Fw: [4brahmins] Fwd: ALL ABOUT MANNARASALA TEMPLE.
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V L Vijayaraghavan
Aug 21, 2015, 4:59:15 AM8/21/15
to Vangal Heritage, Retireeforum Syndicate
On Friday, 21 August 2015 1:36 PM, "'Ramachandran P.P' pprch...@gmail.com [4brahmins]" <4bra...@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
SINCE THIS WEEK IS CONNECTED TO NAG PANCHAMI SOME GOOD FRIENDS SUGGESTED THAT I COVER MANNARASALA.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE VISITED THIS TEMPLE AND MET THE " GRAND OLD LADY"--THE CHIEF PRIESTESS HERE.
NOW READ ON.
PPR
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MANNARASALA
TEMPLE
Mannarasala Temple situated about 40 KM from
Alappuzha and near to the town of Haripad and is a serpent shrine under the patronage of
a brahmin family, The Chief is a priestess. The ancient shrine is dedicated to Nagaraja. Sarpa Yakshi and Naga Yakshi are the
beloved consorts of Nagaraja. It is believed that Nagaraja as the installed
diety is endowed with the form of Hari (Lord Vishnu) and the spirit of Lord
Shiva.
Legend has it that the first priestess of
Mannarasala gave birth to a five-headed snake, which is believed to reside in
the ancestral house to safeguard the family. At Mannarasala barren women are
believed to be blessed with children and a special turmeric paste available at
the shrine is credited with powers to cure even leprosy.
The
Mannarasala Temple has over 30,000 images of snakes along the paths and among
the trees, and is the largest such temple in Kerala. Women seeking
fertility come to worship here, and upon the birth of their child come to hold
thanksgiving ceremonies here, often bringing new snake images as offerings.
The
story on the evolution of Mannarasala as one of the foremost places of worship
of the Serpent Gods is associated with Lord Parashurama who is the creator of Kerala. This history of
Mannarasala has been mentioned in the 'Mandara Salodyam', a Sanskrit poem
written by Mannarasala M.G. Narayanan Namboodiri of the sacred family based on
the accounts and legends handed down and old scriptures and books available
with the temple.
Lord Parashurama in order to release
himself from the sin of killing Kshatriyas approached the holy Rishis. They
suggested that he should make a gift of a land of his own to the Brahmins. Parashurama,
the son of Bhrigu, propitiated Varuna to get some land for himself.
He threw into sea the Axe which Lord Shiva had given with his blessings. Thus he reclaimed the land
from the sea and gave it as a gift to the Brahmins . This land came to be known
as Kerala. This piece of land, however was not habitable because of the
salinity of the soil and as a result people began to leave the place. Parashurama
was pained at this. He undertook a
penance to please Lord Shiva, who advised him that the objective could be
realized only if the flaming poison of the serpents was spread into the soil
and that the only means of doing that was the worship of Nagaraja. Parashurama set
out with his disciples in search of a deserted jungle in order to please
Nagaraja. He found a suitable place near the seashore in the southern part of
Kerala. He constructed a Thirthasthala
for the performance of the penance.
A pleased Nagaraja, appeared before Parashurama,
willing to grant him his desire. Nagaraja made his appearance as if : " The unspeakable splendor of millions of
moons! The bright magnificence of emeralds stuck to the hoods. Golden jewels
made attractive by miraculous embroidery! Lotus feet worshipped by crowds of
Gods! Brilliant beauty of form, full of youthfulness!".
Parasurama prostrated at the lotus feet of
Nagaraja and prayed to realize his objective. Nagaraja granted his request with
great pleasure. Ferocious serpents arrived at the spot at once to spread the
flaming Kalakuda poison. Because of the percolation of poison, the land of
Kerala was desalinated, to become habitable with envious greenery. Parasurama
then requested the Lord to bless the land forever with his eternal presence
which was also accepted by the kindly-disposed Nagaraja.
Parashurama installed, according to
Vedic rites, Nagaraja, who is Brahma, Vishnu and Siva in one in the
'Thirthasthala' (Hall of pilgrimage) filled with Mandara trees, the place now
known as Mannarasala. (The installed deity here represents Anantha (Vishnuswaroopa)
and Vasuki (Siva in spirit). The installations of Sarpayakshi,
Nagayakshi and Nagachamundi, the Naga deities, as well as of their associates
were conducted in the proper places with the proper rituals. Parashurama performed
to the accompaniment of Vedic recitation and singing of Sama, Abhishekam,
Alankaram, Neivedya samarpanam, Neeranjanam, Sarpabali and other rites pleasing
to the serpents and thereby made all the serpents happy. Parasurama brought
learned people from other religions; installed Durga and other deities in
different places; appointed Brahmins who were Tantric experts for performing
poojas; nominated Kshathriyas, peasants and the Ashtavaidyas who were supreme
among the physicians; thus he brought Kerala, filled with beautiful vegetation
and to prosperity.After giving important instructions to be followed to
preserve the sanctity of the place, Parashurama proceeded to the
Mahendra Mountains to continue his austerities.
