Sree Pulickal Naga Yakshi Temple, Kavilpadu, Olavakkod, Palakad

http://www.naagayekshitemple.in/

Pulickal Sankarodath Sree Nagayakshikkavu is a very ancient but less known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods. It is located at Kavilpadu Village near Olavakkode Junction in Palakkad District. This  powerful Nagayakshi Temple is nestled in a forest glade, like most snake temples in Kerala, hence the name "Kavu'. 

NagaYakshi Amma in this Pulickal temple is in "swaymbhu avatar" and has been blessing devotees who have been flocking this place since long. This temple is famous for its representation of Nagas in the Brahmana, Krishna, Kaliya and Agama format. In the main sanctum Sree Naga Yakhi Amma, Sree Naga Raja and Sree SarpaYakshi Amma are worshipped with equal importance. It is believed that the great saint Kashypa,considered as the forefather of serpents, had been at this place for penance and he had attained 'samadhi' by leaving his life energy and spiritual energy onto the serpent idol in the 'machakam' or 'nilavara' of this ancestral home. So Saint Kashyapa is also worshipped as the 'Naga Muthachan' here. Also Naga Chamundi, Naga Kanyaka and Bhadrakali are worshipped with seperate Poojas for each deity.

Origin of the Temple:

Pulickal Tharavadu or ancestral home is a famed Nair Tharavadu. There was a couple in the tharavadu who did not have any child after marriage. Kamakshiamma went to an ashram that was established by Parushurama Guru. With the persistence of the guru, Kamakshiamma started Naga pooja in the ancestral home.Kamakshiamma was an ardent devotee and she started praying to Naga by considering it as her child. Her devotion led to the arrival of Golden Nagam (Suvarnna Nagam).Kamakshiamma was blessed with a daughter in her old age and Kamakshiamma named her as Amminiamma. 

Amminiamma was also an ardent devotee of Snake god and started worshipping Naga yakshi.The worship rituals were reduced after her marriage and she gave birth to daughter named Thankamaniamma.Out of childhood pranks,Thankamaniamma happened to kill a Suvarnna Nagam which had appeared in their home. That incident made the Nagas angry and they cursed the land and home of Pulickal. Thankamaniamma was also not spared and she was cursed with Chithradaran Naga Sapam. Her children had a troubled childhood with lot of illness and other mental and physical troubles and her progenies were cursed with untimely death early in life. After losing her four sons to death, she made a vow that if atleast one boy child was born in the family blessed with a long life, she would dedicate him to the Naga Muthachan of the Machakam as his follower. She also decided to restart the serpent worship rituals in the ancestral home as done by the forefathers.



In the Malayalam month Thulam on Aayilyam day, the snake idol was installed by following the ritualistic practices mentioned by ancestors and Parusurama.There was presence of Lord Garuda on that day and the idol was bathed in the Tharavadu pond and was installed and was done Kalam pattu pooja to please the idol. This temple was henceforth known as Pulickal NagaYakshi temple.After six months in the Malayalam month Edavam on Pournami Day (Full moon),a thirumangalaya pooja was done for the separated Naga couples. From that day onwards the Edavam Pournami day is celebrated as Thriumangalaya Pooja here and Thulam Aayilyam is celebrated as or Valiya Arattu.


Answering the prayers of Thankamaniamma, on 1989, a boy child was born to  her daughter Mallikakshi Nair and her husband Gopalakrishnan Nair of Nenmara Kavungal Tharavadu.The child was born in the Shukhla paksham Sravana month Nagapanchami day. He was named as Manoj and he was later renamed as Unni Ambotti.He started worshipping the serpent gods at a young age and in particular a chitrakuda or 'manputtu" under a tamarind or "puli" tree. Once in a heavy rain, that 'puttu' broke and it revealed a Nagayakshi idol inside. His grandmother had a dream that Unni must worship the swayambhoo idol of Nagayakshi Amma henceforth. Since the idol was found under the "puli" tree, it began to be referred to as the "Pulickal Nagayakshi Amma".Unni completed his deeksha and was entrusted with the powers to serve the Serpent Gods of Pulickal for the rest of his life. Having been adopted into the 'Sarpa Kula', Unni Ambotti was to remain a brhmachari and was considered as the Serpents' own child.

