Kururamma (1570 AD to 1640 AD) was a devotee of
Guruvayoorappan, the deity of the famous Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur in
Kerala. She had the divine vision of Lord Krishna due to her unwavering
devotion. Among many others, Kurur Amma is a legendary devotee of
Guruvayurappan, and she inspired hundreds of devotees in later times.
Life of Kururamma
Kururamma belonged to a Namboodiri family of Thrissur
District, famed for its cultural erudition. She was born in the year 1570 AD.
Her maiden name was Thathri Kutty
Thathri Kutty was married to the Kurur Namboothiri family which
is in the village of Aadathu near Thrissur. Thathri kutty became a widow at the
age of 16. She had no children and she became an ardent devotee of Guruvayoorappan.
As she was the senior most member of the Kurur family she came to be known as Kururamma.
She realized that she had no one in the world except Lord
Krishna. Her nama japam of Krishna elevated her to the highest degree of bhakti
(devotion).
Krishna Starts To Reside With Kururamma
She started praying to Lord Guruvayurappan who appeared to her in her dreams and asked her as to what boon she wanted. Kururamma replied that she had none in this world
and wanted him to be her son and not to abandon her as he did with Yashoda. Krishna agreed with his usual smile and as an orphan boy came to her and started staying with her. She called him Unni but Amma never realized it was Krishna.
and wanted him to be her son and not to abandon her as he did with Yashoda. Krishna agreed with his usual smile and as an orphan boy came to her and started staying with her. She called him Unni but Amma never realized it was Krishna.
Her devotion was so strong that Kururamma, who was having no
children, adopted Lord Krishna as her child. She used to play with him and
even scold him for his naughty deeds. Even the Lord used to help her in her
house chores.
She started chanting the names of Krishna throughout the day
and it is said that this filled her with motherly devotion and she became the
mother of all.
Miracles of Kururamma
Once, a Brahmin suffering from acute stomach pain approached
the famous Vilva Mangalathu Swamiar, an ardent devotee of Krishna. Vilwamangalam
realized that the Brahmin had committed numerous sins and the stomach pain was
the result of it. Vilwamangalam told the Brahmin that there was no cure to the
stomach pain and he will have to suffer it in this birth.
The dejected Brahmin reached the house of Kururamma nearby.
Amma thought that the Brahmin was hungry and offered him food. The Brahmin told
Amma that he cannot eat the food due to stomach pain.
Kururamma told him to pray to Lord Guruvayurappan who is Dhanvantari
Murthy (lord of medicine in Hinduism) and take bath in the temple tank and then
come for food
at her place. Accordingly the old Brahmin went, thinking Lord Guruvayurappa in his mind, he took bath in the temple pond and had his food at the house of Kururamma.
Kururamma told him to perform Krishna Japa always and come for food at her place. Soon his stomach ache disappeared.
at her place. Accordingly the old Brahmin went, thinking Lord Guruvayurappa in his mind, he took bath in the temple pond and had his food at the house of Kururamma.
Kururamma told him to perform Krishna Japa always and come for food at her place. Soon his stomach ache disappeared.
Kururamma And Vilwamangalam Swamiyar
Vilwamangalam Swamiyar was an ardent devotee of Krishna and
it is said that Krishna used to walk in child form with him.
There was another devotee of Krishna named Chemmanggat Amma
but she was jealous of the fame of Kururamma. Once Chemmanggat Amma entered
into a tiff with Kururamma and proudly announced that Vilwamangalam Swamiyar
comes for alms in her house. Kururamma then told Chemmanggat Amma that this
time he will come to her house for alms and would skip Chemmanggat.
Kururamma soon sent a person to invite Vilvam Ngalam for
taking Bhiksha which he
refused saying that he was to go to Chemmangat Illam for Bhiksha. It was customary that one person blew the conch before Vilwamangalam goes for alms and it so happened that the conch did not produce any sound. He then remembered about his refusal to Kururamma to take alms from her, to whom Lord Guruvayurappan was extremely fond off, and hence decided to go to her house for Bhiksha. Immediately, the conch started producing sound.
refused saying that he was to go to Chemmangat Illam for Bhiksha. It was customary that one person blew the conch before Vilwamangalam goes for alms and it so happened that the conch did not produce any sound. He then remembered about his refusal to Kururamma to take alms from her, to whom Lord Guruvayurappan was extremely fond off, and hence decided to go to her house for Bhiksha. Immediately, the conch started producing sound.
Vilwamangalam Swamiyar Realizes Kururamma’s Orphan Helper Boy Is Krishna
Kururamma once invited Vilwamangalam Swamiyar to perform
puja at her house. All the arrangements for the puja were done by the little
boy.
Vilwamangalam Swamiyar was able to see divinity in various forms.
The disciples and Vilwamangalam were surprised by see the puja arrangements
which were carried out by high precision.
When Swamiar started Pooja, the boy stood before him and the
flowers he put
after chanting mantras fell on the feet of the body. The disciples were infuriated by this act of the boy and asked him to stand in one corner.
after chanting mantras fell on the feet of the body. The disciples were infuriated by this act of the boy and asked him to stand in one corner.
The puja was performed again. But this time also the flowers
put by the Swamiar fell on the feet of the boy. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar then
meditated and realized that the boy was Guruvayurappan who was helping
Kururamma. Vilwamangalam Swamiyar did not say it openly since Bhagavan with a
gesture told him not to let out the secret.