Kaladi village, located near Cochin city of Kerala, is a famous pilgrim center cum tourist spot. It was once an insignificant little village, but it gained importance after Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian philosopher of the 8th century AD, was born there. He was the only son of Sivaguru and Aryamba, a Kerala Brahmin couple. It is said he was only 16 when completed the study of the Vedas. Adi Sankaracharya evolved the philosophy of Advaita, one of the two principals of the Vedantic school asserting the sole existence of Brahma.

At Kalady, there are two shrines dedicated to the memory of the Adi Sankaracharya. While one shrine is dedicated to him as Dakshinamoorthi, the other shrine is dedicated to Goddess Sharada and is looked after by the Sringeri Mutt. The Sringeri Mutt is believed to be situated exactly at the same place where Adi Shankaracharya house once stood. To the left of the entrance of the temple is a black pole, which was meant to mark the exact spot where Adi Sankara ...more

In Kerela On the right of the river Periyar, or 'Poorna' as it is also known , there is a tiny village cradled in green fields, called Kalady. This is an important pilgrimage center since it was the birth place of Sri Adi Sankaracharya, one of India's foremost philosopher saints who preached the monistic or 'advaita' philosophy.