This shrine has a story behind it.  There was a brahmin in Kerala who had mastered the scriptures but failed to teach what he had learnt.  As this accounted for negligence of the duty assigned to a learned Brahmin, the man, after his death, became a Brahma Rakshasa (a demonic form). This Brahma Rakshasa had the Darshan of Sage Sri Vidyaranya, the 12th Jagadguru of the Peetam, and prayed to Him that he be released from the sin.  An ocean of mercy that He was, the Guru advised it to stay put at the entrance to the shrine of Sri Sharada with the name ‘Sri Malayala Brahma’ and bless the devotees.