Divine Traveller

Divine Temples of India

2022-07-03T12:19:00.006-07:00

The present days' lifestyle has become very complex. People, especially the youngsters have no time even to think of God. The temples in India are places that can spur one's divine thoughts. The sanctity and divinity of these temples soothes and revitalizes his worn-out nerves with the spiritual aura. There are a large number of temples in India, which have attained great following and admiration for their divinity and architectural styles.

South India is blessed with so many temples that are symbols of splendor and intricate architecture. This website takes the readers on a journey through most of the prominent temples of South India and a few very popular must visit temples of rest of the India covering the history,the legend and devotional aspects of these temples. I have tried to provide a detailed information which will help visitors plan their mode of travel, accommodation, temple timings, contact numbers, places around the temple etc that might be useful to the visitors. I also need to mention that these are based on my own experience and readers are cautioned to use their discretion before deciding on their travel to these places.

Disclaimer:The article about the temple, temple timings and the contact details were based on my own experience. These might have changed over the course of time. The travellers are requested to use use their dicretion in such cases

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2012-08-03T12:08:00.001-07:00

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Udipi Sri Krishna

2011-06-02T02:14:00.000-07:00

Udupi located at 36 kms from Mangalore is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for the Hindus and is one of the seven muktisala pilgrimage sites in Karnataka ( the others are Kollur , Subrahmanya,Kumbasi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana and Gokarna.)

Udupi Sri Krishna

Legend says that at the end of 13th century a ship in the Malpe coast was caught in a storm and the captain of the ship prayed to the saint Madvacharya who was meditating at the coast. Madvacharya with his power controlled the course of the wind by waving his saffron vastra and calmed down the rough sea and guided the ship to safety. The thankful captain of the ship pleaded to the sage to ask for anything in his ship load. Madhwa being an ascetic accepted just a sack of dried sandal paste called as Gopichandan (a paste that is used by the devotees of Krishna to embalm them before the poojas). Inside the sack were two small idols covered in sandal paste which after cleaning revealed that the idols are of Krishna and Balarama. During the last phase of the 'dwabara yuga' Krishna's mother Devaki wanted to recall the younger days of Krishna and Rukmini wanted to see the pranks played by her husband during his child hood days. It is said that Krishna had ordered Viswakarma to make an idol of Krishna.This idol was originally made up of a large Shaligram stone and was said to have been kept at Rukminis house where she worshiped. Applying gopichandan paste daily, the shape of the idol was lost in the sandal paste. After several thousand years a merchant bought all the sandal blocks from that place without he realising that the Krishna idol was among the lot. It was with this lot that the ship was traveling and was caught in the storm and the idol reached the hands of SriMadwacharya. Madhwacharaya was thrilled at finding his favorite Krishna. Madvacharya then consecrated Krishna in the now Udupi and Balarama in Vadabandeshwara.

Sri Krishna temple entrance

The Krishna temple founded by Madhvacharya dates back to the 13th century AD. It is a modest structure enshrining the image of Balakrishna in a sanctum that has to viewed only through a grating referred to as the Navagraha kindi or Kanakan kindi ( kindi meaning window), which has nine square holes. This gold plated window has 24 different images of Krishna.

The alankara of the SriKrishna is just divine. Featuring a golden kavacham with halo on some days and a diamond kavacham worth many lakhs of rupees on other days, SriKrishna is seen as the MahaVishnu himself in his Dashavatars, and as a beautiful goddess Lakshmi and Sarasvathy alankars on Fridays and during Dasara (Navaratri).

To the west of this is the Kanakadasa mandapa. Legend has it that Krishna's image turned towards the western wall to reveal a full darshan of Krishna to Kanakadasa who was earlier denied entry into the temple by castist priests as he was not a higher-caste by birth. Kanakadasa then started singing the praises of Shri Krishna in a corner outside the temple. Legend has it that the western wall collapsed so that Kanakadasa could have darshan of Lord Krishna. A small window was constructed at the breach later. The idol of Lord Krishna is even today worshipped through the window. This is why the grating came to be known as Kanakan kindi

Sage Madvacharya's shrine is situated right next to the sanctum. Behind this shrine is the eastern entrance of the sanctum, which will be opened only on Vijayadasami. Also in the temple are shrines to Garuda, Hanuman, Subramanya and Vaadiraaja.

