Vilwamangalam Swamy's Visions

Vilwamangalam Swamy's Visions

Sri Vilwamanagalam Swamy's devotion and dedication towards Guruvayoorappan was such that he could have visions of Bhagavan independent of the image. Wherever he went, he had visions. In Guruvayur it was Unnikrishna. Whenever he came to Guruvayur for darshan, Bhagavan granted him vision from the Sanctum-Sanctorum (central shrine). One day he did not get Bhagavan's vision from there. He went around the temple in search of Bhagavan. The sound of tinkling of bells from the northern chuttambalam attracted his curiosity. He peeped in and saw Unnikrishna dancing there. From that day onwards this place came to be known as Nritham ( Nrithappura or dancing hall).

On another occasion also, he could not see Bhagavan's vision in the central shrine. Later he found Bhagavan sitting amidst the Marar boys (drummer's boys) and sharing feast with them, as Guruvayoorappan was fond of the feast given to the Marar boys. It later became an important offering with the devotees.

A third time also, he failed to have Guruvayoorappan' s vision in the central shrine. It was night time and the Krishnanattam was being staged in the courtyard. The saint ultimately found him on the stage with the 'gopikas'. Since then, Krishnanattam came to be staged in the northern bahyankana (outer courtyard) instead of the eastern bahyankana. And it begins only when the central shrine is closed after the last pooja at night.