The land of Sri Sankaracharya,the great Advaitha philosopher & Sree Narayana Guru who enunciated the famous dictum "oru jaathi,oru matham,oru daivam(one caste,one religion,one God for man,)
Given here are some of the important places of worship in Kerala.
Around Thiuvananthapuram-
Padmanabhaswamy Temple-This Temple a prawling complex with a magnificent seven storied tower houses the idol of Lord Vishnu in the form of Ananthapadmanabha (The lord who upheld creation on a lotus which sprang forth from his navel )The 6m image partly covered with Gold & embelished with precious stones is viewed in three sections through three doors.
Attukal Bhagavathi temple-2 km away from thirivananthapuram,Known as the shabarimala of women.
Sree Parasurama Temple -Thiruvallam-5 km from Thiruvananthapuram.This 2000 years old temple ,is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Parasurama the mythologicalcreator of Kerala.
Varkala-40 km grom Thiruvananthapuram-Sivagiri Mutt in Varakala is the final resting place of the great social reformer,Sree Narayana Guru.The papanasham beach is the place where Naradais believed to have thrown in Valkalam.2000 year old Janardhana swamy temple is also located here.
Sree Krishna swamy temple ,Neyattinakara-20 km fromThiruvananthapuram.This temple is famous as the site housing the the old jackfruit treethat once gave refuge to King Marthandavarma erstwhile ruler of trvancore.
Sivananda Yoga Vedantha Dhanwantari Ashram ,Neyyar Dham-25 km from north east of ThiruvananthapuramYoga & Vedantha are the two philosophies taught here even few temples like rajarajeshwari ,Agatsya temple are located here.
Around Kollam(Quilon)
Kottumkulangara Temple-Chavara-(12 km. from Kollam)-This temple is famous for Thalappoli Mahotsavam which has a time -honoured custom of men dressed in female attires offering flowers to the deity.
Parabrahma Temple-Ochira(34 km. north of Kollam Town)- This pilgrim centre owes allegiance to the Advaitha philosophy in Hinduism.The presiding deity here is the Parabrahma or 'absalute reality'.Being an abstract concept that cannot be symbolised in an iconographic manner ,there is no temple structure here the ochirakali in the month of June is famous.
Lord Ayyappa Temple,Aryankavu-(51 Km. from Thiruvananthapuram& 70 km. from Kollam)-This Pilgrim centre has exquisite sculptures & mural paintings.Mandala pooja & Thrikalyanam celebrated in December are the main festivals here.
Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt-32 km. from Kollam- This is the place where Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma was born.It is today the headquarters of her worldwide mission & spiritual home of thousands of devotees.
Panamana,Karunagapally (18 km. from Kollam)-This is where Sree Chattampi Swamikal ,A great social reformer of modern Kerala attained Samadhi in 1924.The Bhattarakeswaram Temple & Ashram are dedicated to him.
Around Pathanamthitta-
Sree Vallabha Temple-Thiruvalla(2km. from Thiruvalla)-Dedicated to Lord Vishnu ,this temple houses a tank supposed to be a natural one.Ladies are allowed to the Santum Sanctorum only on two days,Vishu & thiruvathira.The annual festival Utharaseeveli is celebrated on the Makayiram asterism in meena (March April ).
Parthasarathy Temple -Aranmula-(10 km. from Chengannur)-A major attraction to this temple dedicated to Lord Krishna is the snake boat race held as part of the festival in August/September.
Ayyappa Temple -Sabarimala-72 Km. from Pathanamthitta town,210 km from Kochi,191 km from Thiruvananthapuram)-Awell known pilgrim centre in the rugged terrain of the western ghats,this Temple is dedicated to lord Ayyappa.Sabarimala is surraounded by hazadous hills like Karimala & Neelimala.The devotees known as Ayyappas negotiate the hills to reach the shrine after undergoing 41 days of vratham( self imposed Devotional penence).The Pilgrim season ,viz.Mandala Pooja & Makaravilakku comes between the latter half of November & the first half of Jnuary,every year.Ablution in river Pamba is considered as holy as a dip in the Ganga.The presence of Ayyappa`s lieutenant Vaver makes this esteemed pilgrim centre a model of communal harmony 7 castlessness.Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pamba & the last 5 km . to the shrine can be reached only by trekking .Women aged between 12 and 50 are not allowed inside the Shrine.
Pandalam-( 14 km from Chengannur Railway staion)-As a holy town ,Pandalam ranked second only to Shabarimala.Sree Ayyappa The presiding deity of Shabarimalahad his human sojourn here as the son of Raja of Pandalam.The Valiyakozhikkal Temple on the bank of the river Achenkovil has been modelled on the shabarimala shrine.Three days prior to the Makaravilakku Festival in Shabarimala,The sacred ornaments of Sree Ayyappa are taken from here,in a procession to Shabarimala.
Around Alapuzha (Alleppy)
Mannarsala Temple-(32 km south of Alleppy)-This is the most significant site of snake worship in Kerala & houses 30,000 images of snake gods.The shrine is under a patronage of a Namboodiri family (keralaite Brahmins),who`s an oldest famale member performs the role of the Temple priestess.The story behind the Temple is that the first priestess of Mannarsalagave birth to a five hundred snake,which is believed to reside in the Illam(Ancestral house of Namboodiri`s) to safe guard the Family.The annual Procession of the snake god idols are taken to the Illam during (on a particular day Ahilliyam nakshatram as per the malayalam calender-September-November).At Mannarsala barren women are believed to be blessed with children.
