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
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...