Kerala Pilgrimage

Kerala is a blend of various religions. Kerala has 56% Hindus, 24% Muslims, 19% Christians and 1% other religions. A number of religious places in Kerala is an outcome of this diversity in religions.

Hinduism has substantially form Kerala. So many saints and movements addressed from Kerala. Renowned Social reformer Narayana Guru alos started its movement to reform Kerala and constitute Kerala.
The oldest European Church, St Francis Church was built in 1503 in Kochi, Kerala. Vasco Da Gama, the Protuguese explorer, was also buried in this church.

With the advent of St. Thomas, Christanity has started taken its roots in Kerala in AD 52. Major Christian dominations are Catholic, Orthodox, Marthoma and various Protestant churches.

Islam reached through Arab traders in Kerala either during the time of Muhammad (AD 609 – AD 632) or in the following decades.

Jainism came to Kerala around the 3rd century BC. Wayanad district has substantial number of jain people adjacent to Karnataka State.

With the missionary activity of Ashoka, Buddism reached in Kerala around the 2nd Century BC.

Read below about all the important pilgrimage centres in Kerala.

Aruvikkara Pilgrimage
Aruvikkara Pilgrimage is an important pilgrim center, located 16 km from Trivandrum in Kerala. Situated on the banks of Karamana River, visiting this pilgrim center is really a peaceful and spiritual journey for tourists. It is also a picnic spot where you can relax yourself in the tranquil ambience.

Aruvippuram Pilgrimage
Aruvippuram Pilgrimage is a significant pilgrimage of Lord Shiva in Trivandrum. It is located 24 km from Trivandrum. As Aruvippuram Pilgrimage is located on the pictorial location in Trivandrum, it is famous among tourists as a picnic sopt. This temple was built by the famous reformer Sree Narayana Guru in the 19th century.

Guruvayoor Temple
Guruvayoor Temple is a famous pilgrimage in Thrissur District of Kerala. The temple is located in the town Guruvayoor in Thrissur district. This temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is worshipped here.

Kodungallor
Kodungallor town is located in the Thrissur district of Kerala. It is very much famous its pilgrimage centre and is well known as a major tourist spot in Kerala. Kodungallor is located 35 km north of Kochi and Ernakulam. It is elevated 9 m above sea level and 38 km southwest of Thrissur and 45 km south of Guruvayoor district near the sea.

Ochira Pilgrimage
Ochira Pilgrimage is one of the significant places of worship in Kerala. It is located in Kollam. There is no idol or symbol of god is placed there. Orchira Pilgrimage believes in universal awareness and the supreme power known as Parabrahma. Everyone is allowed to visit and worship here. There is no restriction for any caste, religion and culture.

Sabarimala Temple
Sabarimala Temple is located on the Sahyadri ranges in Western Ghats of Kerala. It is situated 1000m above sea level. Sabarimala Temple is devoted to Lord Ayyappa. It is said that Lord Ayyappa meditated here after killing the demon Mahisi. There is a fable related to this temple that Parshuram has established the deity of Lord Ayyappa and adored him.

Hindu Pilgrim Centres
Kerala has several centres of pilgrimage. The most important Hindu pilgrim centres are the following. Tri-vandrum is famous as a pilgrim centres because of the presence of the Sri Padmanabha Swami temple, a Vaishnava shrine. The Parasurama temple at Tiruvalla eight km. south of Trivandrum is yet another centre visited by thousands of devotees. Varkala, about fortyeight kms. north of Trivandrum is a seaside resort as well as a pilgrim centre, reputed for its ancient temple dedicated to Janardana. The Samadhi of Sri Naray-ana Guru has immortalised Varkala. The serene atmosphere which pervades the Panmana Ashram beckons to the ardent searchers of spiritual salvation. Chattampi Swamikal the great scholar and mystic lived and spread his messages from this centre. Oachira, thirty-two kms. north of Quilon, is the seat of the temple dedicated to Par-abrahmam. This is another major pilgrim centre, the meenabharani and the Makaravikkku festivals celebrated in the Bharanikavu temple and the Ayyappan temple respectively are in Punalur. These attract a lot of pilgrims. Aranmula is another centre with a temple dedicated to Parthasarathi. A very colourful snake-boat race is held at Aranmula every year as an age-old religious festival.
Ettumanoor in the Kottayam district is a famous centre of pilgrimage, with its ancient Siva temple. Vaikom, on the shores of the Vembanad lake is thirty five kms. south of Cochin. It is a place of historical and religious importance. Vaikom was the scene of a famous Satyagraha staged back in 1924-25 to open the roads leading to the Siva temple to Harijans. Deep in the Sahyadri Mountains of Kerala is the greatest pilgrim centre in India, Sabarimala with the temple dedicated to Sastha. About 40 lakhs of pilgrims trek their way through dense forests to the shrine of Ayyappa around January every year. Chottan-ikkara, famous for its temple of the powerful Goddess Raja Rajeswari, is often visited by people afflicted with mental disorders. On a tree growing the the premises of this temple, one can see hundreds of nails struck on it by the afflicted, using their own heads like a hammer in a state of trance. Kaladi, the birth place of Sankara-charya the greatest exponent of the Advaita Philosophy is in Emakulam District. It is a great pilgrim centre attracting large crowds not only because of its connection with the great pilgrim centre attracting large crowds not only because of its connection with the great saint but also because of the presence of several major temples of Kerala. Trikkakara, is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to the Vamana incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Legends link Kerala's popular festival Onam with this temple. A great festival is held on an extensive sand bed called Aluvamanalpuram on the Sivaratri day when thousands of pilgrims assemble here. The Siva Lingam of the Siva temple is believed to have been installed by Sri Rama. On the south bank of the river, there is a Sri Krishna temple with the idols of Balabhadra and Sri Krishna. The place thus sanctified, has an innate charm of its own which beckons pilgrims from far and wide.
The Vadakkunnathan temple in the heart of the Trichur town also draws enormous pilgrims. The place is further noted for its enchanting Pooram festival which is held amidst great frolic and festivities in the months of April-May. Kodungalloor in Trichur district is of great historical importance. The Bharani festival celebrated in March-April in the temple of Goddess Kali also invites huge crowds. The Tiruvanchikulam temple is situated near Kodungalloor. Guruvayoor is one of the busiest pilgrim centres of India. From all over the country people visit the Sri Krishna temple of Guruvayoor. It is at this temple that Melpathoor Narayana Bhattatiri composed his renowned Sanskrit devotional poem Narayaniyam as an offering while he was suffering from a merciless attack of rheumatism. The Ekadasi festival held every year in November-December attracts thousands of pilgrims. The Sri Rama Temple, Trirhprayar and the Kudalmanikkam temple, Irinjalakuda are other significant temples of Trichur, which also draw pilgrims in large numbers.
Tirunavai, on the bank of the river Bharatapuzha has a long history and tradition. The place has a predominant position in the history of Kerala for the celebrated Mamankom festival was held once in twelve years. It was celebrated last in 1755. Now a Sarvodya Mela is held at Tirunavai every year on the bank of the river. Tirunelli is another great pilgrim centre with a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. With the great Brahmagiri Peak in the background, it is a place of unsurpassed natural beauty. Thousands of pilgrims enjoy peace and tranquillity during their visit here. Similarly Kottiyur in the Cannanore District, is a centre of pilgrimage with its famous, Tricharamana Siva temple. The Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple, about ten kms. from Tali-paramba is so popular that thousands of pilgrims clock there during the annual Ulsavam.
Kasaragod district has three important centres of pilgrimage. Adur, situated twentysix kms. east of Kasaragod town, is famous for its Siva temple, called Sri Mahalingeswara temple. According to legend, it was founded by Arjuna of the Ma-habharata. Madhur is known for its Srimad Ananteswara Vinayaka temple and is frequented by pilgrims from far and wide. The Srimad Anantes-war temple, Manjeswar, is a famous temple. Streams of pilgrims visit this shrine even from Goa.
Apart from the above, there are a few other centres considered sacred because of their association with saints or savants. In Hosdurg taluk, there are two Ashramams, the Nityanan-dasramam and the Anandasramam. Both these attract crowds of pilgrims not only from Kerala but also Kar-anataka and Maharashtra. Likewise, the Tunchan Parambu at Tirur, also is visited by people in large numbers.

