Department conducted a National Seminar on “Krishnabhakti cult and Guruvayur temple”as part of UGC XII^th plan from 07.03.2017 to 09.03.2017. The Seminar tried to explore the contribution of Guruvayur as a center for the propagation of Krishna Bhakti cult through Art, literature, painting and music. It also looked for the myths, legends and history behind the temple, and the patronage of Kerala’s traditional art form and Sanskrit dance drama Krishnanaattam, the 2000 year old Sanskrit Drama, Kootiyattam, Mural painting and the preservation of Kerala’s traditional Vedic chanting by the temple. The seminar also tried to elucidate the  origin and development of Krishna cult through ages, the influence of Krishna Cult in Kerala’s art, music and literature and also evaluate the importance of Guruvayur Bani in Kerala Music (Sopanasangeetam), excellence  of Guruvayur in Mural Painting,  and Krishnanattam (The royal Sanskrit Dance Drama).  Another important area of the seminar that it tries to discover the contribution of the great Sanskrit and Malayalam poets Ezuttachan, Melputhur Narayana Bhatta, Villwamangalam, Cherusseri, Poonthanam and other renowned poets to literature and Krishna Bhakti. Guruvayur is a palce of Historical importance also. The seminar searched the significance of Guruvayur in the History of Kerala where Guruvayur Satyagraha took place, which was an effort to allow entry for untouchables to Guruvayur temple. Mahatma Gandhi hails it as “The miracle of the modern times”.  It was led by Sri K Kelappan and Sri Mannatthu Padmanabhan , A K Gopalan ,and N P Damodaran Nair were the leaders of that satyagraha.

       Invited talks and contributory papers in the proposed area was done by eminent scholars, academicians, teachers, research scholars, and P G Students . Artists in the field of Krishnanattam, Kutiyattam, Nangiar koothu, Kathakali, Mohinoyttam, Kuchipudi and Sopana Sangeetam were also presented research papers and performed lecture demonstrations.