Swiss Guards – the Pope’s Army in Vatican City

  Swiss Guards serve as bodyguards to the Pope. They protect the 108-acre Vatican City and the pontifical villa of Castel Gandolfo. Roman Catholic Church employs them under the leadership of the Pope. The world’s smallest army currently stands at 135 members. Swiss Guards have protected popes for more than 500 years.  

Kalarivathukkal Temple near Kannur in Kerala

Kalarivathukkal Temple is the family shrine of Chirakkal royal family. The principal deity is Bhadrakali in her fierce avatar. She is the patron deity of Kalarippayattu which is Kerala’s enduring martial art form. A kalari is essentially an area for teaching Kalarippayattu. The word kalari comes from Malayalam. Kalarivathukkal means at the Kalari door.

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