Madvasarorava

Adjacent to the main corridor there is the holy tank called Madvasarorava ( Madhava Pushkarani). The tank was originally known as Anantha Theertha, but after the Ganga descended into this tank for the sake of Madhvacharya, it came to be designated as Madhvasarovara The tank has a mandapam in the centre and has stone steps all round. In the southwest corner of the tank is a shrine dedicated to Bhaagiirathi ( Ganga ) seated on a crocodile. It is believed that Ganga flows in to this tank once in 12 years. Water from this tank is used for daily abhishekams of Sri Krishna .

The Udupi math offers the devotees porridge as breakfast, followed by a full course meals from 11:30 AM till 4 PM and 7:30 PM till 11 in the night every day of the year. It is believed that whoever eats at this sacred place are blessed by SriKrishna. We come to know that this annadhanam has been goin on for the last 800 years.The steaming hot rice served with sambar and rasam are out of this world prompting one to ask for more. The hospitality by the temple and math volunteers is overwhelming and they in fact insist every devotee to have food. No one should go out of the temple hungry.

Darshans and timings The temple is open from 5 AM till 10 PM daily.The Sri Krishna idol is etched with the Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. The beauty of this can be seen only during the Ksheera Abhisheka performed early in the morning. Vishwaroopa Darshana of the lord may be had at 5.15 am. Then there is the cradle and chamara (fan made of white horse hair) seva at 7 pm, when the lord is made to sleep with lullabies The presiding acharya gives prasada to all devotees after this seva.

How to Reach?Udupi is well connected with other neighboring cities by Karnataka Road Transport Corporation buses. Regular bus services are available from Mangalore to Udupi.

Where to stay? There are many good hotels in Udipi itself. You can have a wide choice of hotels in Mangalore also.

Where to eat? If you missed eating at the math try some of the restaurants in Udupi. You get good variety of south Indian delicacies. Variety of Dosas and Vada are very famous here.

The weather The climate of Udupi is generally hot in summers and pleasant in winters. The maximum temperature touches 40°C in summers (March to May) with a minimum of 18°C. Winters (December to February) have extreme weather of 32°C (maximum) and 14°C (minimum). June to September are the period of monsoon, accompanied by heavy winds in southwest and northeast directions.
Best season to visit here is from October to March.

Temple address Administrative Office, Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi-576101 Temple Tel 0820-2520598, 2520592
Places nearby Anegudde the famous temple for Ganesha , Koteshwara and Shankarnarayana are famous local temples, all within a 30-km radius of Udupi.

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Meenkulathi Bhagawathi - Pallasena

2011-06-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

Pallasena

Centuries ago in the now Tamil Nadu, three families belonging to the Veerasaiva Mannadiar clan worshipped the goddess Meenakshi as their deity. An acute drought in Chidambaram in Tamil nadu drove them to seek better places. One of them took a stone from there along with their other possessions. Worshipping their stone as their friend, philosopher and guide, they trekked to several places before reaching Pallasena a place in the then called Malabar. Delighted by the forests surrounding the villages they settled there and prospered in the diamond trade. Whenever they went on business, they offered their customary prayers to the family deity. An aged member of their clan was very sad that he will not be able to travel distances to worship his family deity Meenakshi thereafter because of his age and failing health. After returning home the heavy hearted man went for his customary bath before entering his home. He left all his valuables and a palm leaf umbrella in the care of two youths. When he came back, he was surprised that he could not lift the things he had left with the youths. An astrologer said that Meenakshi had manifested herself under the umbrella and that was why it could not be moved. Huge crowds came there to witness the miracle. The place came to be known as Kudamannu.

The present Meenakshi temple and the adjacent temple tank were constructed over the next four centuries.

Entrance to the temple

The structure is built in the Kerala style.. There are two entrances, one in the north and the other in the west. The temple tank is next to the western entrance.

