AMEDA NAGARAJA TEMPLE              

Dear friends, 

I had been blessed to visit the Snake temple at Ameda near Ernakulam about a year back. I had the information about this temple from a TV documentary about Snake temples of Kerala shown in the Doordarshan Malayalam channel long back. Today my posting is about Ameda temple. 

I could get all the   information about the temple from their publication in Malayalam I purchased on my first visit. I thought of sharing the information. Ameda  temple requires lot of suddaham which would be told in due context. 

Sincerely,

Gopala Krishnan Dated 4-9-09 

Re posted on 26-07-2020 after editing and updating the information. R. Gopala krishnan 

1Location 

Ameda Temple is also a very ancient and internationally known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods like Mannarsala and Vettikkott. 

The temple is located about two kilometres from the place called Nadakkavu in the Ernakualm – Kottayam State Highway. Nadakkavu is about 6 Kms from Tripoonithura.  Proper signboards are available from the high way point itself to the temple for guiding. 

Auto rickshaws are available in plenty at Nadakkavu bus stop to reach Ameda temple at nominal fare. It is easy to reach Ameda via bus from Ernakualm or Tripoonithura and alighting at Nadakkavu. Those going by car and Taxi have to take a turn at Nadakkavu.                   

2. Legend about  Ameda temple 

Like the Mannarasala temple Ameda temple is also attributed to Parasurama for its origin. The temple is situated close to the bank of Vembanad Lake .Like Mannarsala Ameda is also a private family temple. 

The legend about Ameda temple is as follows. Once sage Parasurama after travelling a lot  reached in an evening near the present Ameda near Vemband Lake. It was the time for Sandhya vandan for him. He got into  the border waters of Vemband Lake for purification of body and Sandhyavandan. At that time he found a Divine light approaching him from far. To know more about the Devine light he walked further in to the middle of the Lake through the water. Sage Parasurama could understand the Divine light was emanated from Saptha mathrus (Seven mothers) travelling on the top of tortoises. Since water gave way to sage Parasurama, the tortoises could not move further. The saptha mathrus were enshrined therein temple as per the direction of sage Parasurama. He gave directions for poojas in the temple. "Aama Ninna Itam" in later period got shortened as Ameda. 

3.Speciality with Ameda temple. 

The very speciality of Ameda temple is the main deity is Saptha Mathrus in the sanctum. Nagaraja and Nagayakshi sanctums are outside. In the western side Nagraja is shrined. In the eastern side Nagayakshi is shrined. In addition Lord Mahavishnu is shrined in the northern side. Lord Mahavishnu was the Kuladevata of Vettathunadu raja, belong to Samoothiri clan. The Illams are to the north of the temple. The temple premises  are situated in a vast area of about 10 acres. 

4 Saptha mathrus 

The saptha mathrus are Brahmani, Maheswari, Kowmari, Vaishanavi, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi enshrined in the temple from left to right. Left to Brahmani in the front is Veerabhadran and right to Chamundi in the right is Mahaganapathi. Other than personally seeing and experiencing no words can express the divinity of the sanctum with 9 Nilavilakku lighted in front of them. After Deeparadhana of the saptha mathrus nagaradhana starts at Ameda temple. 

I have told the names of Saptha mathrus. The origin of  sapthra mathrus is from  the Divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and other strengthy Gods in the feminine form during the war between Devas and Asuras. The entire premises of the temple are maintained very neat and tidy. There is ample car parking area in the front of the temple. The temple gives a very beautiful appearance from the front with a big Anakkkottil and  gold plated Dwajasthambam in front of the temple and welcoming you with its  glittering of fallen Sunrays. 

5. Nagaraja and Nagayakshi 

In Ameda temple as told earlier Nagaraja and nagayakshi are separately enshrined. Nagaraja is divined as part of Siva and Nagayakshi as part of Sakthi. Prayer to these deities is made for Sarpa dosha pariharam and Rahu dosha pariharam. 

6. Moola sthanam 

The place where sage Parasurama located the saptha mathrus is Moola sthanam which is south west corner of the temple which is Kanni rasi is considered as sacred and called Jalayakshi(Moolasthanam) 

7. History of Ameda Illam. 

As known the temple was administered by the Mangayi nampoothiries. During the period the elder Mangalam nampoothiri of Vettathunadu and his family came for Bhajan on account of some personal difference with his youngsters to Ameda. He was permitted to reside in the nearby palace. 

On the last day of the 14 days Bhajan one night thieves entered the temple and the nampoothiri got awakened hearing the noise of bells from the temple. On reaching he found in the sanctum Goddess Chamundi was holding a sword and the Goddess directed the Nampoothiri to attack the thieves with it. Nampoothri attacked them and they ran away. Nampoothiri was hit on his hand in the fight. He kept the sword in the Nilavara of the palace. 

