London Sri Guruvayurappan Temple

LONDON HINDU AIKYAVEDI is organizing this fundraiser to benefit London Hindu Aikyavedi.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Namaskaram and warm greetings! We are writing to you with great enthusiasm and reverence to present a proposal for the construction of a magnificent Lord Guruvayurappan Hindu Temple in the heart of London. The temple project is conceived by the London Hindu Aikyavedi under the auspices of Mohanji Foundation UK.

We believe that your generous support will play a pivotal role in bringing this spiritual sanctuary to life, serving as a beacon of peace, harmony, and enlightenment for countless devotees in London and beyond.

What is the relevance of Lord Guruvayurappan?

The idol of Guruvayurappan came directly from Vaikuntha. Here goes the story.

Brahma told Vishnu that I can't see you, you are so big, so vast, unfathomable, how do I worship you. That’s when Mahavishnu himself manifested this idol of his form with 4 arms and gave it to Brahma. Later on, Brahma handed over this idol to the Prajapatis, the creators of the world. Finally, this idol reached Vasudeva, the father of Krishna.

Vasudeva was worshipping the idol inside the prison. When Krishna was born, he was born in the same form as the idol. Vasudeva prayed to him to take the normal two-handed human form. That's when Krishna took a normal human form.

Ultimately, the Vishnu idol came to Krishna, and he established a temple in Dwaraka and the idol was being worshiped there. When it was time for Krishna to leave his body, he realised that Dwaraka is going to be submerged under water. Hence, he called Uddhava and asked him to inform Brihaspati to take the idol to another place. By the time Uddhava informed Brihaspati, Dwaraka has already gone into water. Brihaspati then called his disciples Vayu and Varuna and rescued the idol from under the water. Then he explored the option for finding a suitable land to establish this idol. That's when he met Parashurama, who told him about this new land called Kerala and advised him to take the idol there.

When Brihaspati reached Kerala, he saw Shiva and Parvati there and they confirmed the place to consecrate the Idol. Vishvakarma constructed the temple for the idol, and it was finally consecrated there. It was Lord Shiva and Parvati who offered the first puja there. This place was them named as Guruvayur and the idol called Guruvayurappan.

Thus, the essence of the Guruvayurappan idol goes all the way back to Dwaraka. Guruvayurappan is worshipped as Shri Krishna in his child form as an 8-year-old child. The deity represents the purna rupa (full manifestation) of Lord Vishnu, as revealed by baby Krishna to his parents. The idol of the deity is made of a stone called “Patala Anjanam” or black bismuth and is in the standing pose with four arms, carrying the Panchajanya (shank or conch), the Sudarshana Chakra (chakra or disc), the Koumodaki gada or mace) and padma (lotus).

Aims & Objectives of the Guruvayurappan Temple in London

The planned Guruvayurappan temple at London will not just be a place of worship but the unification of all humanity and divine togetherness, to spread the art forms and the essence of Krishna beyond rituals as told through Uddhava Gita, Bhagavad Gita etc.

At the heart of every thriving community is a sacred space that nourishes the spirit, fosters unity, and provides solace in times of joy and sorrow. The proposed Lord Guruvayurappan Hindu Temple aims to fulfil these profound needs by bringing the divine presence of Lord Guruvayurappan, an embodiment of compassion, wisdom, and devotion, to the vibrant multicultural landscape of London.

The temple will provide a sanctuary for individuals to seek solace, practice devotion, and experience the divine presence of Lord Guruvayurappan. It will be a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, find inspiration, and engage in a variety of spiritual activities.

The temple will serve as a cultural hub for the Hindu community in London, fostering a sense of belonging and preserving the rich heritage, traditions, and rituals associated with Lord Guruvayurappan. It will be a venue for religious festivals, cultural events, and educational programs that promote interfaith understanding and appreciation.

The temple will actively engage in social welfare initiatives, providing support to the needy, promoting education, and fostering community development. It will collaborate with local organizations and government bodies to address social issues, uplift the underprivileged, and promote a harmonious society.

The proposed temple will be a testament to timeless Hindu architectural grandeur while incorporating contemporary design elements to harmonize with the urban landscape of London. The architectural vision is inspired by the great temples of South India, showcasing intricate carvings, majestic spires, and a serene ambiance that transports visitors to a transcendent realm. The temple's design elements have been carefully chosen to evoke spiritual experiences and convey profound symbolism.

The choice of Lord Guruvayurappan as the presiding deity holds immense spiritual significance. Lord Guruvayurappan, also known as Lord Krishna, is revered as the embodiment of divine love, wisdom, and eternal truth. His presence brings joy, compassion, and solace to devotees, inspiring them to lead righteous lives filled with devotion and selflessness.

