MY SPIRITUAL TRAVELOGUE - A visit to Kaladi.

MY SPIRITUAL TRAVELOGUE - A visit to KALADI - The Birth Place of Shri Adi Shankaracharya.

After a gap of about more than two and a half years due to the corona (Covid 19) outbreak, I slowly restarted my spiritual journey, first  by visiting our family deity - Kuladeivam Sri Mahadevar temple in Ettumanoor (in Kottayam district, Kerala) to take His  Blessings.  Though we followed our planned schedule for this pilgrimage, one place which we did not think of in our schedule  suddenly flashed up in our mind, thanks to one of our relatives,  as a bubble when we were in Ettumanoor.  That was Kalady, the birth place of Sri Adi Sankaracharya.  With no time to spare, a suggestive program was chalked out with our driver sarathy for visiting Kalady.    In other words,  the destiny drew us like a river flow to Adi Shankaracharya birth place - the Kalady.  It was an experience beyond an imagination of an ordinary village side as we entered the devine place where thousands of years ago a baby's cry sphere headed the advent of a man who would show the world the path to liberation, a man would come to respect and admire as Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya.  

We started at 8.00 a.m. after finishing all our refreshments to cover up  a distance of about 75 Km - 2 hrs travel in a van.  With intermittent break-ups on the way, we reached Kalady past mid-day, by that time the temple was closed and we were waiting there for its reopen at 4.00 p.m.

Kaladi or Kalady is a tiny hamlet located near Aluva (22 KM) of Ernakulam district in Kerala, the nearest railway station being Angamali (8 KM) and the nearest airport being Kochi international airport (7 KM).  Kalady in Malayalam language means 'footprint' which was once called as 'Sasalam'.  Kalady was rediscovered and came into prominence late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri and subsequent consecration of a temple for Adi Shankaracharya in 1910.

Kalady is the Holy birth place of the great human alien and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. Though born in the southern extremity of India in Kerala, Adi Shankaracharya travelled the length and breadth of India, not once or twice but thrice.  What he achieved in his short life span of 32 years cannot be achieved in 32 lifetimes of any other gurumars.  The place is blessed with many important temples including shrines dedicated to Sri Shankara, Sharda Devi, Sri Krishna and Sri Ramakrishna.  Festival celebrations here are solemn events that attract believer in large numbers.  Jagadguru of Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada, a pre-eminent center for inspiration on the banks of the Poorna river that purifies the mankind in thought, word and deed. 

Jagadguru Shankaracharyas of Sringeri, Dwaraka. Badari and Puri jointly conveyed a message - "A visit to Kalady increases tranquility, self restraint and other eminent virtues of those engaged in the pursuit of knowledge.  

It is the duty of every common man to visit the Holy Kalady, the birth place of Adi Shankara and more so for any aspirant for liberation, the sanyasi and those who follow the Advaita school of thought."

Kalady, the birth place of Sri Adi Sankaracharya during the 8th century.  This place where Shankara was born and raised was unknown to us for several centuries.  A 100 years ago,  through the 33rd Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharadha Peetam the first and the foremost institution established by Shri Adi Shankaracharya to convey His teachings brought about the change.

Kalady is also known as Adi Shankara Janma Bhumi Kshetram, on the banks of the Holy river Poorna (Periyar).  He was a shining spiritual light, intellectual giant and a genius of linguistics, the level of wisdom and knowledge He showed at a very early age made him a shining light for humanity. He illuminated the land of Bharat with His teachings that are still as impactful as ever.  He was a prodigal child and an extraordinary scholar with almost super human capabilities.  

    At the age of 2 - he could fluently speak & write                  Sanskrit,

    at the age of 4 - could recite all the Vedas and 

   at the age of 12 - took sanyasa and left his home in             Kalady. 

He left his body at the age of 32.  Between the age of 12 and 32 he travelled widely throughout the country. 

