Mannarasala Amma
The Sacred Grace
The supreme priestess and living embodiment of devotion at Mannarasala.
The sacred rhythms of Mannarasala beat to a different, divinely-ordained cadence. Here, in one of the rare temples of its kind, the highest ritual authority resides not in a priest, but in a Brahmin woman—the Mannarasala Amma, the Supreme Priestess. This tradition flows from a divine decree. Legend holds that when Sree Nagaraja, having incarnated as the serpent-son of the Illam, withdrew to the Nilavara, he bestowed a sacred charge upon his mother: “Mother herself must offer me worship.” He ordained that on certain days, men might assist, but the primary right and responsibility of worship would forever belong to the Mother of the household. After her time, this mantle would pass to the senior-most Brahmin lady of the family.
Thus, the Valia Amma (the Great Mother) is not merely a priestess; she is, in essence, the acknowledged mother of the deity himself. As such, she becomes the spiritual mother of the entire land. To assume this exalted role, she must live as a Brahmacharini—a life of disciplined penance, celibacy, and unwavering devotion, her existence itself a form of worship.
Valia Amma is the living heart and soul of Mannarasala. Through decades of fasting, austerity, and meticulous ritual, whoever has graced the position of Valiya Amma has become a luminous symbol of the Naga deities.
Valia Amma follows a special pattern of worship, entering the sanctum sanctorum itself to perform pooja on appointed sacred days, including:
- The first day of every Malayalam month.
- Each monthly occurrence of the Pooyam star.
- The period from the beginning of Magha until Sivaratri eve.
- Thiruvonam in the month of Chingam.
- The first twelve days of Karkitakam.
- The twelve days preceding the Ayilyam star in Kanni and Tulam.
When Valia Amma’s earthly journey concludes, her departure is marked with rites befitting her sanctity. Her holy body is placed within the four-chambered hall of the Illam, with the final samadhi located in its southern section. The cremation is conducted in a specific area between the temple and the Illam. During the days of mourning, the temple offerings are simplified to only milk and kadali fruit (Palum Pazhavum Nivedyam). After the offering of Nivedyam, the temple doors are closed immediately, reopening the next day only to be closed again after the offering—a solemn cycle observed for three days.
