20/05/2025
The Śrīvidyā Tradition of Kerala
Part – 4
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Kerala has always been a sacred land where divine sages and realized beings gathered. In almost every ancestral home and sacred grove, even today we find the samādhi mandapas (memorial shrines) of traditional Gurus. Surrounded by mountains, forests, seas, and rivers on all sides, Kerala is a serene and beautiful land. Irrespective of caste, religion, or gender, both scholars and laypeople once lived here with elevated mental and spiritual awareness. Kings, emperors, and commoners alike were adept in arts, literature, and sciences. The sacred Śrīvidyā tradition flowed deeply in the blood of these people, whether visibly practiced or silently lived. One may rightly say that the phrase “God’s Own Country” finds its origin in this truth.
Jews, Jains, and Buddhists also came here; India’s first Islamic and Christian places of worship were accepted and honored here. The natural wealth, spices like pepper and other aromatic herbs made Kerala famous across the globe. It also became known as the “Land of Coconuts.”
The ta***ic scripture proclaims that one who attends the Devī Pūjā must be considered a Brāhmaṇa in that moment—this vision is clearly upheld in places like Kodungallur, Kottiyoor, Sabarimala, and many other lesser-known sacred groves (kāvu). These are places of true equality and brotherhood, untouched by notions of caste, purity, or untouchability. Everyone is seen as a manifestation of the Goddess Kālī Herself.
Such a land must be preserved and protected. No other land on Earth has had this level of foreign contact and spiritual exchange. Though Śrīvidyā mantra sādhana is a secretive and highly selective path (perhaps one in ten thousand may qualify), its practitioners hold the responsibility of preserving the land, its people, and its sacred culture. The fame of Kerala echoed from the very lap of Mother Kālī at Kodungallur. Names like Muziris, Muchiripattanam, and Mahodayapuram gained prominence in global history.
Geographically, Kerala comprises the highland (malanāḍu), midland (idanāḍu), and coastal regions (tīrapradaśa). The highlands are home to mountains, medicinal plants, and forests. The midlands, fertile and green, are rich with coconut trees, sugarcane, mangoes, jackfruit, and black pepper. From the Western Ghats, 41 rivers flow westward, enriching the coastal regions with abundant marine life. These geographical and ecological elements created a society in mutual balance and interdependence. And behind all of this was an undercurrent of spiritual power. Every season, every festival—whether material or spiritual—was offered to the Divine. From Onam to Vishu and beyond, all were celebrated with a ta***ic worldview at their core.
**— Jinil Mukundan**
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