Inside the temple is a massive dhwajasthambha^[made of teakwood and covered with copper. The sanctum sanctorium or the garbhagriha contains a large idol of Meenakshi Amman. Devotees are not allowed to go around the garbhagriha as is the general custom in many temples.. Around the main idol, saptha maathas (seven female deities - Brahmi, Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavai, Indrani, Chamundi and Varahi) are installed. There are separate shrines for Ganapathi, Ayyappa, Veerabhadra, Shiva, Durga and Brahma rakshasas.

There is a special offering called Nirappara Panam costing around Rs 500 for a family of four. You will be allowed to bypass the long queue and stand before the main deity. You will be asked to fill a big casket with thousands of coins in another casket with both of your palms. This is supposed to bring prosperity to the family and your genuine wishes shall be fulfilled.

The temple tank to the west is beautiful and serene. Devotees can take a holy bath here.

The temple tank

A few ducks and a few water birds can be seen in the tank adding to the natural beauty of the tank.

How to reach? The village Pallasena is around 18 kms from Palghat town and 70 kms from the major city Coimbatore. There are KSRTC buses and other private buses to this place from Palghat. You can also hire a taxi that might cost you Rs 500 or so. The drive to Pallasena among the lush green beautiful paddy fields is an experience to cherish.

Where to stay? I do not know of any good place in Pallasena itself. There are a few lodges here but I advise you to stay at Palghat town itself.

Temple timings. In normal days the temple is open from 5 AM to 12 noon and 4pm to 9pm. During festival days and Sabarimala season, the timing could be different.

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Sringeri

2011-06-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

River Tunga

Sringeri is a picturesque town located at the foot of the Sahyadris (Western ghats) mountain range situated at an altitude of 2789 ft in the banks of river Tunga. The place is rich in vegetation and has a very pleasant climate.
The ever green forests and the sacred river Tunga have made this town a lovely abode of nature. The river Tunga is 147 km long and merges with the Bhadra River at Koodli. The water of this river is sweet and crystal clear.

The frog and the cobra depicted in stone on the bank of the river

According to legend, Adi Shankaracharya while he was walking by the Tunga river, saw a cobra with a raised hood, providing shade from the hot sun, to a pregnant frog in labor . Mesmerized by the sight and overwhelmed with the place where natural enemies live in harmony, he stayed here for twelve years and is said to have selected the site as the place to stay and teach his disciples.

Shree Sharada temple The temple of Shree Sharada dedicated to the Goddess of learning and wisdom was made of wood till the early 20th century. After an unexpected fire that damaged the structure, the current structure was built in the traditional south Indian style of temple architecture.

In the temple Goddess Shree Sharada Devi is seated on the Sri Chakra Peetham, holding a Japa Mala, with a parrot perched on the top of her hand. The original sandalwood idol that was installed by Adi Sankaracharya, was later replaced in the 14th century with a golden image by Shri Vidyaranya (Sri Vidyaranya coming five centuries after Shankara Bhagavatpada was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 A.D).

Vidyashankara Temple

The Vidyashankara temple was built in commemoration of the pontiff Vidyashankara, around 1357-58 A.D. This temple combines the Hoysala and Dravida architectural features. It stands on a richly sculptured basement. The wall recesses in the temple have a number of sculptures from Hindu, Buddhist and Jain mythologies. Inscriptions in the temple record contributions made by several Vijayanagara emperors but the temple was probably built on an earlier Hoysala site as it combines Hoysala and Vijayanagara architectural features. Among the many intricate carvings, lions that are engraved on the pillars with growling faces have stone balls inside their mouth and they can be moved inside their mouths. There are six doorways leading into the temple. The twelve pillars in the mandapam are named as the Raasi pillars or the Zodiac pillars from depicting the signs of Aries to Pisces., and are so arranged that the sun's rays fall on each of them, in the order of the solar months.This is an exhibition of the astronomical expertise of medieval south Indian temple builders.

