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
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...