>Dr. Lakshmi Babu: Descriptions added

2021-05-20T15:02:56Z

Descriptions added

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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
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'''Guruvayur Maraprabhu''' is a {{convert|54|ft|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 [[Indian National Congress|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).<ref>{{cite web|author=Ramachandran P.V. |url=http://guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in/ |title=Guruvayoor Maraprabhu |website=Guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in |date=2009-12-06 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref>

== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ml.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B4%90%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B9%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B2/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%81_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF |title=ഐതിഹ്യമാല/പൂന്താനത്തു നമ്പൂരി - വിക്കിഗ്രന്ഥശാല |language=ml|publisher=Ml.wikisource.org |date=2016-12-06 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://origin.mangalam.com/print-edition/keralam/305547 |title=ഗുരുവായൂര്‍ മരപ്രഭു ചെറുപതിപ്പുകളുടെ നിര്‍മാണം ആരംഭിച്ചു | mangalam.com |website=Origin.mangalam.com |date=2015-04-17 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/guruvayooronlinefriends/posts/505379076327157:0 |title='പദുമനാഭോ മരപ്രഭു' ഹാ... - Guruvayoor Online Friends |publisher=Facebook |date=2016-07-23 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AD%E0%B5%8B+%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AD%E0%B5%81&init=public] {{dead link|date=December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Nayathil |first=Dileep |url=http://nayathil.blogspot.in/2014/07/blog-post.html |title=ശ്രുതി: മരപ്രഭു |website=Nayathil.blogspot.in |date=2014-07-19 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sv1.mathrubhumi.com/thrissur/news/3497686-local_news-thrissur-%E0%B4%97%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D.html |title=Thrissur District News, Local News,തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ , ,സുവര്‍ണ മരപ്രഭു പുറത്തിറക്കി ,Kerala - Mathrubhumi |website=Sv1.mathrubhumi.com |date=2015-03-26 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.devotionalstore.com/blogs/devotional-blog/how-maraprabhu-is-related-to-vastu-shastra-and-how-it-brings-good-luck-to-your-home |title=How Maraprabhu brings good luck to your home? |publisher=Devotional Store |date= |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ramachandran P.V. |url=http://guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in/2009/12/temple-myth-of-lord-maraprbhu.html |title=Guruvayoor Maraprabhu: The Temple Myth Of Lord Maraprbhu & Guruvayoorappan |website=Guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in |date=2009-12-06 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref>

== Features ==
The sculptor P.V. Ramachandran is the one who is behind the construction of terracotta sculpture which is 52 feet tall.{{contradict-inline|lede says 54 feet|date=May 2021}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ramachandran P.V. |url=http://guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in |title=Guruvayoor Maraprabhu |website=Guruvayoormaraprabhu.blogspot.in |date=2009-12-06 |accessdate=2016-12-20}}</ref>

== 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.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Hinduism in Kerala]]
[[Category:Colossal statues in India]]
[[Category:Guruvayur]]

Guruvayur Maraprabhu - Revision history

>Dr. Lakshmi Babu: Descriptions added