Legend:- The temple is shrouded in mystery and  dates  back  to  the  16th  century. According  to  belief,  the temple is the creation of Guru (Preceptor of the Goods)  and  Vayu (God of Winds). Legend has  it  that  at the beginning of this era (yuga), Guru Brihaspati found a floating idol of Lord Krishna. He along with Vayu  installed the idol in this temple for helping mankind get through the travails of this yuga. Hence the deity  is  named  Guru-Vayur-Appan. Another legend  goes  like  Mahavishnu  in  Vaikunta  once  worshiped  this  idol  of  Guruvayur. Vishnu handed it over to Brahma. Legend has it that King  Suthapa  and  his  wife  Prisna  were  childless. They worshipped Brahma devotedly for a child. Brahma then handed over this idol to them advising them  to worship it ardently. Lord Vishnu appeared before them and blessed them that he himself will be born to them in three re-births, in three different forms and in three different situations. The third rebirth was  as  Vasudeva  and  Devaki. Lord Krishna was born as  their  eighth  son.  In  the  long run, the  Lord  Krishna  himself  installed  this  idol  in Dwaraka and worshipped it. Before leaving the earth to the heavenly  abode,  Lord  Krishna  told  Udhava,  his foremost disciple that he had installed the image of Lord Vishnu in the temple built by him at  Dwaraka  and that it should be entrusted to Brihaspathi(Guru of Devas) to take it to a sacred place so that people could worship it to attain salvation in the Kaliyuga. There was a  flood  in  Dwaraka  and  it  was  submerged  in  the  seas. Guru recovered the idol with the assistance of his disciple Vayu. Together, they traveled all over India in  search  of  a holy place and finally reached Kerala. Here, with the help of Parasurama, they  located  a  holy  spot. Guru  and Vayu installed the idol of  Lord Vishnu (Lord  Krishna). Vishwakarma, the  divine  architect  was  requested  to build a Temple, which he made in such a way  that  on  the  day  of  Vishu (Summer  equinox),  the  sun  himself makes his obeisance. The first rays on that day fall  straight  on  the  Lord's  feet. As  Guru  and  Vayu  together founded the temple, the place came to be called 'Guruvayupura' in accordance  with  Lord  Shiva's  wish.  Later the name was shortened to Guruvayoor.

Points to Remember:-

* A devotee can enter the Temple through the eastern or western gopura. It is ideal  that  the  darshan  is  made    after a dip in the Temple pond (Rudratheertha) and in wet clothes. While  making  the darshan  one  has to be    careful not to violate the Temple rules.

* Doubts can be cleared from Security officers and the attendants inside the temple.

* Devotees are not allowed to enter the temple  wearing  shirt,  pants,  pyjama,  lungi,  printed  dhoti,  chudidar,    chappals etc. These can be kept at the Devaswom cloak rooms free of cost. There are facilities for  the  same    at the east and west nada.

* Mobile phones,Camera, video camera, Tape recorder, radio etc should not be taken into the  'Chuttambalam'

* The devotees are not allowed to stand on the big 'Balikallu' inside the temple, for the darshan.

* The newly married couples are not allowed inside the nalambalam, soon after the marriage ceremony.

* Devotees should be careful not to spit or vomit inside the temple. Those found dirtying the  Temple  will  have    to pay for the 'Punyaha' (purification ceremony). So, small children should  not  be  allowed  to  be  inside  the    'nalambalam' for a long time.

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