Pambummekattu Mana (Nagaraja) Temple
Pambummekattu Mana (Nagaraja) Temple
Pambummekattu lllam also known as Pambummekattu Mana is located in Vadama village near Thrissur in Kerala. Pambummekkattu Mana is a most famous Serpent worship Place, The ancient Naga temple is famous for its history and myth that there is a five-headed snake inside the temple. Devotees believe that the divine presence of “Nagayakshi” and “Vasuki” is present in the “Kizhakkini” of Pambummekkattu Mana. There are five Sarpa Kavu (Snake God Temples) in Pambummekkattu temple which is spread over six acres of land. Pambummekkattu temple is famous for Rahu Pooja.
The Serpent Gods Nagaraja (male God) and Naga Yakshi (Goddess) reside in the eastern portion of Mekkattu Mana.
Unlike other temples, the Nagaraja temple is found in the natural form, with green lush trees and vegetation.
Worshipping the serpents is a tradition of Kerala, and unlike other temples, this temple is not flung open all the days of the year, preferably the devotees are allowed inside the Pambumekkattu Mana only for a few days.
History
Once upon a time, the people in Mekkattu Mana were in miseries due to acute poverty. To alleviate the poverty, a person from a family travelled to Thiruvanchikulam temple, where they meditated for 12 continuous years. One of the Namboodiri met a weird man, who stood near a pond in the temple. Although his identity was not revealed, the namboodiri predicted the unusual divine power of the man and requested for the unique ring, the man wore on his fingers. The man gave a ring and disappeared.
Again, he met the same man the next day, in the same pond. When requested to reveal his identity, he said that he was Vasuki, the God of Snakes. He wanted to fulfill the wish of the pious Namboodiri and asked for his wish. Immediately, the Namboodiri requested for the presence of Vasuki in his Mekkattu mana, to bless with prosperity.
With the blessings of the serpent god, the namboodiri came back to Mekkattu mana, where he went to take a bath, leaving a traditional palm leaf umbrella on the bank. When he returned, there was a snake on the umbrella and took the form of Vasuki and said that Nagayakshi, the serpent goddess would reach the place. As mentioned, Nagayakshi and Vasuki appeared in front of him and ordered him to install idols to pray as the family deities. Added to that, 2 ever-burning lights with daily rituals were to be added to please them. Since then, the Mekkattu Mana was called Pambumekkattu mana.
Despite living with thousands of snakes, the family at Pambummekkattu Mana is not bitten by snakes, and even if it does, the venom does not affect them, but bizarrely, it affects the snakes. Another surprise is the family members take the effort to save the affected snakes.
To treat the skin diseases that are caused by the furious snakes, the devotees use the oil in the ever-burning lamp or the collyrium that forms while burning the wick. Strict practices are required to use the oil.
Only on the special days, all the devotees can enter into the temple to get the blessings of the Nagaraja. On the regular days, only the higher caste devotees are allowed into the temple. During the special occasions, every devotee has to dip in the pond and is supposed to enter with the wet clothes and body.