Many generations passed by. The family fell
into the grief of childlessness. Vasudeva and Sreedevi were the sad couple who
had to bear that heavy load of sorrow, who resolutely worshipped Nagaraja to
allay their grief. It was about this time that unexpectedly fire broke out in
the jungle around the dwelling place of Nagaraja and burnt down the jungle. The
serpents were tortured by the flames, forcing them to hide in their pits with
great difficulty. Vasudeva and Sreedevi looked after the serpents, who had
their hoods charred, bodies half-burnt, and fainting from time to time, falling
down and crawling along. They gently fanned them with fans made of
sweet-scented grass and poured ghee mixed with honey and oil on the wounds;
cooled their melted bodies with sandalwood ointment; and comforted them. They
put them at the foot of banyan trees. They performed purification ceremonies
and consecrated the pits; and were put up in special places under the shade of
deodar trees and in Chitrakudas. The couple performed abhisheka with thirtha
like Panchagavya (a holy mixture of five items from the cow's milk, curd,
butter, urine and dung); observed elaborate poojas according to rules with
areca nut flower bunches, fragrant flowers and water, incense etc. Neivedyam
with melted butter (ghee), milk, payasam with molasses, rice powder, turmeric
powder, coconut juice, Kadali fruit, cow's milk, all mixed together in the
proper form as Nurum Palum, equivalent to the elixir of life. They offered
serpent deities with great devotion, appam, aval (beaten rice or rice wafers),
tender coconut etc. They chanted vedic mantras, performed circumambulation and
performed all kinds of poojas to restore those crowds of serpents to full
health.
The omnipresent and omnipotent Nagaraja was
greatly pleased with their continuous penance and the love shown to his
associates; Nagaraja made himself visible to the couple and blessed them that
he would incarnate on the earth as their beloved son. He said " I shall
assume the form of a serpent and stay here (in Mannarasala) permanently, as long
as the sun and the moon are there, showering prosperity on your family and
granting protection to all the devotees who come here …". Thus
Mandarasala, the place filled with Mandara trees, the holy spot where the
serpents got shelter, where the earth was fully cooled, became Mandarasala. The
boon came true. The Brahmin lady became pregnant and gave birth to five-hooded
serpent-child as well as a human child. The two brothers grew up together.
Initiation ceremonies and Vedic education were carried out at the proper time
in the traditional style. Nagaraja instructed the younger brother to enter into
matrimony for the perpetual reservation of the holy family and he obeyed it.
When the five-hooded Nagaraja realized that the objectives of his incarnation
were realized, he informed the Holy Mother that henceforth he would live at
this Illam by entering into Samadhi to bless the devotees. Then he suggested
certain inviolable rituals and rules for offering worship and then went into
the immaculate cellar and vanished. (It is believed that even today that
five-hooded Nagaraja stays in the cellar doing Tapas for the abound prosperity
of his dependents. The members of the household always refer to him with great
respect and devotion as "Muthassan' and "Appoappan" (Grand father).
The jungle close by is the exclusive preserve for his unobstructed
peregrinations (Appoa ppan Kavu - Grandfathers' Grove).
Mannarsala Aayilyam is the main Temple
Festival. On the day of Aayilyam asterism in the months of Kanni and
Thulam (September and October), all the serpent idols in the grove and the
temple are taken in procession to the illam (family connected with
the temple) where the offerings of Nurum Palum (rice flour and milk), Kuruthi
(a red liquid made of turmeric and lime) and cooked rice are made. The oldest
female member of the family carries the idol of the Nagaraja and the procession
is conducted with great pomp and rejoicing.
Legend
Lord Nagaraja instructed one family called Irinada palli to
build their home in the temple compound. The first residents of this house were
Vasudevan Namboodiri and his wife Sridevi Andarjanam. Their family continued to
look after the temple,but after a while one of their descendants did not have
children. They prayed at the temple and as a result, got two sons. One of them
was a snake. This snake was born on Aslesha(Ayilyam) star of the Kumbha month
(February-March). This snake son told his mother that the snakes living in the
area were very happy with their family. However they wanted only the eldest
female member of the family to perform the ceremonial worship in the
temple. Since their mother was the eldest, the snake assured her that she would
be taught all the rituals that have to be followed in the worship. He taught
his mother the rituals and since that time, the worship in this temple is
performed only by the eldest lady of the family (She is called Mannarsala
Amma(mother)).Thereafter the snake son entered the dark store room in that
house and warned that none should enter the room except that once a day it
could be opened for worship by the Amma of the temple. She normally keeps a cup
of milk and then closes the door. Next day, the cup is found empty. This snake
in the store is called “Grand Father” by all people and all of them revere that
snake. The other son born along with the snake established two temples in
Mannarsala, one dedicated to Naga Raja and another to Naga Yakshi. The story
goes that one of the snakes in the temple was given as a dowry for a girl who
got married to a Brahmin family in Kayankulam. That snake entered the store
room of that house and a similar temple like Mannar
a
salai was built there. This
temple is called Mey Palli and is near Kayamkulam. PPR
20 / 08 / 2015
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