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Daughter of the mountain king Himavan, Parvati performed severe penance to win Shiva, who had withdrawn into grief after Sati.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
Shaktheeswaram Temple
Adi Parashakti is venerated here as the supreme being of Shaktism. The temple has long functioned as a centre for astrology, tantric upasana and the study of Sanathana Dharma.
Ramapuram Sree Rama Temple
The east-facing Rama shrine is the principal deity of a temple complex that has served the Meenachil countryside for centuries.
Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple
Malanada shrines have no roofed sanctum in the usual sense. Devotees hold that the deity here is Duryodhana, making the temple one of the most unusual in Kerala.
Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Temple
Krishna, Shiva, Ayyappan, Mahaganapathi and the Sarpa Devas are also worshipped here. The temple is a major religious centre of Changanassery town.
Kadakkal Devi Temple
Kadakkal's Devi temple is the ritual heart of a village known for its spice trade and for the social reform movements of the pre-independence period.
Ammachiveedu Muhurthi
The temple is open to devotees of every caste and religion. Rather than an idol, the goddess is worshipped through ritual symbols, a rare practice in Kerala.
Sree Balakrishna Swamy Temple
The temple serves the island villages around Kuzhuppilly and is one of several old Krishna shrines in the Vypeen belt.
sreerajarajeshwara temple
The temple lies about two kilometres from Taliparamba town and is closely associated with the Kolathiri rulers. A 14-foot bronze image of Shiva weighing 4,200 kg has been installed...
Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple
Prathishta ceremonies began in 1864 and the installation of Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha was completed on Akshaya Tritiya in 1865 under Srimad Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji.