What is Guruvayur Ekadashi?

The Ekadashi observed in Sri Krishna temple in Guruvayur is known as Guruvayur Ekadashi. The other names of this ekadasi are Mokshada Ekadasi or Prabodini Ekadasi.

Read the legend of Mokshada Ekadasi

When is Guruvayur Ekadashi?

It falls in the Vrichikam month of the Malayalam calendar.

Guruvayur Ekadasi Date?

2017

29 November 2017

2018

18 November 2018

What is so special at Guruvayur temple on this ekadashi?

The door of the Guruvayurappan shrine does not close on the Guruvayur Ekadashi day.The shrine opens at 3.00 hrs on the Dasami day(the before day of Ekadashi) and closes only at 9.00 hrs on Dwadasi day(the day after ekadasi)

Guruvayur Ekadasi and its associated events

The ekadasi Vilakku is observed on 30-Nov-17

This event begins a month before the guruvayur ekadasi.(i.e) two ekadashis before Guruvayur Ekadashi day. The entire temple is decorated with traditional and contemporary lamps. The oils and wicks are sponsored by the devotees. On the night of Ekadasi the famous Ekadasi vilakku is taken on an elephant procession. A few hundreds of devotees gather to witness this event.

Honoring of elephant Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan

Lord Guruvayurappan is the owner of the largest number of elephants in India and on the Ekadashi day, there are special elephant processions in Guruvayur Temple.

A highlight of the Ekadasi is the honoring of the elephant Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan – an elephant that attained legendary status when it was alive and is still remembered and honored at the temple. Guruvayur Kesavan passed away on a Guruvayur Ekadasi day.

On the day, the leader of the elephants at Punnathur Kotta of the Guruvayur Temple places a garland on the statue of Guruvayur Kesavan and all the elephants stand around and pay obeisance.

There is also a grant elephant procession to the nearby Parthasarathy Temple as it is the day when Bhagavad Gita was rendered to Arjuna by Lord Krishna – Geeta Jayanti, which is known as Geethopadesam Day here.

Dwadasi Panam

On the Dwadasi day, there is a unique custom of offering Dwadasi Panam in the Koothambalam of the temple. The Dwadasi Panam is a token amount of money and it is considered highly auspicious.