The Astanaga or the Nagayakshi Kalam Pattu was on April 24th, 2018 at Adi Sankara Nilayam from 7pm onward.

This ritual performance is conducted to appease the snake gods and thereby to bring prosperity to all human beings. The Nagas represent divinity, eternity, life and death, and time as well as timelessness.

The ceremony began with a Ganapati Puja at 6 pm followed by Koora vitanam (decorating the temporarily constructed temple with a red cloth) and Kalam ezhuthu (a traditional ritual art form of Kerala creating huge pictures on the floor). Sarpa kalam (a drawing of the Snake-God using powders) was drawn with herbal powders like vaka podi, turmeric powder, rice powder etc to draw Ashtanaga’s and Nagayakshi Amma in a temporary thatched hut (Pandal) and the pandal decorated with lamps, Nirapara, coconuts, betal leaf, arecanut etc.

The Ashtanaga’s are Anantha, Vasuki, Thakshaka, Karkodaka, Shankha, Gulika, Padma and Mahapadma. After completion of the drawing, Kalam Puja and Muram Puja commenced around 8.30 pm which concluded by 9.30pm. Kalam Puja is a special Puja offered to Nagayakshi Amma and Ashtanaga’s. Muram Puja is performed to appease Garuda Bhagavan.Several puja’s were done for Nagaraja and Nagayakshi in the Temple.

Devi Nagayakshi was invited from the shrine to the Kalam with Thalappoli and Panchavadyam. After this, a puja called “Thiriuzhichil” which is also a kind of ritualistic dance performed around the Sarpa Kalam holding a torch (flambeau). The dancer (oracle) will be a male, he dances to the rhythm of Pulluvan kudam (a kind of musical instrument). In the end, everyone who present were allowed to offer archana and pradakshina to the Kalam and offered dakshina to the performer.

Around 2am, starts the Kalam pattu, the Pulluvan and his team starts singing and playing Pulluvan veena, Kudam and Kaimani (cymbal The theme of the songs are the stories (Charitam’s) of Naga devata’s.The initial lines of the songs will be of Ganesha, followed by other Gods. Then the Thala or beat changes along with the song. At a certain point, two Kanya are called to the venue They will perform the dance with holding a cluster of arecanut flower. Later part is dedicated to Serpent gods and the Kanya’s sitting in the Kalam. The Kanya’s start enter into a trance like state and starts dancing as if the Devatas which is drawn on the floor has come alive. Once the ritualistic ululation is over and finally they will erase the Kalam.

The performer’s dancing is conceived as Nagaraja (Snake King) and Naga Yakshi (Snake Goddess). The Oracles informed that the Naga Yakshini and Nagas accepted the ritual and are contended. They promised the protection and prosperity to CIF and all devotees.

Then the Dakshina was given to the team of artist who came and performed the ritual in a befitting manner. The whole ritual ended around 3am.

The Pulluvar’s performed the ritual are: Sri. Shamjith, Sri. Muralidhran, Sri. Unni, Sri. Rajagopal, Smt. Usha, Smt. Sunitha and Smt. Sujatha

Kalathil Kaimal (Priest ): Sri. Dhanil, Sri. Dasan and Rajesh

Kanyaka: Ms. Aswathi and Ms. Sanila

Temple construction: Sri. Unni and Sri. Sathyan