Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The women priests of Mannarasala temple
Valia Amma - ‘Great Mother' - is the heart and soul of Mannarasala.
The resplendent brightness of the temple's Valia Amma - a symbol of Naga deities through fasting and other austerities - has not dimmed over the years.
Pilgrims cannot leave Mannarasala without personally viewing her. The sight of faithful devotees, who come to seek the blessings of Nagaraja, waiting at length to see the flicker of the eyes of the Great Mother, serene compassionate and filled with benediction, continues.
When the earthly life of a Valia Amma ends, the ceremony of cremation is different from that of other family members.
The body is placed in the four-chambered house of the illam and the samadhi takes place in the southern hall of the building.
The cremation is held in a location between the temple and the illam.
During those days, only milk and fruit are offered in the temple. After offering nivedyam (holy offering) the door of the sanctum sanctorum is shut immediately and opened only
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
The resplendent brightness of the temple's Valia Amma - a symbol of Naga deities through fasting and other austerities - has not dimmed over the years.
Pilgrims cannot leave Mannarasala without personally viewing her. The sight of faithful devotees, who come to seek the blessings of Nagaraja, waiting at length to see the flicker of the eyes of the Great Mother, serene compassionate and filled with benediction, continues.
When the earthly life of a Valia Amma ends, the ceremony of cremation is different from that of other family members.
The body is placed in the four-chambered house of the illam and the samadhi takes place in the southern hall of the building.
The cremation is held in a location between the temple and the illam.
During those days, only milk and fruit are offered in the temple. After offering nivedyam (holy offering) the door of the sanctum sanctorum is shut immediately and opened only
To read the full article, click here..
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
Labels: Great Mother, illam, Mannarasala, Valia Amma
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