Sankaranarayana Temple is situated in Navaikulam, a quaint village located in the Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala. Historically, Navaikulam was renowned as a hub for Vedic studies. Numerous Vedic scholars once resided here, imparting their knowledge through classes and teachings. The term 'Navai' signifies Vedic studies, while 'Kalam' translates to "Place" in the local Malayalam language. Consequently, the village was initially named Navaikalam, which later evolved into its current name, Navaikulam. While Navaikulam's historical significance as a centre for Vedic studies is notable, its contemporary fame is attributed to the revered Sankaranarayana Temple. The concept of Sankaranarayana, representing a deity encompassing the divine attributes of both Shiva (Sankara) and more Vishnu (Narayana), originated between the 8th and 9th centuries. Many historians theorize that this deity emerged as a reconciliatory measure to address the enduring feud between the followers of Shiva (Shivites) and Vishnu (Vaishnavites). The temple's legend further supports this notion. According to the legend, Lord Shiva, accompanied by his consort Goddess Parvathi, their son Lord Ganesha, and his sister Sri Bhagavathy, embarked on a pilgrimage to Sankarankoil. On their return journey, they halted at Darshanavattom, a vicinity close to Navaikulam. At this juncture, Lord Shiva instructed his sister Bhagavathi to identify a suitable location for him to rest.