Temples in Kerala - Hub of cultural and religious activities

If you are interested in understanding and experiencing the rich cultural fabric of Kerala, we recommend that you include few popular places of worship in your itinerary. Despite its strong communist affiliations, temples, churches and mosques continue to be the hub of social and cultural life as it has been for centuries.

If you are on a pilgrimage trip to soak your soul in the religious and ritual aura of ancient temples, Kerala has lots to offer.

We present here brief profiles of select famous temples in Kerala.

For pilgrimage tourists, we can provide further details on temples of interest including the important dates of worship, dress code, special poojas and rituals.
Temples in Kerala - profile of a select few
Sabarimala Ayyappa temple - the most famous of them all
Amongst the most famous temples of South India, this Ayyappa (son of Shiva and Mohini [Vishnu in female form], according to legends) temple attracts devotees from across the country. Situated in mountain ranges of western ghats, surrounded by dense forest at an altitude of 914m above sea level, it is accessible only by foot from Pamba (small town that is 4 km away). Apart from its unique location, the temple has several distinct features that set it apart. It is open to worship only for few weeks of the year and while devotees of all religions are welcome, women between 10 and 50 years of age are not permitted (legend has it that the Lord will not see women until he decides to renounce his bachelorhood ( brahmachari) . 41 days of fasting and prayers, including a dress code, are recommended for devotees planning to visit the temple.
Pilgrim season: November to mid January. Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).
Nearest railway station : Thiruvalla (102 km) Location: 72 km from Pathanamthitta town, 191 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 210 km from Kochi
 

Adi Sankaracharya - Spiritual revolutionary from Kerala

Kalady : Kalady (45 kms from Cochin) is the birth place of Adi Sankaracharaya the great Indian Philosopher who lived in the 8th century. It is situated on the banks of river Periyar and there are two shrines in memory of Sree Sankaracharaya. One dedicated to him as Dakshina Moorthi and the other to the Goddess Sharada. Adi Sankara's Shrined in Kalady are open to all pilgrims irrespective of Religion and caste. The spot were Adi Shankara's Mother was cremated is called Vrindavan. Nearby is an old Krishna Temple, the family temple of Sankaracharaya. Another Temple known as Sri Ramakrishna International Temple was built in 1976 with the hope that it would ultimately become a temple for all religions and an abode of peace.

 

Guruvayoor Sree Krishna temple

The Sree Krishna Temple of Guruvayoor is one of the most renowned and oldest temples in Kerala. The shrine, as it stands today, was constructed during the 16th and 17th century A.D.

The elaborate rituals performed here are said to have been prescribed by Adi Sankaracharya , the philosopher saint from KeralaThe festival of Guruvayur lasts for ten days. Beginning on the day of Pushya (the 8th asterism) in the month of Kumbham (February-March), it ends after the Aarattu on the 10th day.

Religiously, the festival is an occasion of restoration of divine Chaithanya. Brahmakalasam aimed at the purification and energisation of the powers of the deity precedes the Utsavam.

The ten-day festival begins with the elephant race, which is a unique event here. The winning elephant is accorded the previlege of carrying the deity's idol (the Thidambu ) on special occasions for one year. Krishnanattom , a performing art based on tales of Sree Krishna is staged here as a ritual offering by devotees. Many cultural and religious programmes are conducted during the festival days. During the festival days, the whole place gets draped in festive fervor with decorations and illuminations. The deepasthambhams (tall traditional lamps) in the evenings is another sight to behold.

Apart from this ten-day annual utsavam , the temple celebrates the Ashtamirohini and Vishu festivals in a grand manner.

Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple. Strict dress code is followed here.

Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Guruvayoor, the station is very close to the shrine.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 87 km towards the South
 

ANANTHAPURA LAKE TEMPLE

The only lake temple in Kerala and the Moolasthanam (original seat) of Ananthapadmanabha Swami (Sri Padmanbha Swami Temple) Thiruvananthapuram. is 5 km. from Kumbla. Local belief is that Ananthapadmanabha had settled down here originally.