Chettykulangara Devi Temple-(5 km from Kayamkulam)-One of the renowned of Devi temples in Kerala.This temple is famous for the bharani festival,celebrated in February - March.The highlights of this festival are Kuthiyottam & Kettukazhcha.Of these the former is performed as an offering to the Godess.The man who makes the offering teaches an adolescent
boy religious rites for seven days from shivaratri(in feb)to bharani (in march) asterism during which period the boy observes the fast.On Bharani morning ,the boy with his body coiled with silver wires is taken in a procession to the Temple.Later in the afternoon ,devotees place huge decorated effigies of chariots,horses,epic figures such as Bhima,Panchali,and Hanuman, in the paddy fieldlying east of Temple.During the night the image of Devi is carried in a procession to the effigies stationed in the paddy field .This is kettukazhcha.These effigies are later taken to their respective Kavus(place of worship of different families).
Kannathumali Mahadeva Temple-(Chengannur-30 km south of Kottayam )-this Temple is dedicated to Shiva & Parvathi,is known for the Thiruputhu festival.
Subramania Swamy Temple-Harippad-(1 km from Harippad town)-The subramania swamy ( son of Shiva )idol here,the biggest of its kind has been designed after the sculptural pattern of the buddhist period.it is believed that the idol which was obtained from a river was worshipped by Lord Parashurama.One of the major festivals of this temple is Chithira festival ( April -May) is the most impotant.The prcession with the Golden peacock throne is facinating.
Sree Krishna Temple Ambalapuzha-(14 km south of Alapuzha)In its architectural featuresthe Sree Krishna Temple conforms to the typical Kerala style.The temple is famous for Palapayasam,milk porridge for exceptional sweetness offered to the deity.
Around Kottayam-
Shiva temple-Ettumanoor (12 km north of Kottayam town)-
The deity here is considered a celebrated exorcist of evil spirits.Exquisite mural paintings & sculptures adorn the temple.The central shrine is circular,with scenes from the Ramayana.Santhana Gopalakrishna Leela& Bhagvatham carved beautifully.The annual 10 days festival fallas in Feb- March.This Temple is famed for the Ezharaponnana, (literally seven & a half elephants,the half deloting a baby elephant)and a bunch of arecanuts-all made of golds.
Erumely-(60 km. north -east of Kottayam town)
Erumely is an important pilgrim centre for Hindus & Muslims.Sree Dharmasastha Temple here is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.The Petta Thullal of Kanni ayyappas(those who go for the first time to Shabarimala)is an importantfestival which is held in Dec/Jan.Erimely is also famous for Vavarambalam dedicated to Vavar,The friend of Lord AyyappaPilgrim costomarily worship herebefore thrie trek to Shabarimala.
Shiva Temple Vaikom(40 km from Kottayam town)-
Believed to have been built by Parasurama,The legendary
Creator of Kerala.This temple is famous for the 12 days Ashthami festival in november December.
Saraswati Temple ,Panachikkad-(10 km from Kottayam )-Known as Mookambika of the south ,This temple holds the Sraswati pooja every year in October /November.Children are initiated into the world of letters at the Vidyarambham ceremony here.
IN IDUKKI-
Mangala Devi Temple(15 km from Thekkady)-This ancient timple is hidden in the dense woods at the top of a peak 1337m above sea level. The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of architicture.Visitors are allowed here only on the chitra pournami festival day in april.
Around Eranakulam-
Kaladi-(35 km from Eranakulam)The birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya,The great Advaita philosopher of the 8th century,Kaladi houses temples dedicated to Sree Sankara ,Sarada Devi,Sri Krishna ,& Shri Ramakrishna.On the bank of River Periyar in Kaladi is the sacred bathing ghats where Sankaracharya is said to have been caught by a crocodile 7 which according to legends refused to release him until Sankara`s mother Aryamba permitted him to accept sanyas(renunciation).
Shiva Temple -Aluva (20 km from Eranakulam)Situated on the bank of river Periyar The Shiva linga of this Temple rises out of the sandbanks of the river and is believed to have worshipped by Lord Rama .During the monsoon season the whole region gets flooded & the idol getssubmerged in water.worship is done then in a small shrine on the upper banks of the River.Adip in this river at the BRAHMAMUHURTHA (3 AM )is considered very sacred.
Thrikkakkara Temple-( 14 km from Eranakulam )-Onam the festival of Kerala takes it`s origin from this temple, As the thiruvonam is the avatara ,day of Lord Vamana,the presiding deity of this Temple.
Chottanikara Temple-15 km from Eranakulam )-The godess is revered in three forms-as Saraswati in the morning,as bhagavati in the noon ,& Durga in the evening.During the annual festival in the kumbham devotees especially women seeks blessings from the Godess.
AROUND THRISSURE (TRICHUR)-
Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple-(29 km west of Thrissure)-Guruvayoor known as Kashi of South is famous for the Sree krishna Temple which has Gruvaayurappan or infant Krishna ,as the deity.Legend has it that the temple is the creation of Guru th preceptor of the Gods & Vayu,The God of wind.The most famous offering of the Temple is Thulabharam, where a devotee presents to the deity his pwn body weight against products like banana or rice ect.The Vishnu`s idol here made of rare stones is believed to possess healing qualities.,especially for rheumatism.the 16th century poet Melpathur Nrayana Bhattathiri who suffered from rheumatic pain is said to have sought relief from Guruvayurappan after which he composed Narayaneeyam in praise of the lord.
Exquisite paintings around the sreekovil depicting stories of the pranks of little Krishna stand testimony for the art of a period. The Mandapam facing the Sreekovil is resplendent with beautiful carvings.
