Kalady

This is the birthplace of Adi Shankaren, the philosopher who gave the world the doctrine of “Advaitha”. The tower of Kalady town attracts tourists as well as pilgrims

Sri Sankaracharya who born here as the only son of Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Kerala Brahmin couple .His early life was marked by several miraculous exploits that singled him out for a divine role. It was he who played a major role in savinh the Hindu religion from the ritualistic and superstitious state to which it had degenerated. At his birth ,astrologers had predicted among other things, that he would become a 'sarvajana' or an all-knowing sage. The extaordinarly inteligent boy mastered the Vedas and completed his studies when he was merely 16 years of age. He then started his quest for truth and spent many years of his life preaching the Vedic Dharma as well as its universality and superiority.He established four 'maths' in four sections of the country-Srinageri,Dwaraka,Joshimath and puri. His commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahmasustra and the Bhagavad Gita hold relevence even today. At the age of 32 , Adi Sankara attained 'mahasamadhi'.

The Ramakrishna Advaita Ashram adjoinig the Sri Krishna temple, has a spacious prayer hall and a beautiful shrine modelled on the Sri Ramakrishna temple at Nelur Math.The white marble statue of Sri Ramakrsihna seems to be the very epitome of tranquility. Just outside this temple are sold a variety of publications both for general and serious reading. The Ashram also runs a school, charitable dispensary and library.

From the top of the tall 8-storey-high brilliantly painted pink memorial, the Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthambam, one can have a splendid view of the surrounding palm-fringed green fields. The entrance to the memorial, guarded by two elephant statues, leads to the Paduka Mandapam which has two silver knobs representing the 'padukas' or wooden sandals of the Teacher. As one ascends the winding steps, framed relief paintings narrate the story of Adi Sankaracharya. several large statues of Ganapati,Adi Sankara and others are also housed in this memorial.