The gods of Kerala.

Shiva

Shiva is the auspicious one, the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti. He is worshipped as the cosmic dancer Nataraja and as the serene ascet...

ॐ नमः शिवाय

Vishnu

Vishnu is the preserver of the cosmos, who sustains dharma through his ten avatars. He reclines on the serpent Ananta in the milky ocean.

ॐ नमो नारायणाय

Krishna

Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu, the playful cowherd of Vrindavan and the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita.

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे। हरे राम हरे राम राम राम...

Rama

Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu, prince of Ayodhya and the embodiment of dharma, celebrated in the Ramayana.

ॐ रां रामाय नमः

Narasimha

Narasimha, the man-lion, is the fourth avatar of Vishnu, who appears to destroy arrogance and protect his devotee Prahlada.

ॐ नमो नारसिंहाय

Venkateswara

Venkateswara is the form of Vishnu enshrined at Tirumala, revered across South India as the lord who removes the sins of devotees in this age.

ॐ नमो वेङ्कटेशाय

Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, beauty and auspiciousness, consort of Vishnu and the nourishing energy of the cosmos.

ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Durga

Durga is the warrior goddess who rides a lion and embodies the combined power of the gods, invoked especially during Navaratri.

ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः

Kali

Kali is the fierce and loving mother who destroys ignorance and fear, standing upon Shiva as the ground of consciousness.

ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः

Bhagavathi

Bhagavathi is the mother goddess honoured across Kerala in her many forms, including Bhadrakali, Durga and Kali, at the heart of village and family wo...

ॐ श्री भद्रकाल्यै नमः

Parvati

Parvati is the loving consort of Shiva, daughter of the mountains, mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, and the gentle face of the divine feminine.

ॐ पार्वत्यै नमः

Saraswati

Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, speech, music and learning, seated on a white lotus with a veena in her hands.

ॐ ऐं सरस्वत्यै नमः

Murugan

Murugan, the six-faced son of Shiva and Parvati, is the youthful commander of the divine army and the beloved deity of Tamil and Kerala hill shrines.

ॐ शरवणभवाय नमः

Ayyappa

Ayyappa, the son of Vishnu as Mohini and Shiva, is the lord of Sabarimala and the protector of dharma, worshipped through vows and pilgrimage.

ॐ श्री अय्यप्पाय नमः

Hanuman

Hanuman is the mighty monkey devotee of Rama, the son of the wind, celebrated for strength, service and unwavering devotion.

ॐ हनुमते नमः

Ganesha

Ganesha is the elephant-headed remover of obstacles, lord of beginnings, wisdom, arts and letters, worshipped before every undertaking.

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

Subrahmanya

Subrahmanya is the South Indian form of Kartikeya, the ever-youthful commander of the divine forces and the guardian of spiritual knowledge.

ॐ सुब्रह्मण्याय नमः

Dattatreya

Dattatreya is the unified form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, born to the sage Atri and Anasuya, and revered as the eternal guru of the Nath and Avadhut...

ॐ दत्तात्रेयाय नमः

Sai Baba

Sai Baba of Shirdi is a revered saint and fakir who taught the unity of religions, compassion and surrender, and is worshipped by devotees of all fait...

ॐ साईं राम

Navagraha

The Navagraha are the nine planetary deities whose movements shape time and destiny, propitiated for harmony and relief from astrological affliction.

ॐ सूं सूर्याय नमः। ॐ चं चन्द्राय नमः। ॐ मं मङ्गलाय नमः। ॐ बुं बु...

Surya

Surya is the sun god, the source of light, health and vitality, worshipped daily at sunrise and honoured in the Surya Namaskara.

ॐ सूर्याय नमः

Chandra

Chandra is the moon god, lord of the mind, tides and cycles, whose waxing and waning mark the lunar calendar of temple festivals.

ॐ चन्द्राय नमः

Shani

Shani is the lord of Saturn, the great teacher of karma, discipline and patience, propitiated for relief from suffering and delay.

ॐ शं शनैश्चराय नमः

Lakshmi Narasimha

Lakshmi Narasimha is the combined form of Vishnu as Narasimha with his consort Lakshmi, bestowing both protection and prosperity.

ॐ लक्ष्मीनृसिंहाय नमः

Ardhanareeshwara

Ardhanareeshwara is the composite form of Shiva and Parvati, half male and half female, expressing the inseparability of consciousness and energy.

ॐ अर्धनारीश्वराय नमः

Panchamukha Hanuman

Panchamukha Hanuman is the five-faced form of Hanuman, invoked for protection from negative forces and for courage in difficult times.

ॐ हं हनुमते रुद्रात्मकाय हुं फट्

Family Deities (Kuladevata)

Kuladevata is the family or clan deity of a household, honoured at weddings, naming ceremonies and family festivals as the guardian of lineage.

ॐ कुलदेवतायै नमः

Bhadrakali

Bhadrakali is the fierce yet protective form of the Mother Goddess worshipped across Kerala, especially in the kavus and Bhagavathi temples of central...

