Hearitage

  In the Malappuram district along the banks of the Bharathapuzha is the Navamukunda Temple which has been a place of worship for many over centuries. The temple considered to be one among the 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu has many legends attached to it & stories that people of all generations have revered. The temple also known as the Thirunavaya temple is  a place of worship  with very simple architecture which attracts all to pray with all its divinity. The origin of the temple is not  clear but its story stems from that of mythology which is also the reason for its very unique name. The temple has no pond & all rituals are conducted from the water taken from the river which is also given the dignity of being a twin of the Ganga in the north. As per belief the name Thirunavaya comes from Thiru-nava-yogi or nine sacred yogis. The descendent of Lord Rama, King Rishabha had 9 sons & they were all considered to be very devoted to Lord Vishnu. They set out for a sojourn ar

  In Kerala there are many places which are termed as heritage circuits & one such place is the Kottayam town which has some of the most important structures of heritage value. The Thazhathangady Juma masjid or Taj Juma masjid as it is known here is one such important heritage structure. The story of its origin & the beauty of its architecture is important for all to know. The mosque even today stands proudly along the backs of the meenachil river & is an iconic structure of Kottayam. Malik Dinar is the person responsible for bringing Islam to India & Kerala was the place he came first. He came to the shores of Kodungallur in the 7th century & spread the word of the Prophet. It was his son Habib Dinar who further propagated the message of Islam & is said to have built many mosques in the 8th century. The Thazhathangady Juma Masjid is one among these & possibly one of the most beautiful. It is also important to know that as per historians the erstwhile Thekku

  Around half an hour's drive from Alleppey along the Pamba river stands an imposing structure which has been witness to changing times for over 15 centuries. This beautiful structure is the Kalloorkad St Mary’s Basilica church more commonly known as the Champakulam Church. One glance at the church today and its enormity is easy to understand but when it was built in the 5th century it was only a small parish with 100 seats. The church over the centuries has been rebuilt & reconstructed many times to its current grandeur. The church belongs to the Syro Malabar congregation & was built in 427 AD by the followers of the Apostle St Thomas with assistance from the local kings who were feudal lords. The apostle is credited for having built 8 churches around the state in the 1st century & this church was part of the parish of the Niranam church which was one among the churches built by St Thomas. St Mary’s church is today a Forane church with multiple parishes under its name

  For Hindus, Ramayana is the most beautiful epic story which teaches people the importance of truth & principles of life. The reverence to Lord Rama is thus seen all across the country with many temples worshipping Him. There are also temples where Devi Sita is given importance but there is one temple where Lord Rama is not worshipped but Devi Sita is the principal deity. The Seetha Devi temple in Pulpally at Wayanad has this unique distinction. It is also the only temple in the world where the sons of Lord Rama, Luva & Kusha are also worshipped. It is believed that Pulpally was the place where the ashram of Sage Valmiki stood & when Lord Rama abandoned Sita, she is said to have found refuge here. It is also the place where Sita gave birth to her sons. The area around the ashram became the playground for the two young boys. Devi Sita stayed in the ashram away from the sights of her beloved husband tending to her two sons who were heir apparent to the throne at Ayodhya. Sag