Temples in Kerala

With religion so integral to the daily lives of the locals and the involvement of Gods so perfunctory, it is no wonder that temples in Kerala are the centre of all spiritual and social activity as well. The brightly lit lamps arranged in tiers around the deity are heart-warming and soothing and evoke devotion and belief even in a non-believer.

Of the numerous temples that dot Kerala’s landscape, some have gained recognition from across the state’s borders, drawing devotees from all parts of India. Kerala’s temples are known more for their munificence and their promise to soothe and uplift their devotees from pain and sorrow than their architecture, as in the other southern states. Built simply but very aesthetically with locally available construction materials of wood and copper, Kerala’s temples merge with their surroundings with ease.

Almost all the gods of the Hindu pantheon are represented in Kerala’s temples. Some of the most visited are the Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor, Sabarimala temple, the Subramanya temple at Haripad and the Chhotanikara-Bhagawati temple. Apart from these, the 11 Divya Desam shrines showcasing the Tamil influence and the five temples believed to have been set up by the Pandavas are well known.

The Guruvayoor and Sabarimala temples deserve special mention here. Guruvayoor is believed to have been set up by Brihaspati and Vaayu, the wind God and known to relieve physical ailments. Adi Shankaracharya started worship here which is still conducted in the traditional and austere way. Sabarimala is the home of Lord Ayyappa on Sabarimala Hill, with 18 sacred steps leading to the shrine. Thousands of worshippers walk up to the shrine after leading an austere lifestyle for 41 days for a ‘darshan’ of Lord Ayyappa. The temple attracts large numbers of devotees between November and January and remains closed for the rest of the year except during the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu, the New Year.