The Shankara mutt

The Shankara math. As you cross the Tunga river and reach the other side you can see the math situated in a very serene place surrounded by a beautiful garden. The present Jagadguru Shri Bharati Tirtha gives darshan to devotees from this place as follows subject to his availability in the campus

Morning : 10:30 A.M, Evening : 5:30 P.M
Chandramouleeshwara Pooja by Sri Jagadguru : 8.30 P.M.

Where to stay? Guest houses are available near the mutt.Advance booking of the guest house is not entertained. For the requirement of Guest House, Pilgrims can approach the Information Office located adjacent to Sri Sharada Temple main entrance.You can also stay in Udupi or Mangalore if you are planning for a day's visit only.

What and where to eat? Though I do not want to carry an advertisement, I will deprive the readers of a good food if I do not mention Sri Maruthi Bhavan just outside the temple entrance arch in the main road. It is a homely place and people stand in queue and await their turns to enter into this small restaurant. You may have tos it on the floor though and hot iddlys and crispy vadas are served as many as you require. There is no billing system and you have to declare the quantity and pay the bill to cashier on your way out.

Inside the math and the temple premises food is available in abundance. Annadhanam is a regular feature and devotees who visit the temple should not miss the food. To cater the need of devotees a big dining hall namely ‘Sri Bharathi Theertha Prasada’ has been built near Sri Sharada Temple. Nitya Annadana is served to the all devotees in the afternoon and night between 12.15 P.M. and 2.30 P.M. and 7.15 P.M. and 8.30 P.M. respectively This Nitya Annadana consisting of a full course hot meals from delicious sambar to buttermilk is served for almost 7500 people. Separate halls for orthodox Brahmins is available.

How to reach? Sringeri is situated at a distance of 324 Kms from Bangalore, 95 Kms from Mangalore and 100 kms from Udupi.

Government bus services from major cities and towns such as Bangalore, Mangalore, Udipi, Shimoga connect Sringeri .

Nearest railhead is at Udupi, which is connected by rail to Chikmagalur and other major cities in south India. Taxi cabs are available from Udupi to Sringeri and they used to charge around Rs 1,000.

If you drive your own car or planning to hire a taxi, do not plan for a late evening drives. It is not very safe according to the local people there.
Sringeri Math is providing wheel chairs for the physically challenged and aged people on returnable basis. This fold able wheel chair can be collected from the Information Centre at Sringeri Math for free of cost and returned after Darshan.

When to visit ? Sringeri is a place that can be visited throughout the year due to its general cool climate.
Temple timings -
Sri Sharadamba Temple
6:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M and 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Sri Vidyashankara and Sri Torana Ganapati Temples
7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.and 5:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

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Thirukollikadu

2011-05-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Thiru Kollikaadu in Tiruvarur district is a little known but a very divine temple for Saturn or Saniswaran. Agni Bhagavan is said to have worshipped lord Siva here and hence the name Agneeswarar and the place came to be known as Agnipuri. Thirugnana Sambandar has sung the praise of Agneeswarar. Thirugnana Sambandar called the Lord Kollikaadar, kolli in Tamil meaning fire.

'Agni Theertam' pond

The Saniswaran here is called as ‘pongu sani’. Legend says that Saniswaran took a holy dip in the Agni Theertham and prayed to Agneeswarar ( the name of Lord Siva at Thirukollikaadu) to grant him the wish so everyone would worship him too. Lord Siva gave him darshan and asked him to reside in the temple as Pongu Sani.It is believed that whoever worships here get rid of their difficult period and are blessed by Pongu Sani.

Nala Maharaja who was rid of his Sani dosham worshiping Lord Saniswara at Tirunallaru, is said to have got back his wife, children, kingdom and all wealth after worshipping at this place.

King Harichandra is also said to have relieved of his dohsam by the grace of Kollikadu Sani Bhagavan.

Thirukollikadu temple entrance

According to the temple priest and other inscriptions we come to know that this temple was constructed some 1500 years ago and used to be a brick structure. This temple was reconstructed in granite by Raja raja Cholan I.

