In the village of Kaladi, in the state of Kerala, a couple by name Sivaguru and Aryambal led a pious and religious life. They were childless for a long time. Trichur, situated near Kaladi, is a very big Siva Kshetra. Here in this temple, Lord Siva is known as Sri Vadakkunathaswamy. Learning that by conducting 'Nei abhisheka' to Sri Vadakkunathaswamy (abhisheka with Ghee) one is blessed with a child, this couple visited this temple and conducted 'nei abhisheka'. That night at Trichur, the couple had a dream where Lord Siva appeared and announced that He Himself would be born to them as their child. Their joy knew no bounds. In Shukla paksha Panchami thithi, Thiruvathirai star, Aryambal gave birth to a boy. They named the baby Sankaran and brought up the child with deep love and affection. The boy was none other than the founder of the Advaita philosophy, Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada.

In due course the parents conducted the 'upanayanam'(sacred thread ceremony) for their son and taught him the Vedas. Every morning he would bathe in the Purna river and take immense pleasure in conducting the pooja to Sri Krishna in the nearby temple. One day, due to ill health his mother was not able to go up to the river to bathe. She was deeply saddened by this. Learning this Sankara turned the course of the river and made it flow near his house. He was very happy to see his mother bathe in the river.

Once, Sankara went knocking at each and every door seeking 'Bhiksha' (beg for food). The lady of one of those houses saw this young boy who had come seeking bhiksha. She felt deeply drawn by this young boy's 'thejas', 'varchas' and 'ojas'. She cursed herself for the poor situation she was in as she had nothing to offer to this extraordinary child. She was pained thinking of her misfortune. Seeing her restlessness Sankara told her that anything that she had, however little it be, would suffice. It was 'Dwadasi' and she just had a single 'gooseberry' (nellikani) to break the 'Ekadasi' fast. Totally embarrassed, she brought this gooseberry and dropped it into the young boy's bhiksha paathra (begging bowl). Realizing how she felt, Sankara was really moved. He sang a stuti (hymn in praise of) on Goddess Mahalakshmi (Goddess of wealth). Immediately there was a shower of 'golden gooseberries' in the courtyard of her house. The hymn that Sankara sang is the popular 'Kanakadara' stotra.