ABOUT

Cherthala Karthyayani Devi is famous as "Mangalya Dayani" which means, she provides 'welfare and prosperity' for the devotees and also helps, for removing obstacles in marriage for girls, provides good bridegroom, assures better married life. The etiquette and rituals followed in Cherthala Karthyayani temple, differs a lot from other temples in Kerala. There is a charming legend about the temple. Shivaguru, the father of Adi Sankara, worshipped Shri Karthyayani Devi for a long time. One day, when he was unable to come to the temple for his daily worship, Aryamba, the mother of Jagadguru Shri Adi Sankara, sent little Sankara to the temple to offer milk. When Shri Sankara reached the temple, it was closed and could not perform the offering. Little Sankara started crying in disappointment. At that time, a divine light appeared from sanctum sanctorum and the milk in his offering vessel drained. The little Sankara was happy that Shri Karthyayani Devi accepted his offering, but the child again sobbed because, a portion of the milk he used to take back home as prasada was not there. Devi appeared before him, consoled him and filled the vessel with milk as prasada. It is believed that, by drinking this milk (Nectar of knowledge ) Jagadguru Adi Sankara got illumination and became Jagad Guru, the most renowned Hindu philosopher of the world.