Kalady Sri Sankara Tower - കാലടി ആദിശങ്കര സ്തൂപം-1

Kalady or Kaladi is a town located between Angamaly and Perumbavoor, east of the Periyar river, near to Malayattoor in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India, not far from Cochin International Airport. It is notable as the birthplace of 9th century Indian philosopher Adi Shankara.

Before 1906 acquisition THEKKEMADOM (a mutt established by Adi Shankara and entrusted with Padmapada paramara)enjoyed king ship and was entitled to even taxation as SHANKARA SANKETHAM For 6 centuaries. This right was to honour Shankara Acharya which continued even after independence till EMS ministry deregulated the right by special enactment.

Kalady Devaswom the devasthanam of THRI KALADY APPAN lord of Kalady Sreekrishna- the ancestral deity of Adi Shankara rabodha Sudhskaram verse 243is the only temple and institution existing from the time of Shankara Acharya. Legend has It that it also was reinstated at child hood ages of Adi Shankara.

In childhood for convenience of Shankara's mother ARYAMBA who one day,fainted off on way to river Periyar(Poorna) which was flowing 3 km away at that point of time prayed his lord Krishna. His Kula deva blessed Shankara that the river will flow where you draw line with your feet ( Kalady) . Little Shankara drew line before Krishna and the mighty Periyar took its new course through his house property Kappilly Mana. The temple was reinstalled by Shankara to present spot reciting achyta ashtakam.

Thereafter Shasalam became Kalady and Lord Krishna became Thri Kaladyappan Lord of Kalady under Kalady Devaswom.

Kalady came to prominence only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent consecration of an Adi Shankara temple in 1910.

The holy shrines of Sree Sri Sringeri Saradappeetam got 32 acres of land acquired from Kappilly Mana the ancestrial house of Shankara ef. Acquisition documents of 1906 by Travancore dynasty
Kalady facts

It was Kappilly Mana who maintained the Samadhi of ARYAMBA mother of Shankaraacharya with daily lamp of reverance for more than 1100 years till acquisition by Travancore dynasty. Nadukkaveri Sreenivasan Shastrikal envoy of Sree Sri Sringeri mutt came to know of the existance of buriyal ground maintained in a wall bounded area under an Ashoka tree with daily lamp of respcts on a black stone hexagonal lamp inscribed Thekkemadomvaka around it from very Paternal family of Shankara-KAPPILLY MANA.

Kappilly mana -the paternal house of Adi Shankara.jpg
Unfortunately the lamp of respect from family to achayas mother was stopped over after acquisition in 1905 and the Ashoka tree under which mortal remains of holy mother ARYAMBA was guarded as well as the wall closure all were struck down and currentstructure was built in.

The centenary of Kalady was celebrated in May 2010, and the story of its re-discovery a hundred years ago has been documented in a film by the Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Cochin international airport is situated just 6 km away from the town

Etymology

In Malayalam, ''Kalady'' means "footprint". The village was previously called Sasalam.

The legend has it that, Aryamba mother of Shankara used to take bath in Periyar (Poorna) river which used to flow 3 km away from its current course, and have daily darshan of their ancestial deity in his house. One day she was so tired and could not make the way, but fainted off.

Helpless liitle Sankara took refuge before his Krishna, who blessed the child that river will flow in the direction Sankara marks with his feet (Kalady). ��ണ്ണി, കാലടി വരയുന്നിടത്ത്‌ നദി ഗതി ആവും Little Sankara marked with little feet before lord Krishna himself. Mighty Periyar turned its course and passed through his homegarden Kappilly mana immersing the temple.

Then on Shashalam became Kalady and lord who blessed became Lord of Kalady, THRI KALADY APPAN. robodha Sudhakaram verse 243 by Shankara and local heresay.
All traditional and hagiographical sources maintain that Kalady was Shankara's birthplace. It is situated on the banks of river Periyar. Kalady is believed to have been found by a chieftain named Rajasekara, whose dream was influenced by Hindu god Shiva. He also built a temple for Shiva at this place and made a settlement for Brahmins. There are two temples within Kalady - one for Saradamba and other for Shankara as Dakshinamurthi. Sringeri Mutt and Kanchi Mutt have their branches here. A tall Adi Sankara Kirti Stamba Mandapa was built by Kanchi Mutt under the aegis of its pontiff Chandrasekarendra Saraswati. A Sanskrit University is run by Sringeri Mutt within its grounds.

Places of interest

Temples and monasteries

Shankara Temple

Sri Adi Shankara Janmabhoomi Kshetram in Kalady

The Shankara Shrine in Kalady, run by the Sringeri Mutt, is a large, partly open structure situated on the northern bank of the river Periyar. There are two major shrines in the temple; one is dedicated to Shankara and the other to Goddess Saradamba, the main deity of Sringeri. The ''samadhi'' (place of death) of Shankara's mother is also located here. A small shrine to Vinayaka is the scene of evening prayers, chanted to the rhythmic ringing of cymbals. The worship in these temples is done by Tamil or Kannada Smartha Brahmins and not by Namboothiris.

Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram

frame, Sree Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Kalady
The Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram is a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math, headquartered at Belur, West Bengal. It is located very near the accepted birthplace of Shankara. It has a spacious prayer hall and a shrine modeled on the Sri Ramakrishna temple at Belur Math. The Ashram also runs a school (Brahmanandodayam), a charitable dispensary, and a library.

Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam

250px, Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthambha Mandapam
Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam is an eight-story memorial built by Kanchi Kamakoti Math. The entrance to the memorial, guarded by two elephant statues, leads to the Paduka Mandapam. Two silver knobs represent the ''padukas'', or wooden sandals of the Teacher. The walls of the memorial feature framed relief paintings that tell the story of Adi Shankaracharya. It also depicts the Ṣanmatam promulgated by Śankarachārya comprising Śaivam, Vaiśnavam, Śāktam, Gānapatyam, Souram and Kaumāram. These are the major cults in Hinduism which reinstated the Vedic path. The famous Shankara Stupa has eight sides. Adi Shankara's shrines in Kalady are open to all pilgrims irrespective of religion and caste. Visitors can review the life of Shankaracharya as they climb to the top.

Sri Krishna Temple - the only temple from the time of Shankara installed by Shankara at KALADY

frame, Sree Krishna Temple, Kalady
Temple is under KALADY devaswom under trustee ship of Paternal family of Shankara Kappilly mana and Thalayattumpilly mana, who as well assisted cremation of mother of Aryamba mother of Shankara
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.
The important event in this temple is Kanakadhara Yanjam.
Sree Sankara 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 bala Bhikshu, Sankara instantly recited Kanakadhara stotram. The golden gooseberry rain fell in the garden of that old lady and the house got to be known as Swarnathu mana (Originally known as Punnorkkott Mana, located in Pazhamthottam). 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.

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.

Mattoor Thiru Vellaman Thulli Siva Temple

Vellamanthulli temple is two kilometres west of Kalady.

Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple

Nayathodu Sankara Narayana Temple, 3 km west of Kalady, is an example of Advaita in worship by Shankaracharya. According to legend, once Shankara prayed to 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.

Manjapra Karppilli Kavu Siva Temple

Sivasarman Nambudiri, Shankaracharya's father, was the priest of Karpillykavu Shiva temple, just 8 km south at Manjapra.

Thekke Madam

Thekke Madam is just adjacent to Krishna Temple. It was founded by the Trichur Shankaracharya.

As a homage to Shankara, this Trichur Math was given special '' archana'' rights at Krishna Temple, the temple of the Shankara's ancestral deity, in year 825. To facilitate this leasehold property (''kana pattam''), lands were provided by Kalady Devaswom. This Math was given kingship rights in Kalady in 1730, thus marking the area of Sankara Sanketham. This was the only Math of Shankaracharya tradition for centuries that respected Kalady and sanctified it.

In modern times, the area is leased by the Sringeri Math which also runs a Vedic school there.

Aryadevi Samadhi Mandapam

Aryadevi Samadhi Mandapam is dedicated to Aryadevi (Aryamba), Shankaracharya's mother, as the place of her cremation. Shankara performed the cremation of his mother after her death. He was assisted by two of the ten Namboothiri families of Kalady. One family, Kappilly Mana, honoured the location with daily lamps for centuries. It was noticing the daily lamp Nadukaveri Sreenivasa Sastrikal, special envoy of Sringeri Math, identified and accepted Kalady as Shankaracharya's birthplace in 1905. The Raja of Travancore acquired the whole area from Kappilly Mana in 1905 and handed it over to the Sringeri Math which now maintains the Mandap.

center, 800x800px, Panoramic view of the ghat

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 father Shivaguru

Here is the ghat where Shankara performed the ''Apara Kriyas'' (the rituals after death and cremation as per Nambudiri rituals) for his fater Shivaguru . Today, the ghat is within the temple complex of Sree Sringeri Math.

Festivals

Sankara Jayanti is celebrated for five days in April or May every year. The celebration includes several religious rites. Navaratri is celebrated for nine days during September or October with music, the chariot festival, '' rathostavam'', and other festivities.

The annual festival of the Lord of Kalady — Lord Krishna Thiru Kalady Appan — falls on 6 January. One distinct activity, the Aaraatu of Lord Krishna (the river bath), has been taking place for centuries in the holy ghat where Kalady was born. Every year during the Ṣankara Jayanti time (April–May), Kanakadhāra Yajñam is also being conducted with great participation of people even from far distance.

Kanjoor Thirunal is also a very popular festival in this area.

Education

The following institutions of learning are located in this region:

* Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit
* Sree Sankara College
* Adi Sankara Institute of Engineering and Technology
* Sree Kanchi Shankara Public School
*Jnanodaya Central School
* Brahmanandodayam Higher Secondary School
*Tolins international school
* Sree Sarada Vidyalaya
* NSS HSS MANICKAMANGALAM
* St: Joseph's Girls High School Chengal
* St: Sebastian's High School Kanjoor
* Anita Vidyalaya Thannipuzha
* SN Higher Secondary School Okkal, perumbavoor
* St: Thomas Higher Secondary School Malayaattoor
* SNDP Higher Secondary School Neeleswaram

Transport

Kalady is well connected to all other parts of Kerala. Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery is the nearest airport. Nearest railway station Angamaly

Location

Politics

See also

* Ramachandrapura Math
*Piravom

References

External links

*{{wikivoyage-inline, Kalady

Cities and towns in Ernakulam district