Presiding deities are Agneeswarar or Thirukollikadar, a slightly reddish lingam believed to be red because , red signifies fire, and this was worshipped by Agni himself and Mirudupaadanayagi or Panjinmelladiaal.

The sannadhi for Sani Bhagavan is in the South west corner.
The idol is seen with a plough in his right hand and a crow in his left hand. Offer of Oomatham (datura flower) to Lord Sani here is said to cure mentally afflicted devotees.

People who are said to be under the seven and a half years 'ezharai nattu Sani' (seven and half years under Saturn's influence) will surely benefit worshiping him here.
Other deities are Lord Ganesha, Lord Subramanya, Mahalakshmi,Durga, Dakshinamurthy and a few other deities.There are sannadhis in the main praharam for Bairavar and navagrahams. The navagrahams are positioned differently here in an open formation all facing the main deity .The sthala vriksham ( the divine tree of the place) is Vanni ( Mesquite in English)

This ancient temple was built as a granite structure by the Chola kings. Inscriptions of Raja Raja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Rajadiraja Chola I are seen in the temple. There is no Raja gopuram.

Timings The temple is open from 9 to 11 am and 5 to 8pm. Only on Saturdays, the temple remains open even in the afternoon.

How to reach? It is 25 kms from Mannargudi .In Mannargudi there are buses for Vikkirapandiyam From the main road it is a 2 kms by walk. There are limited buses a very few in the morning 9.30 and in evenings 4.30, 5.30. Auto rickshaws available for around Rs 300. If you drive by your car, a word of caution;the approach road to the temple is in very poor condition.
Where to stay? The best place is Mannargudi. You have some average hotels there. Mannargudi is also famous for the very ancient Rajagopalaswamy temple.

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Bhagamandala and Triveni Sangam

2011-05-26T04:49:00.000-07:00

Bhangandeshwara temple

Bhagamandala:
The Bhangandeshwara temple with Lord Siva as main deity is situated at the convergence of river Cauvery.The temple is built in a typical Kerala styled architecture.The pagodas or multi layered roofs are made of beautiful copper sheets that gives a reddish hue. The temple also has sanctums for Subramanya, Mahavishnu and Ganesha.

There is an inscription near the temple which refers to how Bhagamandala was captured and occupied by Tipu Sultan in the year 1785 to 1790. It is mentioned that Tipu Sultan renamed the place Afesalabad, and in 1790, King Dodda Vira Rajendra won it back into an independent Kodagu Kingdom, after a brief battle.

Triveni Sangam at sunset

Three rivers Kanika, Sujothi and Cauvery meet here and it is called as the Triveni Sangam (confluence of three rivers) and is one of the holy places in the south according to the Hindus. It is said that all sins will be washed away by taking a holy dip. The water is only knee deep in normal days. Please check during monsoon times.

While the River Sujothi is a mythological one and it is believed to flow underground , river Cauvery makes a long journey getting stronger and wider and travels 800 kms all the way up to Tamilnadu.

How to reach? It is 40 kms from Madikeri and is 8 kms before Talacauvery. I advise you visit this in the evening after your Talacuavery trip so you can spend more time enjoying the nature and a nice dip in the river. Taxis and buses are available from Madikeri and Talacauvery if you are not driving.

Where to Stay? I would not recommend any stay here as it is only a few kilometers away from Madikeri where you have a choice of lodgings.

Talacauvery

2011-05-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

Talacauvery is the place that is considered to be the source of the River Cauvery. It is located in the Brahmagiri hill is about 8 km away from Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka and 48 km from Madikeri (Mercara) and it is 1,276 m. above sea level.
A tank has been erected on a hillside, at the place that is said to be the origin. It is also marked by a small temple. The Cauvery river originates as a spring feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days. The waters are then said to flow underground to emerge as the river some distance away.
On the first day of Tula month, of the Hindu calendar, ( mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the river's birthplace to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. The tula snanam (Sacred bath in the Tula month) is observed across pilgrim towns in Kaveri's banks.The legend goes that, the Cauvery river was held in a Kamandala (a container) by Sage Agasthya. Lord Ganesha took the form of a crow and perched on the kamandala of Agasthya when Agasthya was meditating. When Agasthya realised this, he chased away the crow. But the crow tipped the kamandala and toppled it. Out poured Cauvery which started flowing. The crow disappeared and in its place stood a small boy. Agasthya thought that the boy was playing some mischief and clenching both his fists, went to punish the small boy. But the boy escaped and Agasthya gave a chase. Finally the boy vanished and Lord Ganesha showed Himself to Agasthya.

