Kalady Sree Krishna temple is located at Kalady in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The temple is associated with Adi Shankaracharya. As per history, this was the family temple of Adi Shankara and Sri Krishna Bhagavan worshipped here was the paradevata of the family.
Muthalakadavu, the spot on the banks of Periyar
River (Poorna River) where a crocodile had got hold of the leg of Adi
Shankaracharya and the crocodile released Adi Shankara only when his mother
agreed to allow him to take Sanyasa, is located nearby the temple. It is
believed that the crocodile was Shiva.
Adi Shankaracharya belonged to the Kaipilli Illam who were the Uralanmar of the temple. As per one belief before starting his pilgrimage across the subcontinent of India, Adi Shankara performed the pratishta of Sree Krishna in the temple. But another belief is that the pratishtha of Sree Krishna Bhagavan was here before the birth of Adi Shankara and he only performed prayers and meditation here.
Adi Shankaracharya has clearly mentioned in Prabodha Sudhakara – Asmakam Jayati, Kuladaivo Yadupati. Thus it is clear that Sree Krishna of Kalady is the Kula Guru of Adi Shankara.
The main deity Sri Krishna faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan and Ganapathi.
The 8-day annual festival in the temple ends on Bharani nakshatra day in Makaram month (January – February).