Myths behind Creation of Kerala
There are myths behind the creation of Kerala, God’s Own Country. According to the geologists, the elevation of Kerala was the result of some sudden or gradual seismic activity. Kerala is known as God’s Own Country and its superb beauty exceeds all the beautiful resort areas in the world.
According to a myth of Hindu Mythology, Parasurama, a warrior sage (Rama with the Axe, sixth incarnation of Vishnu) creates Kerala. A wicked Kshatruya king namely Kartarvirya was used to terrorize the Brahmins. Parasurama killed the king and the kings’ sons killed Parasurama father to take revenge of father’s death. In revenge Parasurama slaughtered the sons of Kartarvirya who reincarnated 21 times and Parasurama slaughtered them with his axe until they were destroyed completely.
Parasurama took advice from the wise men for penance and a sage Visvamitra told him to go on a pilgrimage to the south ocean shore. He meditated at Gokarnam and at this he hove the axe into the ocean. The axe fell at a distance place known as Cape Camorin and the land rose up in between his meditation place and the Cape Camorin is Kerala.
One will see the mythical image of the Parasurama throwing his axe into the sea at a museum located near Ernakulam.
According to another story, Parasurama was the youngest son of a pious hermit namely Jamadagni. The hermit’s wife saw a young couple frolicking in a pool and she was conquered by impure thoughts. Jamadagni came to know of his wife’s impurity of thoughts by his divine power and asked each of his sons to decapitate her. All the sons refused to do this, only Parasurama agreed and behead his mother with an axe given to him by Shiva. The hermit was pleased and promised to grant him a boon. At par request of Parasurama his mother’s life was restored.
Myths Related to Ramayana, the Great Hindu Epic :
In Ramayana we come to know about Rama’s 14 years of exile. Rama with his wife Sita and brother Lakshamana spent his exile days in present Kerala. The Devikulam Lake of Kerala is believed to be holy as Goddess Sita bathed in this Lake. Ravana abducted Sita from Kerala.