How to reach? By Air - Nearest airport to Talacauvery is Mangalore terminal, which is about 160 km from Talacauvery. Taxi charge for the travel from Mangalore to Talacauvery is about Rs 2000.

By bus - Talacauvery is well connected by KSRTC buses of Kerala and Karnataka. The nearest bus junction where frequent buses are available is Madikeri

By your car - Assuming that you have reached Madikeri from Mangalore, Bangalore, Mysore, it is a nice drive to Talacauvery which is about 40 kms which you can cover in less than an hour.

Where to Stay? There are no good accommodation available in Talacauvery itself as far as I know, but you have plenty of nice choices in Madikeri

Other interesting places around Madikeri, Bhagamandala, Dubare elephant camp, Kushal Nagar ( about which I would have mentioned in separate posts)

Useful data
State: Karnataka
District: Kodagu
Famous for: Pilgrim, Scenic hill station
Languages: Kannada, Hindi
Best Season: Throughout the year but avoid monsoon season
Weather: Summer 22-37°C, Winter 10-32°C
Altitude: 1712 m

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Shree Sidhi Vinayak, Prabhadevi

2011-05-24T02:34:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy from www.siddhivinayak.org

Situated in the heart of Mumbai, this is one of the oldest temple of Shri Ganesha and a favorite among the Mumbaikars. 'Who is Who' of Mumbai are all ardent devotees of this lovable and very powerful Ganesha. Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabhs, Ambanis, Lata Mangeshkar, Thackrey are some of the well known personalities who visit the temple regularly. The idol of Shree Siddhivinayak was carved out of a single black stone and is 2'6” high and 2' wide with the trunk on the right. The upper right and left hands hold a lotus and an axe respectively while the lower right and left hands hold a japamala and bowl full of “Modakams” . A snake appears on the left shoulder to right side belly as a sacred thread. On the forehead of deity is an eye, which almost looks like the third eye of Lord Shiva. On both sides of the Lord Ganesh idol, are placed one idol each of Riddhi and Siddhi goddesses. Because of these two deities along with Lord Ganesh, this temple is known as the Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple. These goddesses signify sanctity, success, wealth and prosperity. I have become an ardent devotee after my visit during late 70's. I am lucky that I am truly blessed by him and he always listens to my prayers.

How to reach? It is in the heart if the Mumbai city and well connected with plenty of BEST buses. Taxis are also inexpensive and you can find plenty of them and the friendly drivers will be more than willing to take you there. No auto rickshaws are permitted within the city.

A word of advise Due to security reasons your personal belongings, cameras cellphones are not allowed inside. Even the coconuts for the pooja are scanned before they let you in. Tuesdays are very crowded with devotees standing in the ques for hours together. You will always be able to have a comfortable darshan once you reach the temple. such is the power of this Lord Ganesh.

Kalady - Birth Palce of Adi Sankara

2011-05-17T22:35:00.001-07:00

Kalady is a village located east of the Periyar river, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. It is the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankara, and a must visit destination for the Hindus. Kalady started featuring in the spiritual map of India only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent consecration of a temple for Sri Adi Shankara in 1910.

Legend holds that one day, Aryamba the widowed mother of Little Shankara, fainted after walking three kilometers for her daily bath in the Poorna river now known as Periyar.Feeling helpless, Little Shankara prayed to Lord Krishna. The tears of the child moved Krishna, who blessed him thus: "the river will flow where your little feet marks” . It is said that Shankar then marked a place in the soil with his big toe and the Periyaar river took its new course in the place marked by Shankara. That place came to be called Kalady.