As there was plenty of time for the  temple to reopen, we wandered the nearby places.  We came across Sri Krishna temple, also known as Thirukaladiappan Temple.  Shankara's mother used to walk a long distance every day to have her bath in the Periyaru (Poorana river) and worship Lord Krishna in the temple.  Her old age did not stop her from this habit.  Shankara felt sorry for her mother and prayed to Lord.  A voice from the space descended down told Shankara that the river would flow to his place where he placed his feet.  It was a miracle that the river began to flow at the spot near Shankara's house.  From that time onwards the village which was till then known as Sashalam came to be known as Kaladi.  In gratitude, Shankara built a temple for his family deity and installed Tirukaladiappan - Sri Krishna.  Shankara performed the first Aarattu Vizha for Kaladiappan and his mother was happy to continue her prayers without any difficulty.  The idol of Lord Krishna is 3.5 feet tall and made of Anjana stone that has high properties of iron and copper.  A powerful idol.  Only Guruvayur and Kaladi temples have this kind of idols.  At the right to Lord Kannan sannidhi, Sivan, Parvathy  and Ganapathy sannadhies are there.  Parasuramar, Ayyappan and Adhi Shankara sannadhi are also available  Akshaya Thrithiya is being celebrated in this temple with elaborate pooja and arrangements. Lot of crowd gather at this time.

Thirukaladiappan Temple

 

The historical legendary goes like this - Throughout the course of his early life, Shankara astounded many with his knowledge intelligence.  He started writing his own analysis of the Upanishads, BrahmaSutra and the Bhagavad Gita at a young age.  Right from his childhood, he was keen on becoming a monk or sanyasi.  Adi Shankara's mother Aryaamba did not agree with his desire to become a monk. Legend says that one day, Shankara was touched by a dog and, as per custom followed by the community Shankara had to take a bath.  Accompanied by mother, Shankara went to river Poorna to bathe.  While in the water, a crocodile got hold of his leg.  The drowning Shankara told his mother that the crocodile would leave him alone if she would allow him to take up sanyasa. Helpless mother Aryaamba agreed, and the crocodile freed Shankara.  This place is even today called as '"Muthala Kadavu" or "Crocodile Ghat" where Shankara's life turned to sanyasa/monk.

Holy Crocodile Ghat

After visiting the Crocodile Ghat, we entered inside the temple.  There are Sri Sakti Ganapati, Sri Sharadamba and Adi Shankara deities sannadhi are there.  Samadhi of Aryamba (Holy mother of Sri Shankara) is also there.  The temple draws large number of devotees and pilgrims especially during Sri Shankara Jayanthi and Sarada Sarannavarathri festivals.  Pilgrims and tourists from all parts of India and abroad visit this temple for spiritual solace and peace of mind.  By the time we finished our darshan and prayers, a heavy downpour made us to wait inside the temple.  We had the opportunity of having a glance of  the  colourful art work of Shri Shankaracharya's life history painted beautifully on the walls,  which will never fade easily from our memories. 

As a legendary narrates - When Adi Shankara was a young boy, as a student of Gurukula, he visits houses and seek alms(biksha from gragastas) for food and share whatever they receive with fellow students and Acharya (tacher) which is customary in Hindu Gurukul system.  One day, when he visited a poor woman's house, she didn't have anything to offer and did not want the young boy to go without any offering from her side.  She searched everywhere inside her house and could not find anything but a little bit dried gooseberry.  She felt very sorry for such an offering to the boy and explained her inability to serve him with better one.  Adi Shankara realised the poor lady's bakthi and selfless attitude and felt pity for her.  He prayed to Goddess Mahalaxmi through his composition of Kanakadhara Sthothram, the first hymn which Adi Shankara composed.  In praise of their bakthi, Goddess Mahalaxmi poured gold gooseberries on the poor lady hut, showered Her blessings and alleviated her poverty.  Even today it is believed that poverty would be banished by singing this hymn.  The house (Swarna Mana or Punnorkode Mana,  situated 16 KM from Aluva and 23 KM from Kaladi) where this happened still exists in Kaladi.  There is a temple for Goddess Sri Kanakadhara Mahalaxmi

