A few years ago, this place was a dilapidated ancestral home surrounded by Kavus and ponds devoid of any prosperity and without any worship, rituals or the temple complex seen in the present day. This place was also the home to all the family members of Pulikkal Shankarodath Kovilakam.
Valyambaratti Lakshmikutty Nambishtathiri (Ambika Thampurati) known as Thangamaniamma Thampati who was fondly called as “Muthassi amma” (grandmother) attained heavenly abode (merged in lotus feet of Veeraporkkali) in the year 2019 (1195). She suffered the death of her mother at a very young age and was under the care of her Mathamahi (Muthassi Amma’s grandmother), when curiosity caused her to kill a golden snake that was crawling in the southern courtyard of the house. The family, already living in misery, slipped into greater misery. Valyambaratti, who was a small girl, was afflicted with Vitiligo (Chithradharan). In those times there were lot of obstacles to a woman’s marriage and remedial atonements were performed for marriage (Podamuri) of Valyambaratti. Valyambaratti, who continued to experience misery due to the malefic effects of Sarpa Dosha and Parambarya (Hereditary) doshas, followed the instructions and advice from her gurus and knowledgeable astrologers by resuming the Upasana and Thevaram of the ancestors, performed sankalpa form of worship for the Paradevathas and Gramadevathas, and took care of the serpent deities in the residence by offering prayers to the best of her knowledge. With the efforts of the family patriarch, who was a soldier in the Second World War, Kovilakam became habitable and its inmates began to live happily.
The misery of the family continued as all the male children met with unnatural deaths one after another. After that, with the efforts of knowledgeable astrologers the history of the place and presence of Lord Nagamuthassan in the cellar (Nilavara) came to light. After knowing this, Valyambaratti devised a ritual for worship of Lord Nagamuthassan and continued to follow it with the blessings of Mannarashala Valyamma. Valyambaratti strived to bring her children to traditional worship but failed. However, the only son of Mallikakshi Nambishtathiri alias Mallika Varma, the second daughter among the remaining children, commenced worship of Lord Nagamuthassan and started doing the Kavu Upasana practiced by Thampurati. Despite many persuasions to repel serpent worship due to fear, Unni indulged in intense worship at the burrow (Putt) under the tamarind tree in southern (Thekkini) courtyard. At the turn of the year, the burrow (Putt) collapsed due to heavy rains and a self-manifested (Swayambhu) stone became visible. The present day Vishwanagayakshi Temple stands on the foundation of the Swayambhu, which is also the Chaitanyavakta (divine energy) of the temple.
The name Pulikkal was added as prefix to the temple name as the origination of the temple was under the tamarind tree. The Deities in Srilakam are based on the Thevara Sankalpa of Sage Kashyapa. Sree Pulikkal Vishwanagayakshi Temple is also the only serpent temple (Nagakshethra) where all three deities Vishwanagayakshiamma, Nagaraja and Sarpayakshiamma are worshiped in the same sanctum with equal importance.
The temple Nalambalam houses the Valyambaratti worshiped idols of Maninagam and Karinagam, Balaganapati, Balamanikandan, Baladhandayudhapani, Keraladhiswarathappan (Ambotti Kannan. Moola Kudumbha Devatha of the Shankarodath family), Vettath Bhagavathy (Poorvika Swarupa Devatha of the Shankarodath family. Vettath Bhagavathy continues to be worshipped even today by the ladies of this Kovilakam), and the Gramadevatha (village deity) Alathiyur Hanuman.
In addition, Nagadevatha, Nagakanyaka, Nagachamundi, more than thirty Saligramas and Banalingams are also worshiped in the Nalambalam. The Nalambalam also includes the Nilavara (secret vault) and Machakam of the ancestral house. Kashyapa Maharishi is worshipped as Nagamuthassan in the Nilavara (secret vault) and Mannarshalayappan is worshiped as Mani Nagararaja in Machakam.
The Moolasthanam of Pulikkal Shankarodath Kovilakam is situated towards the
south of Nalambalam. The present Kovilakam is designed as Thewarakattu,
Ettukettu.
The Kovilakam houses an inner Thevarapura as well as the idols of Vasuki,
Thakshaka, Eriyarapuram Subramanian and Nagakanyaka, who are worshiped by
Thampuratis of the Kovilakam. Sankalpa form of worship is followed for
Vellamassery Garuda.