Christian Pilgrim Centres
The Christian pilgrim centres in Kerala belong to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Other churches do not set much premium of pilgrimages as an essential part of their faith and belief.

Catholic Pilgrim Centres
Malayattur, in Ernakulam district, is on the banks of the river Periyar. It is the most important Christian pilgrim centre in Kerala. The St. Thomas Catholic church on the top of the Malayattur Hill is supposed to have been founded by St. Thomas the Apostle. Just like the Sasta temple at Sabarimala, this has also attracted streams of visitors even from distant places. The St. George's Church at Edathua is a famous pilgrim centre to the Catholics. Pilgrims in their thousands flock to this centre in April-May, the time of eleven day perunal Another pilgrim centre is the St. Andrew's church, Arthungal. The feast of St. Sebastian held here on January 20 every draws large number of pilgrims even from the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Church dedicated to Mother of God at Vettukad near Trivandrum is so popular a centre that it attracts crowds of pilgrims from all castes and creeds. Sister Alphonsa and Fr.Kuriakose Elias of Chavara are declared saints by the Catholic church and Bharananganam church and the Monastery at Mannanam where the mortal remains of these two saints are interned respectively are attracting large numbers of pilgrims. Besides the Catholic church at Koratti, Palayur, Kodungalloor are all pilgrim centres visited by devotees in thousands.
The Jacobites or the Orthodox Syrians also have important pilgrim centres in Kerala. Parumala near Mannar is a much visited pilgrim centre of the Orthodox Christians. The church at this place contains the mortal remains of Mar Gregorios, who is believed to be a saint. Streams of pilgrims visit this place at all times of the year, especially in May. Similarly the Orthodox churches at Cheppad and Manjanikara are also major pilgrim centres of Jacobites. No less important are the churches at Niranam, Mulanturuthi, Piravam, Manarcad, Putuppali etc.

Muslim Pilgrim Centres
The Muslims of Kerala have also a few important pilgrim centres. Beemapalli, near Trivandrum is a major pilgrim centre visited by people belonging to all faiths. The Cheraman mosqueat Cranganore is considered to be the first mosque founded in Kerala and hence a place of pilgrimage. There are about forty mosques in Calicut. The Shekkinte Palli, a mosque built over the tomb of Sheik Mammu Koya, a Muslim saint from Egypt, who settled down in Calicut, is a centre of pilgrimage. Another known place of pilgrimage is the mosque built at Panthalayani Kollam with its dome covered by copper sheets, and is believed to have been built in the seventh century A.D. in the style of a mosque at Mecca.
The Talangara mosque at Kasara-god contains the mortal remains of Malik Ibn Muhammed, a descendant of Malik Ibn Dinar, the saint who initiated the propagation of Islam in Kerala in the nineth century A.D. The Jarram mosque, which enshrines the remains of Jarathingal Tangal, and Makhdum Tangal is another pilgrim centre at Ponnani. Another ancient mosque in Chowghat is also deemed a sacred place by the Muslims. The Kondotti and the Mampuram mosques, the tomb of Muhammad Shah Tangal and Shaik Parid respectively are famous centres of Muslim pilgrimage in Kerala.