About Kalady in , Kalady

Kalady or Kaladi is a census town located east of the Periyar river, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India, not far from Cochin International Airport. It is notable as the birthplace of Shankara, commonly known as Adi Shankaracharya, and is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims.Kalady came to prominence only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of Sringeri and the subsequent consecration of an Adi Shankara temple in 1910. The Centenary of Kalady was celebrated in May 2010 and the story of Kalady and its re-discovery a hundred years ago has been documented in a film by the Sringeri Sharada Peetham.EtymologyIn the local language, Malayalam, Kalady means "footprint." The village was previously called Sasalam. Almost all traditional and hagographical evidences prove that Kalady is Shankara's birth place. It is situated on the banks of river Periyar. The place is believed to have been found by a chieftian named Rajasekara, whose dream was influenced by Hindu god Shiva. He also built a temple for Shiva at this place and made a settlement for Brahmins. There are two temples in the place - one for Saradamba and other for Shankara as Dakshinamurthi. Sringeri Mutt and Kanchi Mutt have their branches here. A 45m tall Adi Sankara Kirti Stamba Mandapa was built by Kanchi Mutt under the aegis of its pontiff Chandrasekarendra Saraswati. A Sanskrit University is run by Sringeri Mutt in the place.