The Periyaar river began flowing through Little Shankara's home garden. Shankara then installed Lord Krishna into the present temple, and marked the occasion by reciting Ätchutha Ashtakam.

Shankara's shrine at Kalady, maintained by the Sringeri Mutt, is situated on the northern bank of the river Periyar. The samadhi of Sri Shankara's mother, Aryamba, is located here. There is a small shrine to Lord Ganesha where Shankara used to pray daily. There are also two major shrines in the temple which were built later, one is dedicated to Sri Shankaracharya and the other to Goddess Saradamba, the main deity of Sringeri. The pooja rituals in these temples are done by Tamil or Kannada Smartha Brahmins, and not by Namboothiris as is the custom in Kerala.

Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram

The Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram has a spacious prayer hall and a shrine modeled on the Sri Ramakrishna temple at Belur Math. The Ashram also runs a school a charitable dispensary, and a library.

Sri Adi Shankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam

You could see this Sri Adi Shankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam as you enter Kalady. It is right opposite to the bus stand. This was built by Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. The walls of the memorial feature framed relief paintings that tell the story of Adi Shankaracharya. Several large statues of Ganapati, Adi Shankara, and others are also housed in this memorial.

Sri Krishna Temple

To the west of the Sringeri Mutt temple complex is a temple dedicated to Sri Krishna. This temple is known as the ancestral deity of Sri Shankaracharya. It is mentioned in verse of Prabodha Sudhakaram of Sri Shankaracharya as the Kula deivam (ancestral deity). The temple is under Kalady Devasthanam, in trusteeship of two Namboothiri families who had close associations with the life of Shankara. It is also the only surviving structure from the time of Shankara. The pooja rituals in this temple are conducted by Namboothiris as is the custom of Kerala, unlike in the Shankara mutt where they are done by Tamil or Kannada Smartha Brahmins.

There are three ghats ( ‘kadavu’ in Malayalam and ‘padithurai’ in Tamil) to the left of the SriKrishna temple. The two significant ghats are the Kalady ghat and the Crocodile ghat.

The Kalady Kadavu is the place where the river took its turn, and where Kalady was born. It was also the place where Shankara had first performed Aaraattu (a river bath of an idol) for his ancestral deity Sri Krishna before installing it at its current location. During the festival at Sri Krishna Temple, the Aarattu has been carried out at this ghat even today.

The Crocodile Ghat or "Muthala Kadavu," is where Shankara's life turned to Sanyasam. His mother, Aryamba, did not agree with his desire to become a Sanyasi. Legend says that one day, Shankara was touched by a dog and, as per custom, Shankara had to take a bath. Accompanied by his mother, Shankara went to the river Poorna to bathe. While in the river, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. The drowning Shankara told his mother that the crocodile would leave him alone if she would allow him to take up Sanyasam. His helpless mother agreed, and the crocodile then let go off Shankara.
How to reach?You can reach Kalady in Kerala by rail, road or airways. Nedumbassery Airport is about 6 km from here and Angamali railway station is situated 10 km away but many express trains many not stop there. Get down at Alwaye and this is well connected.

By your car - Assuming that you have reached Alwaye you can reach Angamally in 20 minutes and it is only another 20 minutes drive from Angamally.
If you are hiring an auto beware that you will not get auto from the mutt unless you retain yours. But however it is only a few hundred feet walk to the nearest bus stand to Kalady main BS.
Time of visit : 5am to 1pm; and 4pm to 8pm.

Where to Stay? There are accommodation available in Kalady ashram itself .I believe that, it has to be booked in advance. Contact Sri Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram, Kalady – 683574 Kerala.Ph: 0484 - 2462350 E-mail: sringerikldy@sify.com.My suggestion is to stay at Angamali where you can find good accommodation and reasonably good food .You can take an auto from here to reach the mutt for under Rs 50.

Other interesting places around; Eranakulam,Trichur

Useful data
State:Kerala
District: Ernakulam
Famous for: Pilgrim,Birth place of Adi Shankara
Languages: Malayalam, Tamil
Best Season: Throughout the year but avoid monsoon season
Weather: Summer 28-32°C, Winter 20-26°C

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