Chasing footprints of Adi Shankaracharya

There is something exciting about an hours drive from Kochi  to Kalady - the birth place of Sri Sankaracharya. Kalady is just 42 kms from Kochi, but which we had wanted to visit for the last 20 years.  We have a  tendency to leave nearby places unseen  for a 'later' time for the simple reason that  we can always go  there anytime.  Kalady had been one such place in my list. One fine Sunday morning, me and my wife travelled to Kalady on  the auspecious day of Maha Navami.

Kalady literally means footprints.  The story goes somewhat like this. Poorna or Periyar river used to flow some distance away from the current position. Once young, Shankara's mother fainted while walking to the river and he prayed to Lord Krishna. Krishna blessed him that the river will follow through the place marked by young Shankara's feet. This is how he brought the river to the village. From that time onwards, the place came to be known as 'Kalady'.

I was trying to remember the birth of Sri Shankara which I read in books.   Sri Sankara was born in a Namboothiri family to Shivaguru and Aryamba at Kalady. His parents with the blesdings of  Lord Siva opted a son who would be great and depart this world at 32,  instead of a son who would  lead a normal life for a long time.

AADI SHANKARA KEERTI STAMBA MANDAPAM

We made our entry into the mandapam. The entrance to the memorial, is guarded by two elephant statues. Inside, a circular ramp takes you up. I noticed that there are three steps each. On your way up, you can watch the entire life story of the Shankaracharya. The various episodes  of his life  are sculpted and painted on the walls.  You can also see the statues of Ganapati, Karthikeya, Surya, Vishnu, Shakti and Siva. What really seemed quite reasonable to me is the entry fee of Rs.5, which  is collected as donation.

SRIKRISHNA TEMPLE

This temple is known as the ancestral deity of Sri Shankaracharya. There are murals depicting Adi Shankara as a kid worshipping Krishna with his mother. Another mural shows him playing with a crocodile.

AADI SHANKARA JANAM BHUMI KSHETRA

This complex also houses the samadhi of Aryamba, mother of Adi Shankaracharya. Since our visit was on the day of Maha Navami, which  is one of the important festival of this famous temple,  there was a huge rush inside the temple.

CROCODILE GHAT OR MUTHALA KADAVU

Poorna or Periyar gently flows behind the Aadi Shankara Janam Bhuni Kshetra. We walked through the  path beside Srikrishna temple leading to the river. We climbed down steps that descended to the bank of river. I could see Kalady bridge from here.  I sat on a stone. Stories flashed through my mind. 

According to legends, when little Shankara wanted to sanyas, his mother did not agree for it. He went into the river and a crocodile caught his leg. Shankara told his mother that the crocodile would  let him go if she agreed to let him take sanyas.  Thus at the age of eight with the permission of his mother,   he left his home for education.

I sat there for a few minutes... the feeling was indescribable. Soon we were back on the road.