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Daughter of the mountain king Himavan, Parvati performed severe penance to win Shiva, who had withdrawn into grief after Sati.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
Thiruvancheri Kavu
Thiruvancheri Kavu is counted among the thirteen Shakteya temples of Kerala linked to Kashmir Shaivism. The site preserves old ritual practices and a sacred grove.
Thottuva Dhanwanthari Temple
Dhanwanthari, the physician of the gods, is worshipped here for health and healing. The temple is one of the best-known Dhanwanthari shrines of Ernakulam district.
Kalamassery Mahaganapathy Temple
The temple is the main Ganapathy shrine of the Kalamassery area and draws large crowds during Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Sree Venu Gopala Swamy Temple, Purakkad
Gowda Saraswath Brahmin devotees from across the world bring their children to this temple for their first offerings, keeping alive a long coastal trading community's religious tra...
Sree Veda Vyasa Temple
The shrine stands close to the Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple and is one of the few temples in India dedicated primarily to Veda Vyasa, the traditional author of the Mahabharata...
Valiyakoikkal Temple
The main deity is Ayyappan. Each year the sacred ornaments of Sabarimala are carried in procession from the Pandalam Palace through this temple, drawing pilgrims along the route.
Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple
Also called Thiruviththuvakkodu, the temple houses five images: one of Shiva and four of Vishnu. It is one of the notable Vaishnava-Shaiva shrines of the Palakkad river country.
Chinakkathoor Temple
The temple has two shrines, Thazhekavu and Melakavu. Its pooram is one of the best known in Palakkad district, with caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion and puppet perform...
Kodungallurkavu Bhagavathy Temple
The goddess is known as Sri Kurumba and Kodungallur Amma. The temple's Bharani festival, with its oracles and traditional songs, is among the most distinctive celebrations in Keral...