ॐ भद्रकाल्यै नमः

Muthappan

Muthappan is a beloved folk deity of North Malabar, worshipped most famously at Parassinikkadavu, where the Theyyam form of the god is performed every...

ॐ मुत्तप्पन नमः

Nagaraja

Nagaraja is the king of the serpents, honoured in Kerala's sarpa kavus and Naga temples for protection from sarpa dosha and for the wellbeing of the f...

ॐ नागराजाय नमः

Vishnumaya Kuttichathan

Vishnumaya Kuttichathan is a popular folk deity of central and northern Kerala, worshipped as a divine child who removes obstacles and guards his devo...

ॐ विष्णुमायाय नमः

Mariamman

Mariamman is the Tamil mother goddess of rain, health and fertility, widely worshipped in the Tamil-speaking border regions of Palakkad and Idukki.

ॐ मारियम्मन् नमः

Chamundi

Chamundi is the fierce form of the Goddess who slays the demons Chanda and Munda, worshipped in Kerala as a guardian against evil and disease.

ॐ चामुण्डायै नमः

Vettakkorumakan

Vettakkorumakan is the hunter son of Shiva and Parvati, a favourite deity of northern Kerala whose shrines are found from Balussery to Kannur.

ॐ वेट्टक्कोरुमकाय नमः

Yakshi

Yakshi is the female guardian spirit of trees and groves in Kerala, worshipped in the Yakshi kavus as a protector of the land and its people.

ॐ यक्षिण्यै नमः

Muchilottu Bhagavathi

Muchilottu Bhagavathi is the tutelary goddess of the Vaniyar community of North Malabar, honoured in a Theyyam known for its gentle, graceful movement...

ॐ मुचिलोट्टु भगवत्यै नमः

Kurumba Bhagavathi

Kurumba Bhagavathi is the presiding goddess of Kodungallur, one of Kerala's most powerful Shakta centres, worshipped as a form of Bhadrakali.

ॐ कुरुम्बा भगवत्यै नमः

Karthyayani

Karthyayani is a beloved Kerala goddess, worshipped especially at Cherthala and in the kavus of central Travancore for prosperity, health and family w...

ॐ कार्त्यायन्यै नमः

Bhuvaneshwari

Bhuvaneshwari is the Queen of the Universe, one of the ten Mahavidyas, worshipped in Kerala for protection, sovereignty and the welfare of the world.

ॐ भुवनेश्वर्यै नमः

Rajarajeshwari

Rajarajeshwari is the supreme form of Lalita Tripurasundari, worshipped in Kerala most famously at Chottanikkara, where she is honoured as the mother...

ॐ राजराजेश्वर्यै नमः

Mookambika

Mookambika is the goddess of Kollur, worshipped throughout Kerala, especially in Kasaragod and Kannur, as the mother who grants learning, courage and...

ॐ मूकाम्बिकायै नमः

Vanadurga

Vanadurga is the forest form of Durga, worshipped in the sacred groves of Kerala as the guardian of wild places and of the creatures who live there.

ॐ वनदुर्गायै नमः

Karinkali

Karinkali is the black, fierce form of the Mother Goddess worshipped in Malabar, invoked for protection and courage.

ഓം കരിങ്കാളി നമഃ

Karuppaswamy

Karuppaswamy is the dark guardian deity of Tamil villages, worshipped in the border temples of Palakkad, Idukki and southern Kerala as a protector and...

ஓம் கருப்பசாமி நமஹ

Vamana

Vamana is the dwarf avatar of Vishnu who measured the three worlds in three steps and humbled the asura king Mahabali, a story central to Kerala's Ona...

ॐ वामनाय नमः

Gandharva

Gandharvas are the celestial musicians and guardians of the arts, worshipped in some Kerala kavus together with Yakshi for harmony, music and fertilit...

ॐ गन्धर्वाय नमः

Bhairava

Bhairava is the fierce guardian form of Shiva, honoured at the threshold of temples and villages as the protector of the sacred space.

ॐ भैरवाय नमः

Veerabhadra

Veerabhadra is the fierce warrior form of Shiva, created to avenge the insult to Sati at Daksha's sacrifice.

ॐ वीरभद्राय नमः

Andal

Andal is the only female Alvar, a Tamil saint who composed the Tiruppavai and is worshipped as an incarnation of Bhudevi, the consort of Vishnu.

ஓம் ஆண்டாள் துணை

Duryodhana

Duryodhana (Sankalpa Moorthy) is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Brahma

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Gandhari Amman

Gandhari Amman is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Bhoothanatha

Bhoothanatha is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Indilayappan

Indilayappan is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Veda Vyasa

Veda Vyasa is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Dhanwanthari

Dhanwanthari is venerated at temples across Kerala.

Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu is venerated at temples across Kerala.

garuda

garuda is venerated at temples across Kerala.