Under the guidance of his guru Govinda Bhagavatpada, he mastered almost all the ancient religious scripts in short time.  He travelled across India, propagating Advaita Vedanta.  His teachings were challenged by many philosophers and thinkers.  He was even involved in a number of debates pertaining to Hinduism and its beliefs, but Shankara managed to astound all his doubters with his intelligence and clarity.  He then went about propagating his ideas and was soon accepted as a Guru by many.  Shankara came to be known as Shankaracharya among his disciples.  He has choosen four of his deciples (ardent followers)  to head the four monasteries (mutts) founded by him.  They are - Padmapada for Govardhana Mutt which is a part of the famous Jagannath temple in eastern part of India,Jyotirmata Mutt for Totakacharya in the northern part of India,  Hasta Malaka for Dwaraka Mutt in the western part of India and Sureshvara for Sringeri Sharada Mutt in the southern part of India. The monasteries founded by him had a great influence in reforming Hinduism.

At the age of 32, Adi Shankaracharya retired to the Himalayas and is believed to have entered a cave near Kedarnath.  He was never seen again and the cave that he entered is considered as his final resting place.

His philosophical works include review of Brahma Sutra, commentaries on Bhagavad Gita, ten principal Upanishads, many stotras, poems praising gods & goddesses, and famous Upadesasahasri etc. An exhaustive list of all his works are given below, as seen in Vivekavani.

Even today,  many scholars wonder how Acharya wrote so  much in a very short lifespan of 32 years. Undoubtedly it shows that he was the greatest scholar and a man on a mission to teach & establish the philosophy of Advaita. Though the majority of his works concentrate on Advaita, he equally penned on bhakti since he believed that bhakti was a very essential step for Chiththa Shuddhi without which self-realisation was not possible. Hence he composed verses and hymns in praise of every lord, the majority of which were concentrated on Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakthi. He wanted the people to worship the lord in any form of their wish, the results of which must finally purify their mind and make it fit for self-realisation. From his life history, it is evident that he was blessed by Lord Narasimha, Goddess Saraswati, and Lord Vishvanatha. Hence one can find a true Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakthi in him. The most highlighting factor is the baashya for Hastamalakeeyam written by Shri Shankaracharya since rarely a Guru has written baashya for the work of his own disciple. Below is the list of works by Shri Adi Shankaracharya which are widely accepted to be his works.

BHASHYA GRANTHAS

1. Brahma Sutras
2. Isavasya Upanishad
3. Kena Upanishad
4. Katha Upanishad
5. Prasna Upanishad
6. Mundaka Upanishad
7. Mandukya Upanishad
8. Mandukya Karika
9. Aitareya Upanishad
10. Taittiriya Upanishad
11. Chandogya Upanishad
12. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
13. Sree Nrisimha Taapaneeya Upanishad
14. Bhagavad Gita
15. Vishnu Sahasranama of
16. Sanat Sujatheeyam
17. Lalita Trishati
18. Hastamalakeeyam

PRAKARANA GRANTHAS

19. Vivekachudamani
20. Aparokshanubhuti
21. Upadesasahasri
22. Vaakya Vritti
23. Swatma Nirupanam
24. Atma bodha
25. Sarva Vedanta Sara Samgraha
26. Prabodha Sudhakaram
27. Swaatma Prakasika
28. Advaita Anubhuti
29. Brahma anuchintanam
30. Prashnouttara Ratnamaalika
31. Sadachara anusandhanam
32. Yaga Taravali
33. Anatmasree Vigarhanam
34. Swaroopa anusandhanam
35. Pancheekaranam
36. Tattwa bodha
37. Prouda anubhooti
38. Brahma Jnanavali
39. Laghu Vakyavritti
40. Bhaja Govindam
41. Prapancha Saaram

