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
Shaktheeswaram Temple
Adi Parashakti is venerated here as the supreme being of Shaktism. The temple has long functioned as a centre for astrology, tantric upasana and the study of Sanathana Dharma.
Ramapuram Sree Rama Temple
The east-facing Rama shrine is the principal deity of a temple complex that has served the Meenachil countryside for centuries.
Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple
Malanada shrines have no roofed sanctum in the usual sense. Devotees hold that the deity here is Duryodhana, making the temple one of the most unusual in Kerala.
Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Temple
Krishna, Shiva, Ayyappan, Mahaganapathi and the Sarpa Devas are also worshipped here. The temple is a major religious centre of Changanassery town.
Kadakkal Devi Temple
Kadakkal's Devi temple is the ritual heart of a village known for its spice trade and for the social reform movements of the pre-independence period.
Ammachiveedu Muhurthi
The temple is open to devotees of every caste and religion. Rather than an idol, the goddess is worshipped through ritual symbols, a rare practice in Kerala.
Sree Balakrishna Swamy Temple
The temple serves the island villages around Kuzhuppilly and is one of several old Krishna shrines in the Vypeen belt.
sreerajarajeshwara temple
The temple lies about two kilometres from Taliparamba town and is closely associated with the Kolathiri rulers. A 14-foot bronze image of Shiva weighing 4,200 kg has been installed...
Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple
Prathishta ceremonies began in 1864 and the installation of Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha was completed on Akshaya Tritiya in 1865 under Srimad Bhuvanendra Tirtha Swamiji.