The Lord Guruvayurappan Hindu Temple will extend beyond religious and spiritual dimensions, making a profound impact on the community it serves. It will be a hub for various outreach programs and initiatives. The temple will establish a cultural and educational centre, offering classes on Hindu philosophy, spiritual practices, yoga, and meditation. These programs will contribute to the holistic development of individuals, nurturing their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

The temple will actively promote interfaith dialogue, fostering mutual understanding, respect, and harmony among people of diverse religious backgrounds. It will organize panel discussions, conferences, and workshops that encourage meaningful conversations on spirituality, ethics, and shared values.

The temple will engage in humanitarian efforts, reaching out to the underprivileged, providing healthcare services, and supporting local charitable organizations. By organizing food drives, clothing distribution, and education initiatives, the temple will contribute to the welfare and upliftment of the wider community.

Support Needed

To bring this visionary project to fruition, we humbly request your generous contribution towards the construction, maintenance, and operational costs of the Lord Guruvayurappan Hindu Temple.

Your invaluable contribution will be acknowledged in various ways to perpetuate your legacy of benevolence. For all significant contributions, a commemorative plaque, with a personalized message, will be prominently displayed in a central location within the temple, expressing our heartfelt gratitude for your support.

Throughout Hindu scriptures, numerous passages emphasize the significance of constructing temples and promoting spiritual endeavours. We present the following quotations from revered Hindu texts, which beautifully encapsulate the essence of our proposal and the profound impact it will have:

"By establishing temples and organizing worship, one creates an abode of the divine on Earth, where all can experience the presence and grace of the divine." - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

"Temples are not mere structures of stone and mortar; they are gateways to divinity, where hearts are uplifted, and souls find solace." - Bhagavad Gita

"Whoever builds a temple for the divine constructs a bridge between heaven and Earth, enabling all beings to commune with the divine and attain spiritual liberation." - Skanda Purana

We firmly believe that the proposed Lord Guruvayurappan Hindu Temple in London will be a testament to the rich spiritual heritage of Hinduism, fostering interfaith harmony and nurturing the spiritual growth of countless individuals. With your esteemed support, this sacred haven will become a beacon of light, radiating compassion, wisdom, and devotion to all who seek solace within its walls.

We humbly request you to consider our proposal and bless us with your generous contribution. Together, let us create a spiritual sanctuary that transcends boundaries and unites humanity in a shared quest for higher consciousness and eternal truth.

Thank you for your kind attention and consideration. We look forward to the opportunity of discussing this proposal further and discussing how we can collaborate to make this divine vision a reality.

With love and regards

London Hindu Aikyavedi Team

Foreword by Brahmarishi Mohanji

Guruvayurappan in London: A Celestial Presence

The Lord who loves, protects, nurtures, and safeguards devotees from all calamities – Lord Guruvayurappan, also known as Lord Krishna – now graces London with His benevolent presence. Imagine the embodiment of kindness, compassion, and care manifesting in the heart of the United Kingdom! This is the time to rejoice, participate and welcome the Lord at the very heart of the world – London.

Guruvayurappan resides within the hearts of the people from Kerala who love Lord Krishna. The tales of His miraculous deeds linger on the lips of many. He resides in countless homes, whether through His images or, at the very least, a peacock feather symbolizing His presence.

The supreme energy that sustains the universe, Lord Maha Vishnu, manifested the idol in His own perceivable likeness. Lord Brahma, the creator, entrusted this idol to His children – the Prajapatis, including artists, architects, and sculptors responsible for crafting new worlds (in this context, our Earth). Spanning centuries and traversing Yugas, the idol eventually found its way into the hands of Vasudeva, Lord Krishna's father. It stood as a reminder of the one who was yet to happen in his life, and his land – an incarnation destined to save Earth from adharma.

Following Vasudeva's passing, Krishna Himself received and worshipped the idol. Sage Brihaspati took over its guardianship after the ocean swallowed Dwaraka, Lord Krishna's kingdom, after His physical departure. The land of Kerala was chosen by the celestial Guru Brihaspati as the abode for Guruvayurappan. The celestial architect Vishwakarma undertook the construction of the temple, and the consecration of the idol was performed by Lord Shiva Himself. Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals make pilgrimages to the celestial temple of Guruvayoor, where the idol's enchanting presence endures.

Guruvayurappan beats within the hearts of many, and I am confident that this temple in London will bridge people beyond caste, creed, culture, colour, and religion, bringing forth profound harmony, unity, support, and togetherness.

In our modern world, interactions and connections have narrowed to the confines of our mobile phones. We have become digital and phone addicts, causing harmony to wane in our homes and societies. The world thirsts for the connections that come from companionship, eye contact, and nurturing.

The Guruvayurappan temple will surely contribute to harmonizing London's society, dissolving all man-made barriers. The Guruvayurappan temple will, without any doubt, add value, totally selflessly, to London and the entire United Kingdom.