In the inner Thevarapura, Nagendhraswamy (Shankarabharanam),
Karinagayakshiamma and Thriprangottappan (the Paradevatha of the Kovilakam),
are enshrined. The pujas and rituals in the Thevarapura can be performed only by
the Thirumanass, who is ordained as Ambotti Thampuran in a generation.
Thirumanass, who is enthroned as Ambotti Thampuran resides in the Kovilakam.
In the western courtyard of Kovilakam, is the sanctum (Srilakam) of Vettakarappan
(Kirathamurthy), the nucleus deity of the Kovilakam. The sanctum is eastward facing
and Thevaram is also performed for the Thevaramurthys of Shankarodath family
(Tirur Narasimhamoorthy, Goshala Krishnan, Navamukundan, Vettath Bhagavathy,
Chamravattath Ayyappan, Alathiyur Perumthrikovilappan, Keraladhiswarathappan,
Kakkat Ganapati, Mangalath Mahavishnu, Thrikkandiyurappan) who are enshrined in
the sanctum of Vettakarappan. Adjacent to this sanctum of Vettakarappan, the
ancient Thevaramurthys of Sage Kashyapa, Nagarajaswamy, Nagayakshiamma,
Sarpayakshiamma, Nagakanyaka and Naga Chamundi are consecrated facing the
east.
Apart from this, the tradition of anointing the eldest Valyambaratti of the Kovilakam
as Kettilamma, who uses “Marakuda” and lives rest of her life in intense worship is
also followed. The Thampuratis of the Kovilakam also perform the annual ritual of
Vadokkottu Nethikyal to the Thevar even today.
Shankarodath Kovilakam continues to follow traditional rituals even to this date. In line with the traditions, Kovilakam has a Thanthri, Othikyan and Vaidheekan:
The traditional upsansas of Mura Japam, Vaaram Irikkyal and Kushmandi Homam continue to be performed at the Kovilakam.
To the east of the Pulikkal Vishwanagayakshi temple are the Krishnasarpakavu and
the Kaalasarpakavu.
On the southern side of the temple, an 8 feet tall idol of Veeraporkkali Devi, the clan
deity of the Kovilakam, seated in Veeryasana pose is enshrined facing the north. The
sanctum also houses a Sumeru Chakra which is used as Archana idol of Devi and
Anthimahakalan. There are sub-deities like Ashta Mathru, Kshethrapalan,
Markandeya Shastha and Bhuvaneshwari Devi surrounding the sanctum who are
considered as the entourage of Veeraporkkali Devi. This Kavu is known as
Shankarodath Kavu. Sri Shankarodathamma is the Swarupa devatha of the
Kovilakam and all the family members of the Kovilakam are Veeraporkkali Dasas.
The following Kavus are situated around the Shankarodath Kavu
The Kovilakam is situated amid Kavus and the Temple. In the Thekinithara of the
Kovilakam, the Paradevathas, Thriprangottappan, Vettath Bhagavathy,
Chamravattath Ayyappan, Thirunavaya Navamukundan and Madaikavilamma are
worshipped.
Kushini Ganapathi and Annapurneswari (Cherukunnilamma) are worshiped at
Dehanna Pura (Kitchen) of the Kovilakam.
The legend of this place is that in ancient times this was the Kashyap Ashram and the Nilavara (secret vault) houses his samadhi and the Chaitanya of the devathas worshipped by Sage Kashyapa.
Nagaraja, Nagayakshiamma and Sarpayakshiamma, who are enshrined in the
sanctum as family, bestow Abhishtakamya to the devotees resulting in happy
married life, progeny, and prosperity.
Darshan and prayer at Kaalasarpakavu, which is not widely known, provides relief
from the troubles of adverse planetary placement in the birth star horoscope.
A devotee who offers their prayers at the remaining 5 kavus can gets rid of the
Panchapatakas, get relief from skin diseases and mental illness.
A devotee who serves and worships fiercely appearing Shankarodathamma will
experience all their miseries caused by Shalya, Shaapa (curse) and Shathru
(enemies) turning into ashes.
Besides, Shankarodathappan (Vettakarappan) who fulfils all wishes of his devotees
is seen by the devotees as Kshipra Prasadhi (quickly pleasable).