Thousands throng Sree Krishna temple

GURUVAYUR: Thousands of devotees thronged the Sree Krishna temple here on Monday to offer prayers on Karkidakam first. The day also marks the beginning of Ramayana masam rituals. Hundreds of devotees from nearby states en route to Sabarimala shrine also offered prayers at the temple.

The Bhagavatha Sapthaham in memory of Vahzhakkunnam Vasudevan Namboothiri began at the Devotional Hall with Bhagavatha Mahatmyam discourse by Venmani Krishnan Namboothiri on Monday evening. Special poojas will be performed at the Ganapathi shrine adjacent to Melpathur auditorium during the month of Karkidakam. The auspicious Gurupoornima Day is also celebrated in Karkidakam which falls on July 29.

Devotees will also perform nalambala darsan by offering prayers at Sree Ramaswamy temple, Triprayar, Koodalmanikkam temple, Irjinjalakkuda, Sree Lakshmana temple, Moozhikkulam and Sree Sathrughnan temple Payammal on the same day.

The special discourse on Ramayanam by 31 acharyas will be held at Melpathur Auditorium daily in the evening. The first discourse in the series is on Ramayanam Balakandam by Vrinda Lakshmi on Tuesday.

Special rituals will be observed at Chowalloor Siva Temple near here during the month of Karkidakam. Thrikala pooja for Sree Mahadevan and Sree Parvathi will also be performed at the Chowalloor temple.