Sri Krishna Temple
The ancestral deity of Adi- Shankaracharya his Kula-Deva Yadupathy Krishna. Shankara praises his Krishna as the kuladeva (ancestral deity) in verse 243 of Shankara’s Prabodha Sudhakaram
Old aged widowed Aryamba had to walk 3 KMs. to have the daily bath to have Darshan of her beloved Lord Kalady Kanaan. One day she fainted on her way for bath and little Shankara took refuge before his beloved Krishna who, carried over by the love of Sankara to his mother blessed him to turn the course of the river where through he drew his feet (ഉണ്ണി കാലടി വരയുന്നിടത്ത് നദി ഗദി ആവും). Little Shankara drew with his feet just before the Lord who blessed.
Then mighty Poorna (Periyar) turned its course through the home garden of Shankara. Then on Sashalam became Kalady and blessed Krishna became THRI KALADY APPAN (Lord of Kalady). But then the Temple itself got immersed in the new course of Periyar.
Shankara himself had done the re-installation of the deity to the present spot on Thiruvonam star of Tulam month in Daskhinayanam against the normal tradition of Prathishta done only in Utharayana. To mark the occasion Sankara sung the famous Achyuta Ashtakam.
The recitation of Achyuta Ashtakam before the Lord is considered as divine offering to Lord Kaldyappan Krishna by devotees. To commemorate the occasion, the temple offer every year Chatu-Shatam a very special offering of pudding to Lord and do a Puja at Moola Sthanam (original spot in Kalady Ghat).
PRABODHA SUDHAKARAM and THRI-KALADY APPAN YADUPATHY
Prabodhasudhkaram is one of the very rarest works of Shankaracharya where he states biographically about himself and citing agonies he surmounted with the grace of his Lord Krishna
Shankaracharya worships and states his YADUPATHY Kuladeva, Further he worships his Krishna as his mother also Here Acharya is bit in a complaining mood to his Krishna, and tells that he was much ignored in his initial days but expresses his deep gratitude to his KULA DEVA YADUPATHY in endowing him with the ultimate knowledge
TRUSTEESHIP OF KALADY DEVASWOM – Temple Trust of Ancestral Deity of ADI SHANKARACHARYA – YADUPATHY SREE KRISHNA
The temple is under Kalady Devaswom, trusteeship of two Namboothiri families who are paternal family Kappilly (Edanana) and Kin family -Thalayattumpilly (Moothedam) of Shankara. The temple is also the only surviving structure from the time of Shankara.
Another important event in this temple is Kanakadhara Yanjam. Sree Shankara during pendency of upanayanam went begging for alms around and reached door steps of a poor widowed lady who had nothing but a dried amla to offer. Moved by the condition of that lady and her broad mind to offer whatever is available to Balabhikshu, Shankara instantly recited Kanakadhara Stotram worshipping Godess Lakshmi as spouse of his Krishna. The golden gooseberry rain (KANAKA DHARA) showered in the garden of that old lady. The house got to be known as Swarnathu mana (Originally known as Punnorkkott Mana). The ancestral deity temple of Sree Sankaracharya long back has started a Yagna during Sankara Jayanti season chanting Kanakadhara stotram by 32 Brahmins representing 32 years of life of that great guru. On Akshya Tritiya day, (Day on which the miraculous golden amla rain happened) a golden gooseberry abhisheka is done to Lakshmi-Narayana idol.
Manickamangalam Karthyayani Temple
One kilometre north of Kalady is the Manickamangalam temple, dedicated to Bhagavathi, or the goddess Durga. Shankara’s father Sivaguru was the priest in this temple. Legend is that one day as his father was unable to attend the daily Puja, he sends Shankara to offer the milk. Shankara offered the milk ritually, but milk remained the same quantity. Little Shankara was frustrated thinking that Devi Karthyani refuses his offering. Devi took pity of Shankara and drank the milk in full. Little Shankara was happy for a while, and then started again crying since he was not having Prasada to take back home before his parents. Devi again filled back the tumbler which he took back home gleefully. Reference of Manickamangalam Karthyayani Devi is in his later work Soundarya Lahari.
Mattoor Thiru Vellaman Thulli Siva Temple
Vellamanthulli temple is two kilometres west of Kalady.
At old age, Aryamba was finding it difficult to continue going to Vadkkumnathan temple Trissivaperoor -TRISSUR. One night they had a darshan of Vadkkunathan -Lord Shiva who came in and told to set off for Darshan. I will appear on the way as a white-deer dancing which will lead you to where I am. You just continue praying me from that place. Next day very morning they set forth for the darshan and in just 5 Kms away from Kalady to North, they found the white-deer dancing leading to a near by hill top. The white deer disappeared where they found a Shiva lingam. The place became Matte (other) – Oor for Thrissoor . The temple became Thiru – Vella Man Thulli (White deer Dancing) Temple.
Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple
Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple, 8 kms west of Kalady, is an example of Advaita in worship by Shankaracharya. According to legend, once Shankara prayed Vishnu in this Shiva temple, Vishnu also came to reside in same idol. To this day, after offerings are made to Shiva, everything is removed and offerings are made to the same idol for Vishnu. There are two flag-posts for festival there, one for Lord Sankara and next for Lord Narayana. Acharya was so unorthodox which alienated the highly orthodox Nambudiri community.
Manjapra Karppilli Kavu Siva Temple
Sivasarman Nambudiri, Shankaracharya’s father, was the priest of Karpillykavu Shiva temple, just 8 km south at Manjapra.
Ancient ghats
The three ghats below are adjacent, and span west to east in chronological order.
Kalady Kadavu (Aaraattu Kadavu)
The Kalady Kadavu is the place where the river took its turn, and where Kalady was born. It was also the place where Shankara had first performed Aaraattu (a river bath of an idol) for his ancestral deity before installing it at its current location. For centuries, during the festival at Sree Krishna Temple, the Aarattu has been carried out at this ghat.
Crocodile Ghat
The “Muthala Kadavu,” or Crocodile Ghat, is where Shankara’s life turned to sannyasa (ascetic life).
His mother Aryamba did not agree with his desire to become a sannyasin. Legend says that one day, Shankara was touched by a dog and, as per custom followed by the community, Shankara had to take bath. Accompanied by mother, Shankara went to river Poorna to bathe. While in the water, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. The drowning boy told his mother that the crocodile would leave him alone if she would allow him to take up sannyasa. Helpless, his mother agreed, and the crocodile freed Shankara.
Ghat of the post-funeral rites of Mother Aryamba
Here is the ghat where Shankara performed the Apara Kriyas (the rituals after death and cremation by families paternal and Kin as per Nambudiri rituals) for his mother Aryamba. Today, the ghat is within the temple complex of Sree Sringeri Math acquired from Paternal family of Shnakara .
