Kerala proves its title of ‘God’s Own Country’ not just because of its paradisiacal beauty but also as a destination where different religions coexist peacefully. Temples, churches, mosques, gurudwara and monasteries dot Kerala. Religion is a way of life here. Ancient shrines, miraculous legends, spiritual bliss and true belief will lure you for a visit to be blessed. Here are seven important religious places in Kerala that can be your next destination for a spiritual vacation.
1. Sabarimala
With an annual footfall of 30 million pilgrims, Sabarimala has a high religious significance. Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, this temple is an example of secularist values. It is mandatory to visit the nearby mosque (believed to be the tomb of Lord Ayyappa’s friend) before entering the temple.
Nestled amidst the hill ranges of Western Ghats, the shrine consists of 18 sacred golden steps. Taking vows for 41 days and following certain rituals is an absolute must. Not doing so naturally leads to the prohibition of entry in the sanctum sanctorum in one or the other way.
Receiving the vibhuti after ascending the steepest hill, is eternal bliss. However, the temple remains open for 41 days only known as Mandalapooja and on special days like 14th January (Makar Sankranti), 14th April (Maha Vishuva Sankranti) and the first five days of every Malayalam month. One thing is worth paying attention to that the ladies in the age group of 10-50 years are not allowed inside the premises.
One can easily identify Sabarimala pilgrims from a distance, as they call each other with the name ‘Ayyappa Swami’. They wear a blue or black dress and smudge the sandal paste or Vibhuti on their forehead and are not allowed to shave their head till the completion of this holy visit.
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2. Guruvayur
Guruvayur is the third-largest abode of Lord Krishna in India. The divine architect Vishwakarma designed it so well that on the very first day of Malayalam New Year, the first rays of the sun fall directly on the feet of the Lord. The center of attraction is the idol of a principal deity who stands straight wearing a holy Basil garland. He carries Panchajanya, Kaumodaki, Sudarshan Chakra and a lotus in his four hands respectively.
Besides the idol, a gilded 70 feet tall Dwijasthamba (flag-staff) also grabs the attention. Another thing to be easily spotted in the temple is the Deepastambas. An amazing view is created when these 24 feet high light pillars containing thirteen circular receptacles are lit.
Due to the idol being a replica of the image of Lord Vishnu as seen by Devaki and Vasudev at the time of Krishna’s birth, this place is also known as ‘Bhuloka Vaikuntha’. Titled as the ‘Dwarka of the South’, this holy shrine allows only Hindus into the premises.
3. Thiruvananthapuram
The 260-year old Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple has brought Trivandrum into the limelight. The meaning of Thiruvananthapuram is ‘City of Lord Anantha’ and it is derived from the presiding deity of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple situated here.
The sanctum sanctorum is considered to be the world’s richest temple. An intricate mélange of the Dravidian and Kerala style architecture amuses anybody who visits this place. It houses the idol of Lord Vishnu in an eternal yogic sleep pose on the serpent Adisheshan. This holy place is one of the 108 Divyadesam of Hindu God Vishnu.
Every day new alcoves, containing tons of treasures, are discovered from here. However, the exact number of chambers and the accurate amount still remain a mystery. It is a common belief that two cobras are safeguarding the treasure chambers and whosoever tries to access them will deal with an unfortunate fate.
The temple adheres to some strict rituals which are to be followed by the devotees alike. Only Hindus are allowed in the temple and that too in specific dress code. Apart from this holy shrine, there are some other architectural landmarks like Beemapally Mosque, Attukal Temple, Kowdiar Palace, Connemara Market and the Palayam CSI Church.
4. Thrissur
Known for ancient temples, mosques, churches, Thrissur is named after Lord Shiva. The holy abode of Shiva at Asokeswaram Siva temple, Vadakkunnathan temple and Irattachira Siva temple, makes it a must-visit place for Shivaites.
During its initial stage, Islam was encouraged here. A mosque built in temple style is appreciated here and depicts the cultural legacy. This mosque is believed to be the second one after Medina.
The reason for Christians visiting this holy destination is to offer prayers at the third tallest church in Asia, known as the Church of Our Lady of Dolors. Thrissur is also blessed with the first church of India, St. Thomas Church at Palayoor. St. Joseph Church is the largest pilgrim center in the district and is found in Parvaratty.
Show dedication towards Lord Krishna at the world-renowned Guruvayur Temple. Besides these marvels, this revenue district is the source of the festive zeal of Kerala. The place is ever ready to celebrate the Thrissur Pooram, most vibrant and outstanding temple festival.
5. Kottayam
Kottayam has rich cultural legacy and is naturally bewitching. It is a galore of attractive shrines and also a gateway to numerous other. The Pallippurathu Kavu, Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, the Saraswathy Temple and Thiruverpu Temple are some of the wonderful sanctum sanctorum accredited for making the city pious.
With due reverence to Christians and Christianity, ancient churches like St Mary Church, St Mary’s Knanaya Church, Vimalagiri Church and St Mary’s Forane Church etc. still retain their colonial-style architecture.
The Muslim community admires to offer Namaaz at the Thazhathangady Juma Masjid. All this makes it an important religious place in Kerala. All in all Kottyam has something for everyone. Be it for a pilgrimage or for an exciting vacation, you won’t regret your decision of choosing it as your holiday destination. Pack your bags and let your prayers be heard!
6. Pathanamthitta
The pilgrimage hub of Kerala, Pathanamthitta is enclosed within midlands, highlands and lowlands. This holy place attracts followers of ‘Vaastu Vidya’ from every nook and corner as it practices the same at Vassthu Vidya Gurukulam.
Besides this, the festive zeal of this place never fades away as numerous social and religious festivals and fairs are always celebrated with great enthusiasm. Christians also flock together in February for 8 days festival at Maramom. Pathanamthitta is also visited by Muslims alike for the Chandanakudam festival.
Rightly known as the ‘Headquarters of the Pilgrimage Tourism’, this is the place where communal and religious harmony go hand in hand. A pilgrimage to this place is surely getting one step closer to God.
7. Kollam
Located on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam is famous for its serene backwaters but also has some attention-grabbing significant temples. Built-in traditional elaborate architectural style, temples here follow strict rituals. One of them being that while visiting the temple, men should wear dhoti while women should be in a sari.
Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and much like Sabrimala, Achankovil Temple outstands amongst the rest. The idol of the Lord is made up of Rudrakash and is worshipped along with the idols of Poorna and Pushkala, two wives of God. This holy shrine is famed for curing snake bites.
It is really enthralling to witness the unity in diversity at the Oachira Temple. The surprising factor is that there is no temple structure here. Rather, it is situated near Oachira Town Mosque and is famous for a ritual known as Oachirakkali.
Not only the temples but the ashrams of Kollam are worth mentioning. Mata Amrithandamayi Ashram is quite noteworthy as it is the residence of a spiritual Hindu leader.
Kollam Church is a head-turner as it is the one out of the seven and a half churches built by Saint Thomas. There are other churches to be explored as well.
The list of important religious places in Kerala is extensive. It is better to go visit these places personally and observe what’s so special about them.
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Thanks for the praises! It is due to these pilgrimages only that Kerala is titled as God’s own country. Keep on reading our blogs to know more.