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
Sai Baba
Sai Baba arrived as a young ascetic at Shirdi and stayed for decades, living in a ruined mosque and radiating love to Hindus and Muslims alike. He performed no public miracles for...
Navagraha
The Navagraha are the nine planetary deities — Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu — whose movements are believed to shape time and destiny. Most Hin...
Surya
Surya is the son of Kashyapa and Aditi and the father of Yama, Manu and the Ashvins. The Aditya Hridayam, a hymn to the sun, was taught to Rama before his battle with Ravana, and t...
Chandra
Chandra, the moon god, emerged from the churning of the ocean and married the twenty-seven Nakshatras. His special fondness for Rohini is told in the Puranas, and his waxing and wa...
Shani
Shani is the son of Surya and Chhaya, and his stern gaze tests the deeds of every being. He is the lord of Saturn, the great teacher of karma, discipline and patience, and his dela...
Lakshmi Narasimha
After Narasimha slew Hiranyakashipu, his fierce energy would not subside, and the gods feared it might consume the worlds. Lakshmi came to him, and her presence calmed the lord; th...
Ardhanareeshwara
When Parvati embraced Shiva, their forms merged into one body, half male and half female. The image of Ardhanareeshwara reveals that the divine masculine and feminine are not two t...
Panchamukha Hanuman
To rescue Rama and Lakshmana from the underworld, Hanuman took five faces — Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda, Varaha and his own — and blew out the lamps that guarded the demon Ahirava...
Family Deities (Kuladevata)
Each family lineage preserves its own kuladevata, the guardian deity of the household, honoured at weddings, naming ceremonies and family festivals. The deity is often a local godd...
Temple histories
Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Temple
Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Temple near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district is counted among the oldest temples of Kerala. The presiding deity is Indilayappan, identified in...
Chathannoor Sree Bhoothanatha Temple
Chathannoor Sree Bhoothanatha Temple in Kollam district is one of the largest temples of its kind in the region and shares a long festival tradition with the adjoining Meenadu Sast...
Ammathiruvadi Temple
Ammathiruvadi Temple at Urakam near Thrissur is one of the foremost Durga temples of Kerala and is counted first among the 108 Durgaalayams of the old Kerala tradition. Its age is...
Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple
Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple at Kodungallur in Thrissur district is believed to have been built in the Chera period and is a classical example of Kerala temple architecture. Shiva...
Kottiyoor Temple
Kottiyoor Temple in Kannur district is a Shiva shrine of unusual form, with two temples on opposite banks of the Vavali river. The permanent complex, Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kotti...
Jagannath Temple, Thalassery
The Shree Jagannatha Temple at Thalassery in Kannur district was established by Sree Narayana Guru in 1908, making it one of the later great temples of Malabar. A statue of the gur...
Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple
The Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple at Haripad, known as Perumthrikkovil or Kerala Palani, is one of the oldest and largest temples of the region and holds the longest golden flagsta...
Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple
Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple stands in the heart of Erumely town in Kottayam district and is dedicated to Ayyappa, or Dharma Sastha. It is one of the key staging points of the...
Elamgulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
Elamgulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple stands on the Main Eastern Highway in Kottayam district and is best known for its Gajamela and Aanayoottu, when around fifteen elephants are bro...