HYMNS AND MEDITATION VERSES

42. Sri Ganesa Pancharatnam
43. Ganesa Bhujangam
44. Subrahmanya Bhujangam
45. Siva Bhujangam
46. Devi Bhujangam
47. Bhavani Bhujangam
48. Sree Rama Bhujangam
49. Vishnu Bhujangam
50. Sarada Bhujangam
51. Sivananda Lahari
52. Soundarya Lahari
53. Ananda Lahari
54. Sivapaadaadi kesaanta varnana
55. Siva kesaadi padaanta varnana
56. Sree Vishnu-paadaadi-kesanta
57. Uma maheswara Stotram
58. Tripurasundari Vedapada Stotram
59. Tripurasundari Manasapooja
60. Tripurasundari Ashtakam
61. Devi shashti upachara-pooja
62. Mantra matruka Pushpamaala
63. Kanakadhara Stotram
64. Annapoorna Stotram
65. Ardhanareshwara Stotram
66. Bhramanaamba Ashtakam
67. Meenakshi Stotram
68. Meenakshi Pancharatnam
69. Gouri Dasakam
70. Navaratna Malika
71. Kalyana Vrishtistavam
72. Lalitha Pancharatnam
73. Maaya Panchakam
74. Suvarna Mala Stuti
75. Dasa Sloki
76. Veda Sara Siva StotramHara
77. Siva Panchaakshara Stotram
78. Sivaaparadha Kshamapana
79. Dakshinamoorthy Ashtakam
80. Dakshinamoorthy Varnamala
81. Mrutyunjaya Manasa Pooja Stotram
82. Siva Namavali Ashtakam
83. Kaala Bhairava Ashtakam
84. Shatpadee Stotram
85. Siva Panchakshara Nakshatra Mala
86. Dwadasa Ling Stotram
87. Kasi Panchakam
88. Hanumat Pancharatnam
89. Lakshmi-Nrisimha Pancharatnam
90. Lakshmi-Nrisimha Karunarasa Stotram
91. Panduranga Ashtakam
92. Achyuta Ashtakam
93. Sree Krishna Ashtakam
94. Hari Stuti
95. Govinda Ashtakam
96. Bhagavat Manasa Pooja
97. Praata Smarana Stotram
98. Jagannatha Ashtakam
99. Guruvashtakam
100. Narmada Ashtakam
101. Yamuna Ashtakam
102. Ganga Ashtakam
103. Manikarnika Ashtakam
104. Nirguna Manasa Pooja
105. Eka Sloki
106. Yati Panchakam
107. Jeevan Mukta Ananda Lahari
108. Dhanya Ashtakam
109. Upadesa (Sadhna) Panchakam
110. Sata Sloki
111. Maneesha Panchakam
112. Advaita Pancharatnam
113. Nirvana Shatakam
114. Devyapara-dha kshamapa stotra

Courtesy: VivekaVani

Some of the other interesting and important places to visit in Kaladi are -

1.  Shringeri Mutt

2. Sri Krishna Temple

3. Holy Crocodile Ghat

4. Sri Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram

This Ashram or Math in Kalady is a branch of the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission (HQ) of the Belur Math, West Bengal.  Started in 1936 and made a branch centre of the Math in 1941.  This math established  Schools for Nursery, Junior Basic, Sanskrit Upper Primary,  Secondary and Higher Secondary.  

Sri Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram, Kalady

5. Sri Adi Shankara Keerthi Sthambha Mandapam established by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.  

This is an eight-story memorial built by Kanchi Kamakoti Math.  At the entrance, there are two elephant statues guarding the memorial. After entering you can see the Paduka Mandapam.  From there, one can climb to the eight story through well laid easily climbable circular steps.  While climbing up one can witness enjoy the paintings, beautiful goddess scilptures on the side walls as well as in the centre portion along with adi shankara life history - a very rare feast to the eyes.

After a devineful and blissful  darshan and  with hearty contentment , we headed to visit another important place in our schedule - i.e. Chotanikara Sri Bhagavwati Amman temple.

Jaya Jaya Shankara...Hara Hara Shankara