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
Irumkulangara Durga Devi Temple
Irumkulangara Durga Bhagavathi Temple is one of the principal Devi shrines within Thiruvananthapuram city and is known for its Navagraha worship.
Anikkattilammakshethram
Jagat Pita and Jagat Mata share one sreekovil here, a rare arrangement in Kerala temple architecture. The shrine is an important family-deity temple for central Travancore.
Kilimarathukavu Temple
The temple also houses images of Dharma Sastha and Ayyappan. It was taken over by the Travancore Devaswom Board under a government order and is maintained as a major local shrine.
Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
The shrine is surrounded on three sides by Kerala's largest freshwater lake. Its monkeys are considered sacred and are fed by devotees, a tradition that has made the temple widely...
Pisharikavu Temple
Pisharikavu is a well-known Devi shrine of the Koyilandy coast and its annual festival draws devotees from across Malabar.
Pattupurakkal Bhagavathi Temple Kattambak
Also known as Kattampack Kizhakkum Bhagam Pattupurackal Bhagavathy temple, it is the only shrine in Njeezhoor with Bhadrakali as presiding deity and is known for its namaskaram off...
Sri Chakrapani Kshethram
Chakrapani, the discus-bearing form of Vishnu, is the presiding deity of this old temple in the northernmost district of Kerala.
Vayalil Thrikkovil Mahavishnu Temple
The Lakshmi Narayana pooja is held here twice a month. Ashtami Rohini Maholsavam and Bhagavatha Sapthaham are the temple's main annual observances.
Thrikkavu Temple
Thrikkavu Sri Durga Bhagavathy Temple is one of the oldest shrines of Ponnani and is associated with the region's early temple tradition.