In the mean time the Mangayi nampoothiries were instructed by Devi to give the administration to Mangalam Nampoothiri. It was done so. Nampoothiries born in the lineage of Mangalam Nampoothiri are the current custodians of the temple. Later about fifteen years back through the decision of an Ashtamangalya Prasna  Mangalam Nampoothiries of Vettathunadu too became authorities at Ameda  and Ameda Nampoothiries too became authorities of Vettathunadu Vishnu temple. At present there are four Illams sharing the administration of Ameda temple, all residing in the temple premises. On important occasions all families join together for all  poojas.(The descriptive history has been summarised) 

8. Important occasions in the temple 

The important occasions of the temple  are told below. 

8.1 Temple festival-At Ameda there is 8 day temple annual festival called Ameda Utsavam. It starts in the Meenam month on Makayiram star and end on Uthram star  with Arratu. 

8.2 Ayilym festival -Ayilyam invariably in every month is a festival day. At Ameda Ayiyam in the month of Kanni, Vrichikam, Meenam and Tulam months are more important. 

8.3 Karthika Pooja-Being Saptha mathru temple Karthika pooja is very important. On these days Dwadasakshari pooja is performed. Twelve thousand Pushpanjalies are performed. After deeparadhana Karthika Varam is conducted. Varam means Annadanam. 

8.4 Bhagavathi seva and Guruthi 

These are another two important occasions of Ameda temple. Bhagavathi seva is conducted in the month of Karkidakam for Vaishnavi. During the entire Mandala period of Vrichikam Dhanu there is Guruthi for Chamundi and on the 41st day Valiya Guruthi is performed. (Guruthi with white cucumber) 

9 . Important offerings 

The important offerings in the temple are listed below 

91Karthika Payasam-This is an offering to beget the desired child. It has to be done on 12  karthika days after temple visit. 

9.2 Palapayasa Homam-This is to be performed only by  those who have unknowingly destructed snake dwellings , snakes etc. 

9.3 Kindi Eriyal and Poovattaka Kamizthal-These too are offerings  to beget the desired child.Kindi eriyal is for Jalayakshi and Poovattaka Kamizthal is for Saptha mathrus. 

9.4 Ayilyam Idi-It is an offering performed by Illams itself for the well being on the Ayilyam day of Kanni, Vrichikam and meenam. The elders using sandal wood lofts grind wetted raw rice in wooden grinder after prayers with Hariyohara.. They sprinkle them to their and others heads just like our Asirvadam manner . Devotes too can offer the same with the guidance of the Nampoothiries. 

9.5 Sarpabali and Ashta naga pooja 

The Ameda temple is very famous for Sarpabali. ON SPECIFIED DAYS OF THE MONTH ONLY  IT IS CONDUCTED. Advance booking is a must. The sarpabali is to appease the nagas and for Rahu Dosha. Many astrologers suggest Ameda for Sarpabali as "ozivu" First worship is at Nagayakshi and then to Nagaraja during sarpabali. 

I had mentioned about Suddaham earlier. While booking itself you have to ensure there is no difficulty to practice suddaham . 

Members of the family are Barred from family life for specified days and menses clearance for women are the suddaham we mean here. The sarpabali starts in the evening after Deeparadhana to Sapthamathrus. Personal appearance and worship is must for Sarpabali. The Sarpabali would take more than 2 Hours. After sarpabali payasam is offered as prasadam. The charges for sarpabali are about Rs750-00 in 2006's. Other items required for sarpabali are two 8 yards dhothies for the nampoothiries  and Dakshina with betel and aracunut. Sarpabali you have to experience in person. Aracanut should be full and yellowish in colour. 

10Pulluvan pattu. 

This is an important offering to appease Nagas and get their  blessings . In Ameda it is performed by members of the Pulluva families near to the temple and takes about 3-5 minutes singing for a person . This also done in order. Some times one has  to wait for pretty long time for his turn. No  hurrying is possible with Pulluvas. Only nominated amounts only are collected by them. 

11.Installing sarpa and reinstall sarpas 

Ameda nampoothiries are the authorities for the above in central Kerala. 

12. Conclusion 

Ameda temple is very neat and tidy . Once you just enter the premises the sanctity and richness would  be felt by the devotee. Sarpabali is an important offering in the temple. The thanthric worship of the nampoothiries is something special to experience during sarpabali specially. The premises of the temple are calm and quiet. There is a temple pond in the North east to wash the feet before entering temple. 

Murajapam is also conducted  periodically at Ameda another speciality of the temple. I have heard Murajapam conducted in Padmanabha swamy temple in Trivandrum. I like to mention the specially about the  personal touch of the Ameda Nampoothiries with devotes. This you can experience from the reception counter onwards in the temple. 

12.1  Address and facilites 

Facilities are available in  the temple  premises for those coming from far away  for stay and relax while making the offerings and temple never charge for such things.  

The website of the temple is www..amedatemple.org. Their phone number is 0484-2792031 and 0484-2791007. After 10.00 AM you will get the phone answered in the for-noon. 

The Postal address is given below.

AMEDA TEMPLE,UDAYAMPEROOR P.O.

Ernakulam DistrictKerala state. PIN 682307