Stories of gods and temples.
The origin stories of Kerala's deities and the histories of its temples — legends of creation and courage, of saints and rulers, and of the shrines that keep them alive.
Stories of the gods
Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi is the mother goddess honoured across Kerala in her many forms — Bhadrakali, Durga, Kali and the countless village deities who protect the land and its people. The word...
Parvati
Daughter of the mountain king Himavan, Parvati performed severe penance to win Shiva, who had withdrawn into grief after Sati. Their marriage is celebrated as the union of matter a...
Saraswati
Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, speech, music and learning, seated on a white lotus with a veena in her hands. As the river Saraswati faded from the earth, the goddess withd...
Murugan
Born to Shiva and Parvati, Skanda was raised by the Krittikas and by the fire, and grew into the youthful commander of the divine army. With his vel, the spear of divine wisdom, he...
Ayyappa
Manikandan, the son of Shiva and Vishnu as Mohini, was adopted by the Pandala king and saved the kingdom from the demoness Mahishi. He then withdrew to Sabarimala, where he blesses...
Hanuman
Hanuman, the son of the wind, leapt the ocean to Lanka, found Sita, carried the Sanjivani mountain to save Lakshmana and served Rama with perfect devotion. His strength is always o...
Ganesha
Parvati created Ganesha from clay to guard her door. When Shiva returned and did not recognise the boy, he cut off his head in anger, then restored him with the head of an elephant...
Subrahmanya
Subrahmanya received the vel from his mother Parvati and led the divine army against Surapadma. The demon's defeat is celebrated in the Skanda Purana, and the spear remains the god...
Dattatreya
Anasuya, wife of the sage Atri, pleased the Trimurti by her devotion, and they were born to her as the single child Dattatreya. He grew up as a wandering avadhuta, and the traditio...
Temple histories
Lokanarkavu Temple
Lokanarkavu Temple at Memunda near Vatakara enshrines Durga and takes its name from Lokamalayarkavu — the grove of the world-mountain. It is closely associated with the ballads of...
Tali Shiva Temple, Kozhikode
Tali Shiva Temple, or Tali Mahakshetram, stands at the heart of Kozhikode and is among the city's oldest shrines. Tradition holds that its linga was installed by Parashurama at the...
Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple
Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple on the Bharatappuzha in Malappuram district is dedicated to Vishnu as Navamukundan and is praised in the Divya Prabandha. The name comes from nine yo...
Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple at Angadipuram in Malappuram district was the family deity of the Valluvanad rajas. Its name and festival traditions are tied to the old kingdom and to the...
Meenkulathi Bhagavathy Temple
Meenkulathi Temple at Pallassena in Palakkad district is the oldest shrine of the village, dedicated to the goddess worshipped as Meenakshi. Tradition says three Veerashaiva Mannad...
Panniyur Sree Varahamurthy Temple
Panniyur Sri Varahamurthy Temple at Kumbidi in Palakkad district is believed to be the first temple consecrated by Parashurama in Kerala. The deity is Varaha, Vishnu's boar avatar,...
Kalpathy Viswanatha Swamy Temple
Kalpathy, in Palakkad, is home to the Visalakshi Sametha Viswanatha Swamy Temple, known as Kasi Viswanathaswamy and locally as Kundukovil. It stands on the bank of the Kalpathy riv...
Uthralikavu Bhagavathy Temple
Uthralikavu, at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, is the shrine of Rudhira Mahakali and is famed for its annual pooram, one of the largest in central Kerala.The festival brings t...
Triprayar Sree Rama Temple
Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami Temple in Thrissur district enshrines Rama with four arms holding a conch, discus, bow and garland, standing on the bank of the Thirupurayar river. It is...