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
Thiruvancheri Kavu
Thiruvancheri Kavu is counted among the thirteen Shakteya temples of Kerala linked to Kashmir Shaivism. The site preserves old ritual practices and a sacred grove.
Thottuva Dhanwanthari Temple
Dhanwanthari, the physician of the gods, is worshipped here for health and healing. The temple is one of the best-known Dhanwanthari shrines of Ernakulam district.
Kalamassery Mahaganapathy Temple
The temple is the main Ganapathy shrine of the Kalamassery area and draws large crowds during Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Sree Venu Gopala Swamy Temple, Purakkad
Gowda Saraswath Brahmin devotees from across the world bring their children to this temple for their first offerings, keeping alive a long coastal trading community's religious tra...
Sree Veda Vyasa Temple
The shrine stands close to the Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple and is one of the few temples in India dedicated primarily to Veda Vyasa, the traditional author of the Mahabharata...
Valiyakoikkal Temple
The main deity is Ayyappan. Each year the sacred ornaments of Sabarimala are carried in procession from the Pandalam Palace through this temple, drawing pilgrims along the route.
Thirumittakode Anchumoorthi Temple
Also called Thiruviththuvakkodu, the temple houses five images: one of Shiva and four of Vishnu. It is one of the notable Vaishnava-Shaiva shrines of the Palakkad river country.
Chinakkathoor Temple
The temple has two shrines, Thazhekavu and Melakavu. Its pooram is one of the best known in Palakkad district, with caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion and puppet perform...
Kodungallurkavu Bhagavathy Temple
The goddess is known as Sri Kurumba and Kodungallur Amma. The temple's Bharani festival, with its oracles and traditional songs, is among the most distinctive celebrations in Keral...