I wish all the team members who are selflessly working towards creating this temple and the projects henceforth great success. I am with you always.

Jai Shree Krishna.

Yours sincerely,

Mohanji

Foreword by Brahmasri Chennas Dinesan Namboothiripad

Namaskaram to all devotees of Sri Guruvayurappan.

I am glad to know about the planned Guruvayurappan temple in London, conceived by London Hindu Aikyavedi under the auspices of Mohanji Foundation, UK. This project is being designed in the same style as the Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur for the devotees of Guruvayurappan in the UK.

This plan was initially envisaged by my dear friend Late Sri Thekkummuri Haridas many years back. Having discussed with him back then, I was able to ascertain that the will of Guruvayurappan is very positive and supportive of this noble cause.

This grand endeavour is currently being taken forward by London Hindu Aikyavedi under the guidance of Brahmarishi Mohanji.

Helping to build a temple where the devotees can experience the divine is one of the best deeds one can perform in his/her lifetime. Blessings will be showered upon you, your family, and your future generations. Such benevolent karma also helps the devotees and the rest of society as they will be blessed by the presence of Guruvayurappan.

Your thoughtful actions to support the implementation and success of this temple project in all possible ways are of utmost importance and highly solicited.

I take this opportunity to pray to Guruvayurappan for His blessings for the successful realisation of this grand vision.

Yours sincerely,

Brahmasri Puzhakkara Chennas Dinesan Namboothiripad, Kerala, India

Sri Guruvayurappan

Lord Guruvayurappan is a form of Lord Vishnu, who is being worshiped as Sri Krishna in His child form, also known as Guruvayur Unni Kannan. Even though the deity is that of Chatur bahu - four handed Lord Vishnu, the Sankalpam - concept of the people is that the deity is the infant form of Lord Krishna. The deity represents the purna rupa - full manifestation revealed by baby Sri Krishna to his parents Vasudeva and Devaki immediately after His advent in Kamsa's prison.

The word Guruvayurappan, meaning Lord of Guruvayur, comes from the words Guru referring to Brihaspati, the Guru of the Devas, Vayu the God of Wind and Appan meaning 'father' or 'Lord' in Malayalam. Since Guru and Vayu installed Sri Krishna's deity, the name Guruvayurappan was given to the deity. The significance of Sri Guruvayurappan and various miracles of him are narrated in the Appendix section of this document.

Why Guruvayurappan Temple in London?

The proposed temple will be the first ever Guruvayurappan temple in the UK. This will also be the first temple which follows the traditions of tantra based on the Tantrasamuchaya, a treatise on temple rituals written by Chennas Narayanan Nambudiri, the hereditary tantric priest of Guruvayur Temple at Kerala, India. The arrival of Sri Guruvayurappan to London will promote the glory of sanatana dharma to the whole world particularly among the devotees in the UK.

A tantric Hindu temple is a place of worship that follows the tantric tradition of Hinduism, which is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed on the Indian subcontinent. Tantric Hinduism emphasizes the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee toward a personal god and of the god for the devotee, and uses mantras, rituals, and meditation techniques to achieve liberation and union with the divine. It can help you expand your mind and liberate your dormant potential energy, as tantra means “expansion-device, salvation spreader; loom, weave, warp” in Sanskrit.

It is said that by the grace of the idol of Guruvayurappan, Brahma was able to fulfil his task of creation. Therefore, worshipping Guruvayurappan can help one achieve one’s goals and aspirations. Guruvayurappan is also known as the Lord of healing and compassion. Many devotees have experienced miraculous cures and blessings from Him. Guruvayurappan is also the Lord of auspiciousness and prosperity. Many devotees have witnessed His grace and generosity in their lives. For example, many couples who are unable to conceive children pray to Guruvayurappan for a child. It is believed that He grants them their wish and blesses them with a child like Him. Many people also conduct their weddings at Guruvayur Temple, as they believe that it will ensure a happy and harmonious married life. These are some of the benefits of visiting or worshipping at a Guruvayurappan Temple. Of course, the ultimate benefit is to attain the love and devotion of Guruvayurappan, who is none other than Krishna Himself.