Unlike the Thiruvananthapuram temple, where Maha Vishnu is seen in the Ananthashayanam ( Infinite Repose ), here the idol of Maha Vishnu is in sitting posyure. A foot bridge across the lake offers the sole passage to the Sreekovil.

The lake is home to an ancient crocodile somewhat improbably named Babya. In 1945 when British soldiers were stationed near the temple , a soldier is said to have shot dead a crocodile called Babya. The soldier died as a result of snakebite days later, it is believed as an act of vengeance of sarpant God Anantha. Another crocodile mysteriously appeared there soon. All subsequent crocodiles who live in the lake are bestowed with the same name.

Parassinikadavu Sri Muthappan Temple:
Arguably the most famous amongst temples in northern Kerala, this centre of worship and faith has in store many unique practices and rituals, and the temple architecture itself stands testimony to this aspect. Located 20 km away from Kannur, a northern district of Kerala, the Parassinikadavu Muthappan (Siva) Temple on the banks of the Valapatnam River attracts people from all sections of the society; irrespective of religion, caste and promotes the essence of "Vasudaiva Kutumbakam - The whole world is one family.

The origin of the Muthappan temple is connected to the appearance of a child who roamed the region with a string of interesting incidents and later vanished without a trace. The incidents up to the point of his disappearance later made the denizens feel the divine presence of Muthappan (Siva) who immediately erected a place of worship, which today is popularly known as the Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple.

The temple is also a popular destination for travellers and pilgrims to savour the charm of Theyyam, a ritual that is performed here on a daily basis. Men adorning masks and costumes with a riot of colours perform this temple art form and it represents conflict between good and evil, with good ultimately emerging victorious.

Getting there:

Nearest Railway Station: Kannur, about 20 km away.
Nearest Airport: Mangalore, about 120 km from Kannur town; Karipur International Airport at Kozhikode, which is 93 km from Kannur town

 
Sasthamkotta temple - Lords by the lake
What makes this lesser known temple, a must add in your itinerary is its location - situated next to a vast fresh water lake flanked by hills on three sides, the setting is simply divine! The ancient Sastha (Ayyappa, son of Shiva and Mohini [Vishnu in female form], according to legends) temple, which lends its name to the town, is also dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple, though at the edge of forests and has hills on its side is also next to a small town that has developed next to it.

Another striking feature of the temple are the hundreds of monkeys that inhabit the surroundings, believed to be the faithful entourage of the ruling deity, the Dharmasastha. The monkeys are devotee-friendly, and the thousands of devotees visiting the temple take pleasure in feeding these monkeys with nuts and fruits.

Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kollam, about 29 kms away.
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 71 kms from Kollam

Ambalappuzha Sreekrishna Temple

The Sri Krishna Temple at Ambalapuzha, 14 kms from Alleppey is among Kerala's more famous ones boasting of the typical temple architectural style of the state. It is equally famed for its palpayasam - a sweet milk porridge offered to the diety. The temple's main festival occurs in March/April. It was in this temple that the 16th century poet Kunjan Nambiar staged his first Ottan Thullal, a solo dance performance with high social content.



Karumadikuttan

Close to the Ambalappuzha. the village of Karumadi is famous for its Karumadi Kuttan, a black granite figure of Buddha said to belong to the 9th or 10th century

 

Mannarasala Snake Temple

32 kms. south of Alappuzha situated near Harippad, this is a serpent shrine under the patronage of a 'Brahman' family, headed by a priestess. The ancient shrine is an internationally renowned pilgrim centre dedicated to the Serpent God Nagaraja. Sarpa Yakshi and Naga Yakshi are the beloved consorts of Nagaraja. It is believed that Nagaraja as the installed deity is endowed with the form of Hari (Lord Vishnu) and the spirit of Lord Shiva. Legend has it that the first priestess of Mannarasala gave birth to a five-headed snake, which is believed to reside in the ancestral house to safeguard the family. At Mannarasala barren women are believed to be blessed with children and a special turmeric paste available at the shrine is credited with powers to cure even leprosy.