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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/supreme-court-slams-guruvayur-temples-decision-to-skip-ancient-ritual-on-ekadasi-kerala-2648345-2024-12-11

Context:

Recently the Supreme Court issued notice against the authority of the Guruvayur temple for skipping the Udayasthamana pooja on Ekadashi citing the issue of crowd management.

About Guruvayur Temple:

It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Guruvayurappan (four armed form of Lord Vishnu).

Location: Guruvayur town, Kerala.

Origin: According to the debates, either 17th-century or 5000 years back.

It is often referred to as Bhuloka Vikuntha, meaning the holy abode of lord Vishnu on Earth, and it is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavite tradition.

It is also known as Dwarka of South.

The temple was destroyed by the Dutch in 1716 and rebuilt in 1747

Features:

• The main festivals of this temple are the 10 day festival in the Kumbham month, Krishna Janmashtami, Ekadashi, and Vishu.
• The temple has a pond on its northern side, called Rudratheertham. According to legend, lord Shiva used to take bath there for thousands of years.
• This temple is the home to the largest population of the captive male Asian Elephants in the world.
• The temple is designed in Kerala style of architecture.
• The temple includes a 70-feet-tall flagstaff, called Dwajasthamba, fully covered with gold.
• Prominent devotees include:
  • • Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri.
    • Poonthanam Namboothiri.
    • Vilwamangalam Swamiyar.

Source:

INDIA TODAY