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Project Core Team

Chief Advisor

Sadhguru Brahmarishi Mohanji

Thantri (Chief Priest)

Brahmasri Puzhakkara Chennas Dinesan Namboothiripad, Kerala, India

Vaastu Acharyan (Chief Architect)

Brahmasri Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboothiripad, Kerala, India

Advisory Board

• Sri. Mallisseri Parameswaran Namboothiripad, Karanavan of Mallisseri Illom, Guruvayur

• Sri. Bharath Suresh Gopi, Ex-member of parliament & leading film star, India

• Sri. Shanker Panicker, Leading film star, India

• Sri. G. Venugopal, Playback singer, social activist & chief patron of Sasneham G Venugopal charity trust

• Sri. Thembalath Ramachandran, Eminent industrialist, UK

Key Members

• Sri. Vinod Thekkummuri Haridas , s/o Late Sri Thekkummuri Haridas, London, UK. +44-7782146185

• Sri. Anandan Kurupath, London, UK. +44-7958926568

• Sri. Suresh Babu, London, UK. +44-7828137478

• Sri. Om Pulathottathil, London, UK

• Dr. Rajmohan Padmanabhan, Glasgow, UK

• Sri. Rajan Panthalloor, London, UK

• Smt. Subhasree Harish Thottungal, Pinner, UK

• Mr. Christopher Greenwood, Huntly, Scotland, UK

• Sri. Sangeeth Jayanthan, Boston, USA

• Sri. Janardan Menon, London, UK

• Sri. Harish Ravindranathan Thottungal, Pinner, UK

• Smt. Moushumi Shirish Tongaonkar, Reading, UK

• Sri. G K Prakash Guruvayur, Kerala, India

• Sri. Attukal P Rajesh Kumar, Secretary, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Foundation, Kerala, India

• Sri. Harylal Parameswaran, Architect & City Planner, UK

• Smt. Rathi Venugopal, Yorkshire, UK

• Smt. Shobha Sukumaran Nair, Yorkshire, UK

About London Hindu Aikyavedi

London Hindu Aikyavedi (LHA) is a registered charity (Reg. No. 1169499) based in Croydon, London. LHA was constituted under the leadership of Late Sri Thekkummuri Haridas with a grand vision of building a Sri Guruvayurappan Temple in London.

LHA have been promoting Hindu temple arts and culture since its inception. In addition, LHA have been serving local communities from all cultural backgrounds by promoting health and well-being activities, music, dance and other cultural activities consistent with the well-established tradition of Hindu philosophical values. These activities have contributed significantly to the promotion, preservation and protection of good health and wellbeing of the public, as well as bringing people of all age groups together, the youth, elderly and female members of the community. LHA is also involved in organising many charity activities for the needy who go through periods of hardship and poverty.

Facebook: London Hindu Aikyavedi

London Hindu Aikyavedi Trustees

• Sri. Suresh Babu Thodukuzhi

• Sri. Rajan Panthalloor

• Sri. Subhash Kumar Krishnan Nair

• Sri. Unnithan Jayakumar

• Sri. Anandan Kurupath

• Smt. Geetha Vijayalakshmi

• Sri. Babu Thekkekudy Ayyappan

• Sri. Santhosh Kumar Bhaskaran Pillai

• Sri. Vinod Thekkummuri Haridas

• Smt. Subhasree Harish Thottungal

• Sri. Harish Ravindranathan Thottungal

• Smt. Moushumi Shirish Tongaonkar

About Mohanji Foundation

What started as a spontaneous coming together of those who were deeply touched by their personal experiences with Mohanji, has grown organically under Mohanji‘s guidance and vision into a global community. The vision of the organisation is to take people to a liberated existence, free from the bindings of the mind through awareness, self-acceptance and nurturing the universal values of truth, purity, compassion, non-violence and unconditional love. With the goal of creating a better world for the future, all our activities are united by a simple motto – Adding Value to the world.

Today, Mohanji Foundations are formally registered in 17 countries across five continents, while activities are conducted in over 80 countries around the world. Mohanji International Foundation is headquartered in Switzerland, under the direct supervision of the Swiss federal government.

Inspired by Mohanji’s principles of unconditional love, non-violence and selfless service, Mohanji Foundation UK started its activities since 2011 sharing the spiritual teachings and tools including Meditations, Kriya and other techniques given by Brahmarishi Mohanji. It was finally registered with the Charity Commission of UK in the year 2018 and since then have progressed continuously in adding value to UK society through spiritual retreats and programs.

Recently, Mohanji Foundation UK have established the Mohanji Centre of Benevolence near Aberdeen, Scotland, a space for spiritual upliftment of mankind. A place which is a living demonstration of compassion and benevolence to all beings, living as much as possible in harmony with nature and includes temples of Lord Ganesha, Lord Dattatreya and Shirdi Sai Baba.

Website: Mohanji Foundation

Mohanji Foundation UK Trustees

• Brahmarishi Mohanji (Founder)

• Sri. Vijay Anand Ramanaidoo (Chairman)

• Smt. Subhasree Harish Thottungal (Vice Chair)

• Smt. Shyama Jeyaseelan (Secretary)

• Sri. Hemant Panda (Treasurer)

• Sri. Vighneswaran Swaminathan

• Smt. Sudha Thakur

• Sri. Christopher Greenwood

• Sri. Jack Barratt

"Saandra nanda vabhodaat makam Anupa mitham kaala desha vaadibhyam,