Kalady, the birthplace of the great Adi Shankara, is a prominent pilgrimage site in South India, located in Kerala. This small town continues to honor his memory with numerous shrines maintained by his descendants for over twelve centuries.
The name “Kalady” means “feet” in Malayalam, and local legend connects it to Adi Shankara. Originally named Sasalam, the village saw the birth of Sri Sankaracharya in 788 A.D. to Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Namboodri Brahmin couple from Kerala. His early life was marked by remarkable miracles that foreshadowed his significant role. One legend recounts that Sankara’s widowed mother fainted after walking three kilometers to bathe in the Periyar River. Desperate, the young Sankara prayed to Lord Krishna, his family deity. Moved by the child’s tears, Lord Krishna promised, “From now on, the river will flow where your little feet have touched the ground.” It is said that the Periyar River then shifted its course to the spot marked by the child’s footprints, leading to the village being named Kalady.
The residence of Adi Sankara from about twelve centuries ago has been transformed into the Adi Sankara Janmabhoomi Temple, dedicated to Goddess Sharada. This temple is managed by the Sringeri Matha. A century ago, the thirty-third pontiff of Sringeri, Sri Sachidananda Shiva Abinava Narasimha Bharati, identified the site with the assistance of scholars. The Maharajah of Travancore generously donated the land and funds to the Matha for constructing the temple on Adi Sankara’s birthplace. The temple was completed and consecrated on February 21, 1910. It features two principal shrines: one dedicated to Sri Sankaracharya and another to Goddess Saradamba, the principal deity of Sringeri.
Another significant memorial is the Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam, an eight-story structure built by the Kanchi Kamakoti Math. The memorial’s entrance, flanked by two elephant statues, leads to the Paduka Mandapam, where silver knobs symbolize the teacher’s wooden sandals. The walls of the memorial are adorned with framed relief paintings depicting the life of the great sage. Adi Sankara’s shrines in Kalady welcome all pilgrims, regardless of religion or caste. Additionally, there are several other notable sites connected to Adi Sankara in and around Kalady, supported by historical evidence.
