Pilgrim Tours

Noted for its antiquity and historical importance, the supreme deity of grace and bounty, has its unique idol carved out of 'Pathalanjana sila' installed by Guru(Brihaspathy, the Preceptor of Gods), and Vayu (The God of Air) under the instructions of Lord Siva and Parvathy, the Poojas are said to be codified and stipulated by SREE SANKARACHARYA. An estimated turn out of more than 30 million devotees a year is ever on the increase, signified by the completion of the advance booking for the coveted Udayasthamana Pooja for the next 40 years.

Pooja Timings: 3A.M-12.30P.M, 4.30P.M-9.15P.M. There are five Poojas daily. On the days of Udayasthamana Pooja, there will be twenty one Poojas and timings may be changed accordingly.

 Krishnanattam is performed after 9.15P.M.

Guru, the preceptor of Gods and Vayu, The God of Air, on their search for a suitable place to install the idol of Sreekrishna, reached the Holy Rudratheertha, where Siva was staying with Parvathy. On knowing of their mission, Siva and Parvathy advised them to install the idol at the spot, where the Sreekrishna Temple is situated today in Guruvayur. Later Siva and Parvathy moved to the opposite bank of the Holy Rudratheertha, where the shrine of Siva and Parvathy was built, now known as the Mammiyoor temple. Devotees with a penchant for legend and mythology regard the pilgrimage to Guruvayur to be complete and fruitful only with a darsan at Mammiyur.

 The one and only Thrissur Pooram. That drives a people delirious and blissful by virtue of the enthralling fire works, the enticing Kudamattom atop the caparisoned elephants and the enticing Elanjithara Melam, crowns the glory of the ceremonies and festivals of a vibrant heritage the confluence of the holy processions of the deities of eight shrines in the vicinity is hosted by none other than Lord Siva, the presiding deity of the grand, old Vadakkunnathan Temple. The Pooram was ordered to be held by Sakthan Thampuran, the then ruler of the princely state in 1800A.D.

The temple, said to be founded by Parasurama and associated with Sree Sankaracharya has its idol the Sivalinga, covered with a Ghee Mound, formed by centuries of Ghee Abhishekam. And any crack or damage, if ever found thereof, signals an ominous consternation amongst the devotees. The temple occupies the pride of place in the cultural domain as is the city sprawling across the Swaraj Round, encircling the temple precincts.

Offerings:-  Neyyabhishekam, Uma Maheshwara Pooja, Mrithyunjaya Homam, Ashtadravya Ganapathi Homam, Neyvilakku, etc.

Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple, opposite the Vadakkunnathan temple plays a dominant role in the conduct of the Trissur Pooram. It is the one vying for pre-eminence against the Thiruvamhady vis-à-vis the choicest elephants, ornamental parasols and spectacular fire works.

 The temple, a little distance north to the Vadakkunnathan has Lord Sreekrishna as the presiding deity. The ceremonial procession of the Lord to take part in the Pooram itself is marked by the traditional fervour and sanctity, with the idol of the deity atop the caparisoned elephant, to the accompaniment of the temple orchestra and the enraptured devotees.

The tranquil ambience of the picturesque locale, on the bank of the quiet flowing river. The idol of presiding deity, Sree Rama, is said to be the one retrieved from the sea, along with those of Bharatha, Lakshmana and Sathrukhna, that are believer to have been worshipped by Sreekrishna at Dwaraka. Hanuman, though without a separate idol, is worshipped with utmost devotion, here.

 Nalambala Darsanam, a special course of pilgrimage during the Ramayana Masa, ie, Karkatakom, starting with darsan at Thriprayar and covering the other three temples of Bharatha (Koodalmanikyam) Lakshmana (Moozhikulam) and Sathrukhna (Payammal) and getting back to Thriprayar again for darsan before the temple closes after the morning Pooja, is beleived to be most auspicious and propitiatory to Mahavishnu.

 A rare temple dedicated to Bharatha, the incarnation of Maha Vishnu's Divine weapon, Sreesudarsana, as the brother of Sree Rama has the idol of the presiding deity alone in the sanctum-sanctorum it is a prevalent version that the ruby from the palace brought to compare with the lustrous rays emitted from the forehead of the idol got merged with the idol, causing to be later known as 'Koodal Manikyam' only thulasi, lotus and chethi are used for the pooja offering. Brinjal as nivedyam is an accepted tradition.

Offerings:-  Kalabhabhishekam, Niramala, Nithya pooja, Chorunu, Thulabharam, Kadlipazha Nivedyam Palabhishekam, Palpayasam, Aikyamathya Suktham, Sree Rudram, Aparadha Nivruthi, Vishnu Sahasranamam etc.

Thamaramala is a special offering meant to pre-empt the rains on some chosen occasions.