It is after twelve years of intense sadhana that these titles are bestowed upon the practitioner. Soon after his ‘Upanayanam’, the child, on his own persistence, alienated himself within a dark room to undertake the yearlong ‘Samvathsara Deeksha’, followed by ‘Yogeendra kalasham’ (Sannyasa tradition) for a prolonged period of seven years, following which, ‘Punarkalasam’ was practiced along with ‘Agni Upasana’ for the next four years. During this arduous period of continuous upasana that began with ‘Chaulopasana’, he meticulously continued with the customary rituals and the intermittent fasts necessary for the traditional worshipping procedures, so also the ones recommended by their Gothra Guru, Viswamitra.
Subsequently, the title of ‘Ambotti’ was conferred upon him. It means the one who safeguards the ‘aham’ (the spiritual self, not the ego), and also the one who takes up the vow to protect the entire world. For this purpose, the youngster took up the vow of Naishtika Brahmacharyam (celibacy). Ambotti Thampuran is the title given to one who remains a brahmachari and has also been anointed as the Thampuran (master) of the Kovilakam. Sannyasa is not recommended for a Kshatriya. Therefore, the senior members of the Vedic community perform the ceremony of ‘Ariyittu Vazhikkal’ in the presence of the family members and the elders of the community, and then confer the title of ‘Yogathiripad’ or ‘Bramarishi’ upon him.
One who conducts religious pujas and tantras, holding these titles, strictly observing the Brahmanical duties, is entitled to perform homas and yajnas as a yogi. Ambotti Thampuran specializes in traditional serpent worship (Sarpa tantram) that has been passed down through generations. In addition to some rituals from the Dravidian tantra and the Pauranika tantra, it is believed to have incorporated rituals from the Parasurama Kalpasutra, Kasyapa Samhita, and Vamakesvara Tantra.
