Among the great philosophers and saints who have contributed richly to the spiritual growth and empowerment in our Bharatha.  Sri Shankaracharya occupies a unique place.  The concept of Advaita having its earliest references in vedic literature transmited through the Prasthana Thraya ie, the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutra and the Bhagavat Gita was firmly established on a logical foundation by the masterly commentaries to the above texts by Sri Sankara.  His works ranging from philosophical, didactical, devotional to the esoteric inspite the successive generations to lead a life of piety, humanity, spirituality and service to mankind. Sri Sankara (788-820 AD) was more borh in a respect Namboothiri family to Shivaguru and Aryamba at Kalady.  At the age of eight with the permission of his mother he became a Parivrajaka and proceeded to the north, on the banks of Narmada he met Govinda Bhagavatpada and received formal sanyasa.  Then he proceeded to the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi).  At the age of 16 he wrote immortal commentaries on Prasthanathraya and defeated many opponents who were chiefly Buddhist, Nihilists and other non vedic followers.  He travelled through out our land from Rameshwaram to Badari and from Dwaraka to Puri several times.  One can imagine only with wonder and awe the fact that some 12 centuries ago walking through the entire length and breadth of our country.  Sri Sankara established through his works the Advaitic interpretation of texts as the correct one.  For the layman he composed many devotional songs in praise of deities Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganapathi and the like.  He removed many unhealthy practices prevalent then in our society and crude methods of worship etc.  Throughout his spiritual journey he had to encounter many opponents finally he assented the ‘Sarvanja Peeta’ at Kashmir. For the propagation of Dharma Sri Sankara established four Amnaya peethas, at Sringeri on the South, at Dwaraka on the West, at Badari on the North and at Puri on the East.  He appointed his four disciples as the heads of the four peethas. Sri Sankara is the first spiritual teacher to proclaim and the integration of Bharatha on the spiritual basis and this fact is accepted by great thinkers and writers such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr.Radhakrishnan, Max Muller H.H.Wilson etc. Kalady, the birth place of Sri Sankara remained obscure till the beginning of 20th century.  Jagadguru Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharathi Swamigal, the 33rd Peetathipathi of the illustrious Sringeri guru parampara with the help of Sri. Molam Thirunal Ramavarma Maharaja of Thiruvitamcore located Kalady.  His Holiness built two temples one for Goddess Sharadamba and one for Sri Sankara.  The Kumbabhishekam was performed on the auspicious Magha shukla dwadasi in the year 1910 (21.02.1910). Then after Kalady grew into prominence as a great international pilgrim center.  The Maha Swamiji began the conduct of Sri Sankara Jayanthi and Navarathri at Kalady from that time.  In 1927 a veda Vedanta patashala was established by Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamigal. H.H.Sri. Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahasw-amigal laid the foundation stone for the Sree Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit at Kalady and gave liberal donation to the same. H.H. is the Chief Counsellor of the University. The Adi Sankara-Sharadamba temple complex which draws a great number of pilgrims is open to all religion.  In the temple, Sree Sarada Devi who is the Parabrhama Swaroopini resides in the form of Saptha Matrukal (Brahmi Maheswari, Koumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indurani and Chamundi). Such a deity is very rare.  The Vigraha of Sree Ganapathi has ten hands and the trunk is turned to the right side.  This is rarely found in Kerala.  The priests of Adi Sankara Janmabhumi temple are well-versed in Veda- manthras.  According vedic rites Mahaganapathi Homam, Navagraha Homam, Mrityunjaya homam, Sreechakra pooja etc are performed here.  Attached to this temple, there is a Vedic college.  The Veda Vedanta Study Centre (school) here follows the ancient Gurukula system.  The students who have passed out from this school are doing good service in various parts of the world.  The Padashala(School) is nearly 100 years old.  Today they have more than hundred students from different parts of the world who have come to study. Devotees who visit the temple can stay in the temple guest house.  Sankara Jayanthi (April/May) Vinayaka Chathurthi (Aug/Sep) Navarathri Sep/Oct, Mahapradosham Nov/Dec etc. are the important festivals of this famous temple.  In every month Thrayodasha day Pradosham is celebrated in a grand  scale.  People from all parts of India and abroad though pilgrims or tourists  regularly visit this temple for spiritual solace and peace of mind.