MANNARASSALA TEMPLE AITHYHYAM
Friends,
When I used to go
on Holy Shabari Malai Trip every year, on my way back occasionally , I used to
visit MANNARASALA also which is about 3 KM from HARIPAD BUS STAND on north
westerly direction HARIPPAD is in ALAPPUZHA District Of Kerala. One
can notice the gate with Serpant’s Idol
on the left side of the road when we go towards north from Harippad bus stand. There was once an ILLAM
(Namboothiri’s House) which was very old and dilapidated which was called
ERINGATAPALLY MANA (எரிங்காடபள்ளி மனை, എരിങ്ങാടാപള്ളി മന) which has been now
re-built as a palatial Bangalow with a SNAKE TEMPLE behind it. This is the place which was once lived by the
Naboothiri who was blessed by Lord PARASURAMA. I wonder whether many of us who
visit this place have ever noticed this. “ ll वरिष्ठमेवं शिष्येषु, वासिष्ठम् वासुकेरिह , सानुष्ठानसपर्यासु,
निष्ठितम् निर्दिदेश सः ll “ This is what what is
written about this BRAHAMANA SHRESHTA
. Meaning is that Lord Parasurama
entrusted to perform POOJA and other ANUSHTAANAS to the best among his
disciples. It is also stipulated that
those belonging to this family has to perform pooja and other connected duties
after his death by his successors only. The
Story of Parasurama goes like this.
LORD PARASURAMA wanted to get rid of the sin which
he committed. Hence he wanted to give
some land to the Brahmins. He called the Tamil Brahmans, Kannada Brahmans and
Andhra Brahmans to take a piece of land which he recovered from the Arabian Sea
by throwing his axe. This Land extends from GOKARNA to KANYAKUMARI as per the
legend. But these Brahmins refused to take a sinister’ s Land and hence he brought the
Namboothiri Brahmins from the north who readily accepted the land but since
salt had entered from the sea to the land they approached again Lord Parasurama
and told him that he had given the land which was barren due to salt entering
the land and unless it was purified they would return the land which he had
given. Lord Parasurama after a long
penance pleased the Lord OF Snakes, Anantha,
who asked the King of snakes called VASUKI
ll अनन्तस्चास्मि
नागानां, सर्प्पाणां अस्मि वासुकिम् ll ( they are both Lord Vishnu and
Lord Shiva ) The Lord of Mannarasala is Hari Swaroopi and Sivathmaka . This place was
known as MANDARA SAALA (मन्दारशाल ,மனதாரசாலை, മന്താരശാല) This word was polluted as
Mannarashaala( मणंणारशाल,
மண்ணாறசால, മണ്ണാറശാല ). This was originally called as
MANDARASLA because from the lot of Mandaram (
Bauhinia Acuminata trees or plants )
From this MANA if one further walk towards north, the road will split into
two and if one turns to the left side road and go further towards westerly
direction one can find this temple. This
will look like a forest with lot of NAAGA PRATHISHTA which gives a fierce look.
The forest is full of very old bamboo trees which attract the snakes.
There is a place called Appoppan Kaavu ( அப்பூப்பன் காவு, അപ്പൂപ്പന്കാവ്) which is
created in Memory of Lord Anantha’ son who was born as the elder among the
twins the elder as snake and the younger as a male child of VASUDEVAN
NAMBOOTHIRI AND SRIDEVI ANTHARJANAM who after a long time became the head of
the family. Friends, PRIESTHOOD conferred on ANTHARJANAMS
is very rare Among NAMOOTHIRI BRAHMANS . However MANNARA SHAALA TEMPLE is an exception
to this. I do not know even now except
what I read in the MANNARASHAALA HISTORY produced by the Illam, since the
ladies called ANTHARJANAMS were not allowed to go out and mingle with others . Even if they are
to go out they used to keep an Umbrella called OLAKKUDA (பட்ட
குடை, ഓലക്കുട)
and a
servant maid used to accompany them. However there is a story this mini-forest once caught fire and the
residents tried their best to extinguish the fire but many of the snakes were
injured VASUDEVA NAMBOOTHIRI and his WIFE SRIDEVI ANTHARJANAM provided them
medicines and personal touch and love.
The serpents were fully cured & recovered . Due to the blessing of Lord
Anantha these NAMBOOTHIRI BRAHMIN COUPLE
GOT TWINS . Out of these one was a SERPENT and the other was born as a male human
child. As yeas passed the male human child got married and had many children
and grand-children. The Serpent also grew old and started to live in the nearby
forest and he is called as grand father (தாத்த,
മുത്തശ്ശന് ) even now. When it was time for him to retire
he retreated to a big room called NILAVARA ( நிலவரை,
നിലവറ) where no one was allowed to enter
except the BIG MOTHER (பெரியம்மை,
വലിയമ്മ) to offer Pooja as told by MUTHTHASSAN and NONE ELSE WAS
ALLOWED TO GO INSIDE THE NILAVARA. As Ananthan’s son told the senior most lady
of the family shoud be the POOJAARI.
Even to-day this custom is followed .
She lives in a small Room next to NILAVARA and always in prayer.SHE
LEADS a PURE SANYASIN’ LIFE observing BRAHMACHARYA in thoughts and deeds
including abstinence from sexual
feelings as ordained by the GRAND FATHER. Friends, I have
seen only the second VALIA AMMA, SMT. UMA ANTHARJANAM. The First Valiamma died
(SAMADHI) at a ripe age of 91 Years.
This essay will be incomplete if I do not say
about the offerings which one can offer in this temple :-
For
Getting wealth, health and enjoyment of life Please offer a small pot full of
gold.
To
learn, to have everything including praise by people : Offer Silk, grains and golden wares.
In
order to regain health : SALT.
For
getting rid of poison : Turmeric (Curcuma aromatic) மஞ்சள், മഞ്ഞള്
FOR
SARPPA DOSHA : Egg of Snake, Snake Pit, Earth, Plant etc. made of Gold.
For
a long life : Ghee
To
get the wish : Milk, Kadali Fruit , & Nilavara PAAYASAM.
To
get Children : AN URULI (A POT) used for making NOORU And MILK.
To
get more and more vegetables : Cut pieces of Vegetables except roots.
To
get rid of SARPA DOSHA : SARPPA BALI,
NOORUM PAALUM. MILK AND PLANTAIN FRUITS, PUDDING MADE OF MILK, Tender Coconut, Etc.
Generally I find people suffering with skin diseases go to this
place and offer NOORUM PAALUM for which we can pay money and get the receipt.(
Skin diseases like Psoriasis, etc. for which there is no medicines.
Friends, If I say this place is like a jungle with lot of
snakes, that will not be a wonder. It makes one to be frightened.
Regards and Namaskarams,
P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN
