Sri Tirukaladiappan Temple / Sri Krishna Temple

Overview

Sri Tirukaladiappan Temple is located at Kalady, Ernakulam, Kerala. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

About The Temple

To the west of the Sringeri Math temple complex is a temple dedicated to Krishna. This temple is known as the ancestral deity of Shankaracharya. It is mentioned as the kuladevata (ancestral deity) in verse 243 of Shankara's Prabodha Sudhakaram. 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 worship in this temple is also conducted by Namboothiris, unlike in the Shankaracharya temple.

About The Deity

The idol-Vigraha of the Lord is 3.5 feet tall made of Anjana stone which has the properties of iron and copper. It is noteworthy that the Vigrahas of Lord Guruvayurappan and the one in this temple are the only ones made of anjana stone.

Legend and Stories

Sri Sankara is revered as the incarnation of Lord Shiva, born to Sivaguru and Aryambal. They were praying Trissur Vadakkunathar for a long time seeking child boon. Sri Vadakkunathar blessed them with a male child in the year 788 AD and the child was Sankara. Father Sivaguru passed away when Sankara was three years old. An extrordinarily brilliant Sankara mastered the Sastras and the Vedas before he was seven. He was serving the aged Aryambal and wisely obtained the permission from the mother to embrace Sanyasa.

Sankara’s mother used to walk a long distance each day to have her bath in Periyaru river and worship Lord Kanna in the temple. Age did not allow her to walk as before but she could not stop the habit. Sankara felt sorry for her mother and prayed to the Lord. A voice from the space told Sankara that the river would flow to the place where he placed his feet. It was a miracle that Periyaru began to flow at the spot near Sankara’s house. The village known as Sashalam till then, came to be known as Kaladi meaning foot print (of Sri Sankara).

As mark of his gratitude to the Lord, Sri Sankara built a temple for his family deity in the year 795 AD and installed Tirukaladiappan-Kannan. The river too got the name Poorna. The first Aarattu Viszha for Kaladipaan was performed at this spot. Sankara’s mother was happy to continue her prayers without difficulty.

One day Sri Sankara was bathing in Poorna river. A crocodile in the river suddenly caught hold of his legs and began to pull him down. Aryambal screamed. The whole village gathered.

Sankara came to know what would happen then. He told his mother that he would be relieved of the crocodile’s grip if he embraced Sanyasa instantaneously on the spot. To have the son alive, the mother agreed. As a rule, the mother should give her consent to the son if he wished to become a sanyasi. The crocodile who was none but a Gandharva was in the river due to the curse of sage Durvasa. Sooner the feet of Sankara touched him, he was relieved of the curse and went free.

Festivals

Lord Kannan’s installation is celebrated in the temple each year with abishek, Kalasabishekam, Navadanya ( 9 pulses) pooja. Those afflicted by Graha doshas, facing obstacles in marriage proposals, aspirants of high education and fine arts.

Significance

Those seeking child boon stand in the Namaskara Mandap and pray to the Lord.

Thanks Giving

On getting a child, devotees come to the temple with a cradle offering. They place the child on the steps and take back after offering a contribution – Kanikkai. They also apply butter to the Lord to realize their wishes.

How To Reach Sri Tirukaladiappan Temple/ Krishna Temple, Kalady

Airport

The nearest airport is Kochi.

Railways

The nearest railways station is Angamali.

Road

Angamali is 35 kilometres far from Earnakulam. Kaladi is 8 kilometres south of Angamali. The devotee should ask for Krishnan Ambalam the name familiar with locals.

Temple Address

Sri Tirukaladiappan Temple / Sri Krishna Temple,
Kalady, Ernakulam district,
Kerala, Pincode - 638574.