black stone and other allied civil work were almost ready. Finally, after observing all the required rituals and procedures, the Pratishta (Consecration) of Lord Sree Guruvayurappan was done by Tantris at the auspicious Brahma Muhurtham on Thiruvonam Star, the 17th Makaram 1770, the 31st January 1995 in the early hours. After 3 days of religious rituals, the temple was ceremoniously opened for Darshan for the devotees. Temple Architect Brahmasree Kanipayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad and Thirunamacharya’s Brother Brahmasree Aanjam KrishnanNamboodiri was also present on these occasions.
NARAYANA NARAYANA OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEYA NARAYANA NARAYANA