Author's
Preface |
Kulapati's
Preface |
| As the author of
books on two of the most prominent temples of Kerala Sri Krishna,The Lord of Guruvayur and
Pilgrimage to Sabari- which were fortunately well received by the public. [More.....] |
The publishers
preface on the book." Temples & Legends of
Kerala" .
[More.....] |
Introduction |
Sri
Padmanabha |
| Of Kerala temples,
Stella Kramrisch once wrote: "In this beauteous, bountiful country, between sea and
mountains, green in the density of high trees and fertile land. [More.....] |
In our younger days
- and that was some fifty years ago - poor Brahmins who could not subsist themselves went
to Trivedrum, the capital of the princely state of Travancore. [More.....] |
A
Temple For Serpents |
The
Goddess Who Has Periods |
| The origin of snake
worship goes back to remote antiquity. But in no part of the world is snake worship
still such a live tradition as in Kerala. [More.....] |
This writer set out
Chengannur from Alleppey on a December morning.The scenic beauty of Keralais
particularlyenchanting during this 60 k.m. drive. [More.....] |
Aranmula
Parthasarathi |
Ambalapuzha
Krishna |
| The Lord Krishna at
Aranmula, is depicted as Parthasarathi, the divine charioter. Aranmula, a beautiful and
picturesque village, is about 9 km. from Chengannur. [More.....] |
Once Pooratam
Thirunal Thampuran,the Brahmin ruler of Champakasseri was travelling in boat
accompanied by sages Vilwamanagalam Swamiyar. [More.....] |
Sabarimala |
Ettumanur |
| The Ayyappa temple
of Sabarimala in the Western Ghats in south Kerala.While Sri Krishna is a living deity to
every Hindu home from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Ayyappa, the beloved god of Keralites. [More.....] |
Nalamkal Krishna
Pillai in his essay on Ettumanur in his book. Mahakshetrangalku Mumpil, narrates the
following incident: An acquaintance of his did not have an issue for several years
after marriage. [More.....] |
Vaikom |
Chottanikara |
| Vaikom is 33 k.m
south of Ernakulam and 40 km. north-west of kottayam. It can be reached by bus or by
rail. There is also the inevitable launch for those fond of cruising on the scenic
backwaters (of Vembanad). [More.....] |
Today the temple is
under the administrative control of the Cochin Devaswom Board. It can easily be
reached by bus from Ernakulam or Tripunithura.
[More.....] |
Kaladi |
Kannaki |
| Kaladi is "a
pre-eminent centre for inspiration on the banks of the Purna river that purified every man
in thought, word and deed," said the Sankaracharyas in a joint message.
[More.....] |
This, in short, is
the story of Silappadikaram and the consecration of Kannaki at Kodungallur, However,
certain features of the structure of the Kodungallur temple point to the fact that,
originally, it was a Siva shrine and that the image of Kali was installed
later. [More.....] |
Bharata |
Triprayer |
| The Story of
Bharata in the Ramayana portraying a character of unrivalled purity and sublime
selflessness is something more than an episode, and stands out by itself even in that
noble epic, as holy shrines do on the banks of the Ganga. [More.....] |
Triprayer temple is
situated in what is called Chetuve island which was formerly under the Zamorins.In 1719 it
was annexed by the Dutch. Then the Mysore Sultan defeated the Dutch and annexed the
territory. [More.....] |
Vadakkunnathan
Temple |
Guruvayur |
| No visitor to
Trichur can miss theVadakkunnathan temple, "one of the most unique, ancient and
important" of the sacred shrines of Kerala. The name Trichur is derived from
Tiru-Siva-Perur, The holy place was also called Vrishachala.
[More.....] |
The glory of
Guruvayur - the place has also come to be justly known as the Dwarka of the South - thus
rests on the divinity of the idol installed there which represents the full manifestation
of the Lord Mahavishnu as was revealed to Vasudeva and Devaki at the time of
Krishnavatara; [More.....] |
Rama
And Lakshmana |
Tali Temple |
| Tiruvilwamala is an
important temple, consisting of two shrines side by side - one dedicated to Rama and the
otherto his brotherLakshmana. It is a mountain shrine easily accessible by road on
the west side. [More.....] |
The Tali temple at
Calicut (Kozhikode) is redolent of some of the glorious chapters in the history of old
Kerala. Tali is a term generally applied to a Siva temple
[More.....] |
Tiruvangad
Perumal |
Taliparamba |
| The Tiruvangad Sri
Rama Temple in North Kerala is in deed considered veryimportant with unique characteristic
of archi- tecture. There are ever so many temples in Kerala dedicated to Siva, Krishna
and Devi. But for Rama there are only three great Temples. [More.....] |
Taliparamba is 25
km. from Cannanore, head quarters of Cannanore district. A hisoric place like Calicut
orTellicherry, its neighbourhood is sanctified by three temples - Siva or Rajeswara at
Taliparamba.
[More.....] |
Trichambaram |
A Round-Up |
| Comparing
Trichambaram temple with othertemples in Kerala, Nalamkal states it is not as big as the
temples at Vaikom, Ettumanur, Haripad, Kutalmanikayam or even Taliparamaba. [More.....] |
"Kerala,"
it is rightly said, "is a land of temples as it is a land of
hills, back waters and
spices ." An attempt is made here to make a quick survey of some more temples
by rapid circum- ambulation, or ottapradakshi- nam, as they say in Kerala.
[More.....] |
