Kalady - The birth place of Adi Shankaracharya

Posted Date: 04-May-2010		Category: Kochi Smartcity
Author: Latha Jayaprakash	Member Level: Gold
Rating:	Points: 25 (Rs 25)

Kalady is a small village located east of the Periyar river in the district of Ernakulam and is the birth place of the well known philosopher and spiritualist Sri Adi Shankara. This is one of the most popular destinations of Kerala which the tourists and pilgrims choose.

It is said that Kalady, meaning Foot Prints in malayalam, got its name from an incident which happened in a little boy's life. Little Sankara and his widowed mother, Arya Devi, were returning from the bathing ghat at the Periyar river flowing at about 3 kilometers away from their home. The Mother fainted and the boy feeling helpless prayed to Lord Krishna for help. Lord Krishna gave him a boon saying the river will flow where his little feet marks. Now the Periyar river started flowing through his home garden and the village got its new name Kalady the old name being Sasalam. Lord Krishna was then installed in the temple there and Sankara recited his first poem there namely Achutha Ashtakam. This Little sankara became Adi Sankara in the later years.

Places to visit in Kalady

There are many places to visit in Kalady. They are Shankara Temple, Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam, Sri Krishna Temple, manickamangalam Karthyayani Temple, Mattur thiru vellaman Thulli Siva temple, Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple, Manjapra Karpilli Kavu Siva temple, Thekke Madham, Aryadevi Samadhi Mandapam, Kalady Kadavu, Crocodile Ghat and the ghat of the post funeral rites of Mother Arya Devi.

Shankara Jayanthi is the main festival celebrated in the months of April / May every year for 5 days. Navarathri which is celebrated for nine days and Rathostavam, the chariot festival are also celebrated here.
Here the Lord Krishna is known as Thrikalady appan and the annual festival falls on 6th January, Aarattu of the Lord Thrikaladiappan has been taking place in the holy ghat which was drawn by Little Sankara and the name Kalady was born. This is the place where Little Sankara performed Aarattu of the idol of Lord Krishna before installing the idol in the temple.

Crocodile Ghat is the place where a crocodile caught hold of Little Sankara's foot and started pulling him into the river. Little sankara told his mother to allow him to take up sanyasa and only then the crocodile will allow him to live. His mother agreed helplessly and the crocodile freed him instantly.

How to Reach Kalady

Kochi international airport is the nearest at about 5 kilometers from Kalady, the birth place of Sri Shankaracharya.
Angamaly is the closest railway station but all trains do not stop here. Aluva is the nearest major railway station and is 22 kilometers away from Kalady.
It is very easy to connect Kalady with the other towns and cities of Kerala as the Main Central Road which starts from Angalamy runs through Kalady by connectiong Thiruvananthapuram etc.

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