After Lord Krishna left this earth for his heavenly abode, and the holy city of Dwaraka was to be submerged, Guru, the preceptor of the Gods, and his disciple Vayu, God of Winds were entrusted with the job of finding an equally holy spot for the idol. At the end of a long quest for an appropriate site they entered Kerala and met Parasurama, legendary creator of Kerala. He led them to a beautiful lake full of lotuses, the present temple tank, Rudratirtha, beside which Shiva and Parvati waited to welcome them. The idol was duly installed at this spot and lovingly called Guruvayurappan, or the Lord of Guruvayur.