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
Gandharva
In the Puranas the Gandharvas are the heavenly singers who play for the gods. In Kerala's groves they are honoured as nature spirits, and shrines to Gandharva and Yakshi are found...
Bhairava
When Brahma's fifth head grew arrogant, Shiva cut it off and was afflicted with the sin of Brahmanahatya. He wandered as Bhairava until the sin was released in Kashi, where he beca...
Veerabhadra
When Sati immolated herself at Daksha's yajna, Shiva tore a lock from his hair and created Veerabhadra, who destroyed the sacrifice and subdued the gods assembled there. He is wors...
Andal
Kodhai, a foundling raised in Srivilliputhur, grew up in devotion to Ranganatha and insisted on marrying him. She merged with the deity and became Andal, she who ruled the Lord, an...
Duryodhana
Duryodhana was the eldest of the hundred Kauravas, the sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari. His jealousy of his Pandava cousins shaped the rivalry that led to t...
Brahma
Brahma is the creator of the Trimurti, the trinity he shares with Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the dissolver. Puranic tradition describes him emerging from the golden egg Hiranya...
Gandhari Amman
Gandhari, princess of Gandhara, was married to the blind prince Dhritarashtra and blindfolded herself for life in solidarity with him. Through a boon she became the mother of a hun...
Bhoothanatha
Bhoothanatha means the lord of the bhootas, the hosts of spirits that attend Shiva. In Kerala the name is given to Shiva in his role as guardian of the sacred ground, and the deity...
Indilayappan
Indilayappan is the presiding deity of the ancient Avanavanchery temple near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district. Temple tradition identifies him with Shiva and Umamaheswara, a...
Temple histories
Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Temple
Avanavanchery Sri Indilayappan Temple near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district is counted among the oldest temples of Kerala. The presiding deity is Indilayappan, identified in...
Chathannoor Sree Bhoothanatha Temple
Chathannoor Sree Bhoothanatha Temple in Kollam district is one of the largest temples of its kind in the region and shares a long festival tradition with the adjoining Meenadu Sast...
Ammathiruvadi Temple
Ammathiruvadi Temple at Urakam near Thrissur is one of the foremost Durga temples of Kerala and is counted first among the 108 Durgaalayams of the old Kerala tradition. Its age is...
Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple
Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple at Kodungallur in Thrissur district is believed to have been built in the Chera period and is a classical example of Kerala temple architecture. Shiva...
Kottiyoor Temple
Kottiyoor Temple in Kannur district is a Shiva shrine of unusual form, with two temples on opposite banks of the Vavali river. The permanent complex, Vadakkeshwaram or Ikkare Kotti...
Jagannath Temple, Thalassery
The Shree Jagannatha Temple at Thalassery in Kannur district was established by Sree Narayana Guru in 1908, making it one of the later great temples of Malabar. A statue of the gur...
Haripad Sree Subrahmanya Swamy temple
The Sree Subrahmanya Swamy Temple at Haripad, known as Perumthrikkovil or Kerala Palani, is one of the oldest and largest temples of the region and holds the longest golden flagsta...
Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple
Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple stands in the heart of Erumely town in Kottayam district and is dedicated to Ayyappa, or Dharma Sastha. It is one of the key staging points of the...
Elamgulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
Elamgulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple stands on the Main Eastern Highway in Kottayam district and is best known for its Gajamela and Aanayoottu, when around fifteen elephants are bro...