Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple

Introduction to Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple

A wonderful south Indian tourism spot, Kerala is famous for its many ancient temples. Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple is one such ancient temple situated on the banks of Vembanad Lake, Udayamperoor, on the Tripunithura -Vaikom road in Ernakulam district, Kerala.

The temple is an abode for snake idols brought from abandoned groves across Kerala. Devotees can see and worship many kinds of snake idols here.

The sanctum is dedicated to Sapthamathrukal namely, Veerabhadran, Ganapathy, Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kowmari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Indrani, and Chamundi. They are the presiding deities.

Legend of Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple

The old Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple carries an interesting legend behind it. When Sage Parasurama was traveling on the western coast of India, he reached the place where the temple stands now. He stepped into the lake to perform 'Sandhyavandana' at the time of sunset. While performing the ritual, he saw a source of brightness at the center of the lake. He was curious about it, so he waded into the lake and reached its center. He found that the 'Sapthamathrukal' were traveling through the lake on top of a tortoise, and thus he found the reason behind the brightness.

But, the tortoise did not move further as it was disturbed by his entry. Amaninnayidam is where the tortoise stopped moving, and later the name became Ameda.

Since Parasurama disturbed the travel of Sapthamathrukal, he built a huge temple for them where the tortoise stopped. It is how the Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple got its name.

The Architecture of Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple

The temple is situated on 10 acres of sprawling land on the shores of the Vembanad Kayal (backwaters). The carved main door adorns the temple façade.

There are special sanctums dedicated to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi, who shower their blessings from the North-West and North-East directions of the temple compound. The sanctum of Vishnu is located in the North direction. Many homesteads in Kerala used to maintain their own sacred snake groves. In the modern world, due to the nuclear family system, no house maintains such groves. Hence, many snakes, deprived of shelter, settle on the roadsides. At this juncture, Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple shelters all kinds of snakes from the abandoned groves. The temple is managed by the Ameda Mangalam family, who reached here 500 years back. The family runs a cattle farm that supplies pure milk for temple Poojas.

Festivals of Ameda Sapthamatrukkal Temple

Many festivals are celebrated here. Some of the most important festivals are Uthsava (festival) Bali on Makam, Palli vetta (Royal hunt) on Pooram or Valiya Vilakku(Big lamp), Ayilyam (Ayilya Darsanam), and Arattu festival (ceremonial bath of the deity) on Uthram.

The member of the Ameda Mangalam family or the Thanthri of Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple performs the Arattu. It is performed daily during the festival after the first worship of Usha Pooja in the temple tank and in the evening on the main Arattu day (Uthram). On this special occasion, all three of the sanctum sanctorums are opened instead of two. Instead of three times, devotees can worship five times on this special day. On Mandala Kuruthi Pooja, only all three doors are opened. On the remaining days, only two doors are opened.

Benefits of Worshipping in Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple

Devotees with Sarpa Dosham and Rahu Dosham in their horoscope visit the temple and offer Sarpa Bali and Ashtanga Pooja to Nagaraja. Performing these Poojas and worshipping Nagaraja wards off the afflictions caused by Rahu and removes obstacles from their lives.

Childless couples worship in Ameda Sapthamatrukal Temple on the Karthika star day, and they offer Karthika payasam to get blessings from the deities for progeny.

Kindi eriyal (throwing a vessel) and Povatta kamizhthal (Oppositely placing Povatta) are special rituals to the Saptha Mathrukkal performed for childbirth.