Top Public Arts in Guruvayur, India

Not a good replica

Those who missed to see Guruvayur Kesavan 1 & 2 live, can enjoy them exactly as they were. Felt that they are right proportion with all details. Those who visit Guruvayur should spare time to visit Kesavan statue.

Must visit

Magnificent sculpture

Guruvayur keshavan is a great elephant in the history and this statue is for remembering keshavan

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Guruvayur Maraprabhu is a 54 feet (16 m) terracotta statue located at the Sreevalsam Guest House Complex in Guruvayur, Kerala, India. It is a creative interpretation of lord Guruvayurappan.

The word Maraprabhu means the ‘lord of tree’. The statue was inaugurated by K. Karunakaran, the popular Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala on 24 June 1995, his 77th birthday (according to Malayalam customs).The sculpture was designed by P.V.Ramachandran (a well known monument /terracotta artist of Kerala) ; chief sculptor being Krishnan Paloor, mainly assisted by Nilambur Apputty Swami, Nilambur Kuttan, Nilambur Chamy and Kozhikode Gopalan (all belonging to the traditional pottery community).

Myth

Melpathur and Poonthanam were contemporary scholars and both were devotees of Guruvayurappan. The writing styles of Melpathur and Poonthanam were different. Melpathur used Sanskrit and at the same time Poonthanam used Malayalam. Once at a Sahasranamam recital Poonthanam wrongly recited ’ Padmanabha Amaraparbhu’ as ‘Padmanabha Maraprabhu' which means God of trees. Melpathur insulted Poonthanam by openly laughing out at him. Poonthanam’s compositions were brimmed with devotion and he was humble. The myth goes like this. Guruvayurappan himself came to the aid of his devotee and intervened as a celestial voice that ‘ I am also Maraprabhu‘ to save him from insult.

Features

The sculptor P.V. Ramachandran is the one who is behind the construction of a terracotta sculpture which is 52 feet tall. Thousands of artists labored hard for the construction of Guruvayur Maraprabhu. It was inaugurated by former Kerala Chief Minister, K. Karunakaran, who was the then Industrial Minister, Government of India.

Significance

Maraprabhu is the symbol of cure with the help of herbs. Trees and Herbs are the ultimate source of medicines and it can cure ailments and can save the life. The Maraprabhu idol is said to generate immense cosmic energy because of the medicinal herbs used in its construction.

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This Elephant statue has a huge legend behind it.
This elephant calf was gifted to the TEMPLE by VALIYA RAJA OF NILAMBUR on 4th Jan 1922 as a fulfilment of a promise / vow made by the king to the God for saving his family from his enemies.
It’s said that it was captured from the NILAMBUR FOREST.
Kesavan is said to be so devout to GURUVAYURAPPAN that it would come FIRST in the ANNUAL ELEPHANT RACE (AANAYOTTAM) to decide on the elephant to carry the IDOL during the processions.
A famous race is from the 1930’s when Kesavan defeated AKHORI GOVINDAN
In 1973 the DEWASOM BOARD gave it the title - GAJARAJAN - KING OF ELEPHANTS.
The legend although is that that as Keshavan started getting old, it lost the race - came 2nd.
So when the ELEPHANT was recommended to take rest in the temple’s grounds and another elephant was not ur into service, KESAVAN would come to the temple like before.
Next time Keshavan was taken 5 km away, but still he broke the chains and presented himself in front of the temple to provide his services.

That’s when they did a PRASHNAM and it came out the at until KESHAVAN is alive, he should serve.

They did a PRASHNAM in SRI PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE of THIRUVANANDAPURAM for opening the closed vaults.

During the Guruvayur Ekadasi of 1976, Keshavan fell ill and was about to tremble during the deity procession. He was immediately taken to the stable where he fasted for the night and died few days later on 2 December 1976. He fasted for the entire day and dropped down facing the direction of the temple with his trunk raised as a mark of prostration

Maraprabhu statue very nice. ...

GURUVAYUR KESAVAN ELEPHANT STATUE WAS BUILT IN 1976 IN FRONT OF SREEVALSOM GUEST HOUSE IN THE SOUTH EAST SIDE OF GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE.
THIS ELEPHANT CALF WAS GIVEN TO THE TEMPLE BY KING OF NILAMPUR KOVILAKAM IN 1916. STANDING A MAMMOTH 3.4 M TALL WITH 20 NAILS, KESAVAN CARRIED GURAYOORAPPAN IDOL IN FESTIVALS AND PROCESSIONS UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1976....

Gajarajan Guruvayoor Keshavan is perhaps the most famous and celebrated temple elephant in Kerala, India. Keshavan was donated to the Guruvayur temple by the Royal Family of Nilambur on 4 January 1922. Standing over 3.28 meters tall, he was one of the tallest elephants that lived in Kerala and was known for his devout behavior. As Keshavan's name and fame increased, the Devaswom board gave him the unique title Gajarajan (King of elephants) in 1973. Keshavan died on 2 December 1976, which happened to be Guruvayur Ekadasi, considered a very auspicious day. After Keshavan's death, the Guruvayur Devaswom Board erected a statue there in Gajarajan's memory. The anniversary of his death is still mourned in Guruvayur. Many elephants line up before the statue and the chief elephant garlands it. After his death, Guruvayur Padmanabhan became the successor of Guruvayur Keshavan.

Nice one whixh explain the importance of guruvayoor keshavan

Great idol "Maraprabhu Statue"...

💐 great sculpture work near guruvayur temple.

A history lies here. Tribute to Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan and Keshavan's status is here near maraprabu.

THIS TERRACOTTA IDOL CALLED MARAPRABHU OR TREE LORD IS THE GOD GURUVAYOORAPPAN (SRI KRISHNA) ITSELF.THE SCULPTURE WAS MADE BY ARTIST P.V RAMA CHANDRAN OF KERALA IN 1995. AROUND 150 TYPES OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL TREE AND PLANT ROOT JUICE IS USED IN THE CLAY DOUGH BESIDES WATER.A DIVINE FACE AND TREE BODY SCULPTED IN LEAVES AND ROOT IN 16 M HEIGHT IS THE THEME.A 15 TON GOLD COLOR BRONZE HALO WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE STRUCTURE LATER.
RECENTLY IN 2018 CINE ACTOR MOHAN LAL GIFTS THE MINIATURE VERSION OF GOLDEN MARAPRABHU TO PM OF INDIA SRI NARENDRA MODI. NOW IT'S A TREND OF GIFTING THIS MARAPRABHU BY DEVOTEES ..........
YOU CAN VIEW THIS IDOL AT SREE VALSAM GUEST HOUSE , 50 M EAST FROM THE TEMPLE AND GET RELIEF FROM MENTAL AND PHYSICAL THREAT......