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
Kodungallur Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple
Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple at Kodungallur is dedicated to Bhadrakali, lovingly called Kodungallur Amma. Legend says Parashurama, troubled by the demon Darika, prayed to Shiva,...
Koodalmanikyam Temple
Koodalmanikyam Temple at Irinjalakuda is the only ancient temple in India dedicated to Bharata, Rama's brother. A stone inscription of the Chera king Sthanu Ravi, dated to 854–55 C...
Thiruvambady Sree Krishna Temple
Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple in Thrissur worships Krishna as a child together with Bhadrakali, both held in equal regard. The compound also has shrines for Ganesha, Sastha and B...
Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple
Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple is one of the largest Bhagavathy temples in Kerala, standing in the heart of Thrissur near Vadakkunnathan. Sakthan Thampuran organised the temples of t...
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur is a classical example of Kerala temple architecture, with a monumental tower on each side and a koothambalam for performances. Its murals depict...
Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthy Temple
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple near Kochi is one of the major temples dedicated to Vamana, Vishnu's dwarf avatar, and is around two millennia old. It is counted among the 108 Div...
Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple
Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple at Thrippunithura, near Kochi, worships Vishnu as Santhanagopala Murthy, a form believed to bless childless couples with children. The deity was the fam...
Mangaladevi Temple, Thekkady
Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple stands high in the hills near Thekkady, close to the Tamil Nadu border and inside the Periyar region. It is dedicated to Kannagi, the heroine of the Sil...
Kumaranalloor Devi Temple
Kumaranalloor Devi Temple, a short drive from Kottayam, is one of central Kerala's best-loved Bhagavathy shrines. The goddess is worshipped as Katyayani, a fierce form of Parvati,...