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| nagaraja and nagayakshi |
Pambummekkattu Mana is the most famous Serpent worship centre in Kerala. The Pambummekattu lllam (also known as Mana) stands in Vadama village, a part of Mukundapuram Taluk in Thrissur District, Kerala. The nearest railway station is 10 km away at Chalakudy.Devotees can reach here by road from any part of Kerala. The believers can take Thrice - Mala route; 2.5 Km North to Mala stands the Meikkattu Mana west to the main road. The name of the bus stop itself is Mekkattu Junction.
The Serpent Gods Nagaraja (male God) and Naga Yakshi (female God) reside in the eastern portion of Mekkattu Mana. The peculiarity is that there are no idols of these Gods, but daily poojas are conducted.
The Pambu Mekkattu is spread over six acres of land with five "Serpant Kavus" (Kavu is sacred garden). The Pambummekkattu land is kept in its virgin style with huge trees and thick vegetation. Thousands of bats are dwelling on these trees. Only on rare occasions the devotees are allowed to enter into the Pambummekkattu Temple for worship. In the center court of the Pambummekkattu Mana there is shrine of Bhadrakali.
On the 1st of the Malayalam month "Vrischikam" (November 17) of the Keralites' calendar many devotees of Sabarimala Ayyappa come to Pambu Mekkattu in order to get the blessing of Serpent Gods. "Noorum Palum" (food and milk) offering to the snakes is on this day.To participate in this auspicious ceremony, thousands throng, even from faraway places. Serpent worship is very common in Kerala and the tradition is centuries old.
The oil from the "Kedavilakku" (all time burning oil-lamp) of this temple in Pambummekkattu Mana is used as a medicine for skin diseases which is believed to be caused due to the fury of snakes.
Legend:
There is a legend behind how Mekkattu Mana became Pampumekkattu Mana.
Once Mekkattu Mana was suffering from acute poverty and miseries. The sufferings were so unbearable that the Head of the family decided to stay in prayers and meditation in Thiruvanchikulam Temple at Kodungallur, about 15 km away from Mala.He stayed there and prayed continuously for twelve years. One day early morning he went to the temple pond of Thiruvanchikulam to fetch some water where he saw a strange man near the pond with extra-ordinary body structure.
The "Namboodiri" (Malayalam word for male Brahmins) asked him to reveal his identity. But the strange man responded in a vague manner. The Namboodiri realized that the strange person who was standing near the pond was an unusual divine power, he asked him to give the precise ring that he was wearing to show his friends and Kodungallur Thampuran.The ring so given to the Namboodiri was returned and immediately on receiving it back the man disappeared. As the identity of the strange man was still a mystery, the Namboodiri’s mind was unsettled.
On the next day Namboodiri went to the Thiruvanchikulam pond as usual to take water, he saw the same mystery man near the pond. The Namboodiri bowed down at his feet and requested him to reveal his identity. The mystery man said, "I am Vasuki" (Vasuki is the serpent God according to Hindu Mythology) and to prove his identity he squeezed himself to a ring similar to the one Lord Parameswaran wore in his finger.At this strange sight, the Namboodiri got fainted. When Namboodiri came to his normalcy, Vasuki asked him, what kind of blessings that he wished to have. The Namboodiri replied that he wanted to have Vasuki's presence in his Illam (Illam or Mana means Brahmin's house in Malayalam) to have prosperity in his Illam. Vasuki agreed to his request and disappeared.
Soon after he got the blessings of Vasuki, the Namboodiri returned to his Illam - Mekkattu Mana - at Vadama near Mala. He put his palm-leaf umbrella in the Kizhakkini (eastern court of the Mekkattu Illam) of the Mekkattu Illam and went for bath. After the bath when he came to take the umbrella, he saw a snake on the umbrella greeting him. The snake transformed himself to Vasuki and added that Nagayakshi (godess of serpents) will also soon be presented there.
After a while, the eldest Antharjanam (malayalam word for Brahmin lady) of the Mekkattu Illam came there. She put her palm-leaf umbrella (in the olden days, Brahmin ladies, as a custom, used to hold palm-leaf umbrellas, to cover up their face, which are unfoldable, while moving out their Illams) in the portico before stepping into the home. Soon a snake appeared there on the umbrella and slowly moved to the Kizhakkini of Mekkattu Mana.
On reaching the Kizhakkini, the snake manifested into a beautiful lady and took position near Vasuki. They both ordered the Namboodiri to install them as idols at the place they stand and consider them as their family deities. They also suggested to keep two "Kedavilakku" (means a lamp kept burning using oil) in the Kizhakkini of the Mekkattu Illam ever lighting.
The Mekkattu Namboodiri did everything according to the directions and continued daily rituals to appease them. Thereafter, the Mekkattu Mana (Illam) came to be known as "Pampumekkattu Mana" (pampu means snake in Malayalam) and became prosperous day by day and very famous. The memories of the Great Serpent Gods who to the Pambummekkattu Mana as snakes still fill the hearts of the devotees with blessings and happiness.
Special Occasions:
1. First of the month of Vrishchikam(mid November).
2. Ayilyam in the month of Kanni(mid sept-mid oct).
3. From Thiruvonam to Bharani in the month of Meenam (mid March to Mid April).
4. Tenth of the month of Medam(mid of April).
The most important occation in Mekkattu Mana is first of Vrishchikam. That day is celebrated as the festival of Serpent Gods and every Serpent Gods and every Serpent God is pleased that day by giving lime (calcium oxide) and milk. It is believed that only the members of the Mekkattu family has the right to conduct Sarpabali. From the first of Vrishchikam to 41 days, Sarpabali is conducted as a special offering every evening. Other than this, the Bali is conducted on chosen days decided by the Mana. During Mandalakalam (41 days from Vrishchikam 1), 'Kalamezhuthum Pattum' is conducted. Only 'Sarpapattu' is conducted and not'Pulluvanpattu'.
Offerings At Pambummekkattu Mana:
The main offerings are Vella Nivedyam, Kootupayasam, Palpayasam, Kadalipazha Nivedyam, Manjalpodi Charthal, Vilakkuvekkal, Sarpabali, Payasa Homam, Naga Prathishta, Noorum Palum, Pushpanjali, Malakku, Prathima Pooja, Abhishekamv, Thulabharamv, Annaprasham, Ayilya Pooja and Rahu Pooja.
The favourite offering to Serpent Gods is 'Kadalipazha Nivedyam'(a kind of banana). 'Noorum Palum' (lime and milk) is offered only in special occasions.
'Thulabharam' and 'Annaprasham' are offered by couples to be blessed with a baby.
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