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
Veda Vyasa
Vyasa, also called Krishna Dvaipayana, is the sage who divided the single Veda into the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Vedas so that its knowledge could be preserved and taught. Trad...
Dhanwanthari
Dhanvantari is the physician of the gods and an avatar of Vishnu, and the tradition of Ayurveda honours him as its divine source. During the churning of the Ocean of Milk he rose f...
Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, and while still in his mother's womb he learned how to enter the Chakravyuha, the wheel formation of the Kaurava army. On the thirteen...
garuda
Garuda, the king of birds, is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata. When his mother was enslaved through a wager with her sister Kadru, Garuda flew to the heavens, defeated the...
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...