Uthara Guruvayurappan Temple, Nanganallur – Prayers
Pal payasam is the favorite food of the Lord residing in
the temple. So, it is a special offering to the Lord. The other offerings
include Sambar rice, Ven Pongal and Sweet Pongal. Curd rice is an offering done
on daily basis after Sriveli in the morning. These offerings are distributed to
the devotees visiting the temple at that time. One can donate for the Flower
decoration for the Lord and his chariot, taken during the Sriveli. Annadhanam
is a regular practice followed during occasions like Onam, Vishu, and Kaisiga Dwadashi.
Anna prasannam (the ritual of first giving rice to a baby) and Thulabharam are
also done in this temple.
Vibuthi kappu for Sastha is done on request by the
devotees. Devotees can offer a garland made of bangles as an offering to the
Goddess Bhagavathi. A unique feature of this temple is that the outer walls of
the sanctum and sanctorum are fitted with brass lamps like in Guruvayur. During Ekadesi, Pournami, Rohini star, Ashtami (eight
day of moon) and special occasions, the lamps outside every shrine are lit.
Donations towards the oil used can be done at a prementioned date.
Narayaneeyam, the magnum opus of Narayana Bhattathri, is
recited with utmost devotion by men and women on the third Thursday of every
month of Tamil calendar. Narayaneeyam is a treatise on the incarnations of Maha
Vishnu. It is believed that the author, after finishing every stanza, got the
approval of Lord Guruvayurappan in Kerala. Lord Krishna who is always ready to
bless his dear ones, used to nod his head as if to approve Bhattathri’s
outpourings. Bhattathri, who was inflicted by an incurable disease, surrendered
himself to the Almighty, begging for cure. Thus, Narayaneeyam was written in
front of the Lord. Bhattathri was cured of his illness and became a normal
healthy man. Thus, reading Narayaneeyam, at least one stanza every day, is said
to have a miraculous positive effect on health.