KALADI -THE BIRTH PLACE OF ADI SHANKARA CHARYA IN ERNAKULAM..

Kalady, located 10 km from Aluva in Ernakulam district, is the birthplace of the great humanitarian and great Advaita philosopher philosopher, Adi Sankaracharya. The place is blessed with many important temples, including shrines dedicated to Sri Sankara, Sarada Devi, Sree Krishna and Sree Ramakrishna.

The strings of destiny drew us like puppets to Shankaracharya birth place in Kalady, Kerala, India, on the trail of Adi Shankara. Adi Shankaracharya is the colossal philosopher, theologian, and saint who streamlined the doctrines of Hinduism and advocated the philosophy of Advaita. Though born in the southern extremity of India in Kerala, he travelled the length and breadth of India, not once, not twice, but thrice. What he achieved in his short life span of just 32 years cannot be achieved in 32 lifetimes of lesser mortals.

his article is about the village in Kerala, India. For the legendary discoverer of coffee, see Kaldi. For the Sri Lankan city, see Kalladi Kalady or Kaladi[1] 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.

Kalady came to prominence only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent consecration of an Adi Shankara temple in 1910. 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.[2] Cochin international airport is situated just 6 km away from the city

Etymology-

In Malayalam, Kalady means "palla warrior". The village was previously called Sasalam.[3][4] Almost 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 kaladi pandiyan, 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 45 m (148 ft) 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

Sri Krishna Temple

Sree Krishna Temple, Kalady

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 . 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

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.