AADHIMOOLAM VETTICODE SREE NAGARAJA SWAMI TEMPLE
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One of the oldest and most famous serpent worship centers in Kerala is the Adimulam Vettikottu Sree Nagarajaswamy Temple, located near Kayamkulam (Bharanikkavu Panchayat, Pallikkal) in Alappuzha district. The legend and history of this temple are described below:
1. Legend
The origin of the Vettikottu temple is associated with the Bhargavaram Parashurama.
Kerala Creation and Salinity: Parashurama threw his axe and reclaimed the land of Kerala from the ocean and gave it as a gift to the Brahmins. However, since the soil that emerged from the ocean was high in salt (salinity) and iron, it was not suitable for agriculture or human habitation.
Anantha Bhagavan's Penance: To solve this problem, Parashurama went to the Gandhamadana mountain and performed severe penance to please the Naga king Anantha (Anantha, the consort of Vishnu). Anantha Bhagavan, pleased with the penance, appeared and asked his snakes to suck out the poison and salinity of the Kerala land as per Parashurama's request. As the snakes sucked out the evils of the soil, Kerala became green and fertile.
Enshrinement: As a token of gratitude to the snakes, Parashurama used his axe to cut a large mound (ditch) of soil and installed the idol of Anantha Bhagavan there. This place got the name 'Vettikodu' because the mound (ditch) was 'cut' with the axe.
Presence of the Trimurti: Since Brahma marked an auspicious time for this enshrinement, Shiva took the auspicious Dakshina and installed Anantha, an aspect of Mahavishnu, here, the presence of the Trimurti is imagined. It is believed to be the first Naga enshrinement in the world, hence it is called 'Adi Moolam'.
2. History and Administration
Meppally Illam: After Parasurama installed the temple, a Brahmin family was brought from abroad to perform the rituals there and entrusted them with the responsibility. This family is the famous Meppally Illam.
Karanavar Pooja: Even today, the main rituals and tantric rituals of the Vettikot temple are performed by the oldest male deity of Meppally Illam, 'Karanavar'. Karanavar, who leads a monastic life, is the main worker here.
Temple Structure: This temple is located in a forest (sarpakkavu) of about six acres. The main deities are the Naga king Ananthan and the Naga Yakshi. The sarpakkavu here, full of medicinal plants and big trees, is also a great example of nature conservation.
3. Main Features and Offerings
Kanni Ayilyam (Ayilya Mahotsavam): The biggest festival here is held in the Ayilyam star of the Malayalam month of Kanni. Thousands of devotees participate in the seven-day festival. The most important of these is the procession to the temple and the 'Sarpabali' in the evening.
Makam in the month of Thulam: On this day, only once a year, the temple's 'nilavara' is opened and the ritual of pouring out milk and milk is performed.
Main offerings: Sarpabali, milk and milk, Ashtanaga Puja and Rahu Dosha Shanti are the main offerings. In addition, bathing in the temple pond to cure skin diseases and offering 'Uruli Kamazhathal' to childless people are the main beliefs here.
In a nutshell: The Vettikot Sree Nagarajaswamy Temple is the 'primordial' place where Parasurama carved the soil with an axe (Vettikot) and installed Ananthbhagavan as a sign of gratitude to the nagas who changed the salinity of the earth and made it fertile.
