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Daughter of the mountain king Himavan, Parvati performed severe penance to win Shiva, who had withdrawn into grief after Sati.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
Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple
Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi Temple is one of the principal Devi shrines within Thiruvananthapuram city and is known for its Navagraha worship.
Anikkattilammakshethram
Jagat Pita and Jagat Mata share one sreekovil here, a rare arrangement in Kerala temple architecture. The shrine is an important family-deity temple for central Travancore.
Kilimarathukavu Temple
The temple also houses images of Dharma Sastha and Ayyappan. It was taken over by the Travancore Devaswom Board under a government order and is maintained as a major local shrine.
Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
The shrine is surrounded on three sides by Kerala's largest freshwater lake. Its monkeys are considered sacred and are fed by devotees, a tradition that has made the temple widely...
Pisharikavu Temple
Pisharikavu is a well-known Devi shrine of the Koyilandy coast and its annual festival draws devotees from across Malabar.
Pattupurakkal Bhagavathi Temple Kattambak
Also known as Kattampack Kizhakkum Bhagam Pattupurackal Bhagavathy temple, it is the only shrine in Njeezhoor with Bhadrakali as presiding deity and is known for its namaskaram off...
Sri Chakrapani Kshethram
Chakrapani, the discus-bearing form of Vishnu, is the presiding deity of this old temple in the northernmost district of Kerala.
Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu Temple
The Lakshmi Narayana pooja is held here twice a month. Ashtami Rohini Maholsavam and Bhagavatha Sapthaham are the temple's main annual observances.
Thrikkavu Temple
Thrikkavu Sri Durga Bhagavathy Temple is one of the oldest shrines of Ponnani and is associated with the region's early temple tradition.