Situated at Kalady, Ernakulam, Kerala, Kalady Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Temple is a famous pilgrimage centre. It is the birth place of Sri Adi Sankara. Jagadguru Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Swamigal, the 33rd Peetathipathi of the Sringeri guru parampara with the help of Sri Moolam Thirunal Ramavarma Maharaja of Travancore built two temples - one for Goddess Sharadamba and one for Sri Sankara.

Location Kerala, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram

Legend

Sree Sankaracharya defies explanations. Within the lifespan of 32 years, he travelled across the Indian mainland and established the base for Hindu religion. The legend says that the child prodigy that he was, young Sankara completed his Vedic training at the age of five and decided to take up sanyasa at the age of eight. For that he had to convince his mother Aryamba. Once while he was taking bath at Periyar (Poorna River), a crocodile caught his leg and started to drag him to the river. His screams brought his mother to the bank and then he said the crocodile would leave him if she agreed to let him become a Sannyasi. Left with no other option, the mother agreed. In return, he promised to be by her side at her last moment and also perform the last rites. Another legend says that Sankara diverted the course of the Periyar to make it flow near his home for this aged mother. Sankaracharya established four Mutts - at Badarinath in the north, Puri in the east, Dwaraka in the west and Sringeri in the south - before attaining moksha at Bedarinath.

Architecture

The Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi temple has Sreekovil of Saradamba with other matrkkals, shrine of Adi Sankaracharya, Samadhi of Aryamba, sub-shrine of Sakti-Ganapati, pradakshina vazhi and gopuram. The Keerthi Sthambha is a 11-storeyed octagonal shafted concrete structure built on eight concrete pillars. There are 168 steps leading to the top of the stoopam. Within the stoopam, there are concrete reliefs depicting episodes from the life of Sankaracharya. The main pratishta is in the form of holy feet of Sree Sankara, made in silver. The pancha-loha (alloy of five metals) idol of Sree Sankara in sitting pose is installed inside the garbha gruha.

The main shrine is in the shape of a lotus with Goddess Brahmi in the sankalpa of Saradamba (the guardian deity of Sringeri Mutt) and Sarasathi in centre. Other matrukkals - Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamunda - are installed within the antharalams of six petals. Shrine of Sankaracharya is in the northwest. The Samadhi of Aryamba is in the southeast. There are two ghats in Periyar - the Makara ghat (associated with the legend of young Sankara seeking mother's permission to take sanyasi) and the snan ghat (bathing ghat).

Culture

Sankaracharya is one of the cornerstones of Hinduism and his birthplace is a holy place for Hindu religion. Periyar has always been the seat of Vedic culture in Kerala and the legend of Sankaracharya endorses it.

Darsan Info

The temple is open from 6 AM to 12.30 PM and from 4 PM to 8 PM.

Darsan Dresscode

At Kalady Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Temple/Sri Sringeri Sarada Peetham, No specific dress code is enforced.

Famous Festival

February : Prathishta Day

April/May : Sankara Jayanti

October : Navaratri, Chandika Homam on Mahanavami day is very important.

Special Rituals

Rudra homam, deeparadhana, vidwat sabha featuring eminent Sanskrit scholars and Ratholsvaam are special rituals held on Sankara Jayanti.

Additional Info

  

Hotels near Kalady Adi Shankara Birth place.

Blue Bell Restaurant +91 4842404444,

Saravana Bhavan, Palace Food Court +91 4842610610

    

 Supermarket : Available