Thus the temple was built here along with two temple ponds and pooja rituals for each deity was fixed according to rituals.


Temple Timings:

Temple will be opened for Darshanam and pooja at 5.30 am morning daily. The temple will be closed at 11:30 am after doing Abishekam, Malarnedhyam Prasanna pooja, Noorum Paalum and Uchapooja. The temple will be opened at 5.30 In evening and will be closed at 7.30 in evening, In these time vilakku theliyikkal only will be taken place.


The various Sarpa Kavu in Pulickal Temple and their meaning:

• Brahmana Sarpa Kavu:

This Sarpa Kavau is meant to protect the asset of the temple or temple nidhi and this is the sacred place of the Suvarnna Nagam.

• Agama Sarpa Kavau or Kashtriya Sarpa Kavu:

This is where the Sarpa idol from various places and various ancestral homes are bought and installed here. The reason is that they will not be in a position to look after the Sarpa Idols.

• Kala Sarpa Kavu Vaishya Sarpa Kavu:

These Nagas are powerful to destroy a man's life and change the destiny of a man and it is with that representation that the idol is installed here.

• Krishna Sarpa Kavau or Shudra Sarpa Kavu:

This Nagas are powerful and they can fly also. These Nagas are usually representing or are meant as temple guardians and the idol is installed in that representation.


Special Poojas for Dosha Nivaranam here:

Sarpa bali:

This pooja is done as a remedy for reducing the sin of killing Sarpa. This pooja is done to please Rahu Graham which is not in favorable position in a person Jathakam. This pooja is done to reduce the pain caused by diseases and reduce diseases and this pooja is also done to get children for couples. This pooja is done on 64 Padmas for  Nagaraja, Nagayakshiamma, SarpaYakshi, Karinagam, Maninagam, AsthaNaga, Nagachamundi, Nagabootham and various other forms of Nagas.

Kalasarpa Homam:

The pooja is done to remove Kalasarpa dosham, physical diseases and ailments, and skin diseases.

Payassambali:

This pooja is done to remove Brahmana Sarpasapam, Earlier life Sapam (munjanma Sapam), Ancestral Sarpa Sapam. The pooja is done for Nagaraja, Nagayakshiamma, 16 Brahmana Sarpa, 16 Kashtriya Sarpa, 16 Vaiysa Sarpa, 16 Shudra Sarpa and Nagabootham and is a tharpana pooja.

Pulluvanpattu (Kalameruthu pattu):

If the ancestral Sarpakavu is destroyed, if the egg destroyed or Sarpa child is killed, if there is any Sarpa dosham in earlier birth, If an tree in Sarpakavu is destroyed there will be physical ailments to family members, mental problems, skin diseases, less family growth in terms of wealth, there will be an increase in childless couples and there will be less mental peace in family.To remove these obstacles the ground in the temple is cleaned Pullavan pattu is done by Pullavan people. The Nagas in the kandar forest is drawn using natural ingredients and then kurthuola, allolla, vettila (methi), palaella is used to place arangu and earthen pot (mankudam), Veena and kaithalam is used to sing praises of Nagas. This ancestral form is also known as Sarpa thullal.The Kalameruthu is removed after 21 days of strong vratham by the komrangal.

Festivals:

• Aayilyam day pooja in the Malayalam month of Kanni (September - October) This day is also the birth day of Nagaraja.The Thekkathalam or the southern side Nilavara will be opened and Nurum Palum will be offered.
• MahaSivaRathri festival in the month of February-March and this would last one full night and this pooja is usually done by Unni Ambotti.
• Every Malayalam Month first day, on Aayilyam day and on Pooyam day offerings will be given to Nagaraja.The Pooyam pooja is usually done by the grandma of this tharavadu. On Aayilyam day grandma will also do Sarpaavahana pooja and Pullavan pattu pooja to please Snake gods and this is done to remove the Snake dosham in a person's life. On Malayalam month first day Unni would do Payasam bali,Nurum plaum and Swaparivaraum pooja.

The temple now has a website (http://www.naagayekshitemple.in/) where it offers online puja booking for its devotees spread across the world. Website also has a wealth of information about the temple.