Ayamkudy
Encyclopedia
Ayamkudy is a village in the Kottayam
district of the India
n state of Kerala
.
Ayamkudy is only slightly off from the road linking Kottayam
and Ernakulam
. Public buses are the best way to access Ayamkudy. There are few dozen buses plying between Kottayam
and Vaikom
, many of which have stops in Ayamkudy. Alternatively, one can hire a taxi/auto rickshaw from the nearby town of Kaduthuruthy
- which is very well connected to other cities & towns in the state.
Kottayam
and Ernakulam
are the nearby major rail-road stations; Cochin International Airport
(IATA: COK) is the nearest airport.
and Christianity
. Ezhava
, Pulayar
, Nair
, Ashari, Namboothiris are the most common Hindu castes. Ayamkudy always enjoyed good communal harmony.
Ayamkudy is a politically hyper active place. Many of the political parties have deep root in this village.
The temple houses a Rahasya Ara (Secret cabin) where the divine Power is located. This is considered to be a reservoir for the Power of the idol. The cabin is well protected with granite stones and this is one of the specialties that is worth mentioning. A lamp is lighted everyday in front of this, before the other main lamps are lighted. A serpent is believed to be sitting in front of this to safeguard the place.
There is also a water well, with a continuous and everlasting spring with cool water. This believed to have connection with the Ganges originating from the divine head of Lord Shiva. Although the well is situated in the uppermost part of the Village, its water has never gone below a certain level. Water level here is maintained even when most of the wells in the village dry up.
The Ayamkudy village seems to have been always blessed with the grace of Thiruvayamkudiyappan and it has been a center of the learned and learning for centuries. It has always been a center for learning Rig Veda with many experts resident in the village. Education in the Rig Veda takes nearly seven years and the coaching was always associated with the temple. Hence the temple has witnessed many generations learning the Veda and the echoes of the Chanting Rig Veda must have purified the atmosphere of the temple for centuries.
Until recently, the temple has also been famous for its assets in the form of land. However, the situation has dramatically changed in the recent past.
The main functions associated with the festival are Kalabhabhishekam, Kodiyettu, Uthsavabali, Sreebhoothabali, Mulapooja, Sivaraathri Pooja, Pallivetta, Vilakkezhunnelipu, Aarattu etc.
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
district of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Location & Access
Ayamkudy is located at 9°45'N & 76°28'E. It nestled in rubber plantations and surrendered by paddy fields and coconut lagoons. It is on the beautiful Backwaters of Kerala.Ayamkudy is only slightly off from the road linking Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
. Public buses are the best way to access Ayamkudy. There are few dozen buses plying between Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, many of which have stops in Ayamkudy. Alternatively, one can hire a taxi/auto rickshaw from the nearby town of Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy
Kaduthuruthy is a small town in Kottayam District, Kerala, South India.- Geography :Kaduturuthy is located at . It has an average elevation of...
- which is very well connected to other cities & towns in the state.
Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
and Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
are the nearby major rail-road stations; Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...
(IATA: COK) is the nearest airport.
Demographics
Ayamkudy is rather densely populated. Religion wise, Ayamkudians are roughly in equal portions belonging to HinduismHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
, Pulayar
Pulayar
The Pulayar , also Pulayar, Pulaya, or Pulayas or Holeya or Cheramar, are one of the main social groups found in Kerala, Karnataka and in historical Tamil Nadu or Tamilakam.- Traditions :...
, Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
, Ashari, Namboothiris are the most common Hindu castes. Ayamkudy always enjoyed good communal harmony.
Ayamkudy is a politically hyper active place. Many of the political parties have deep root in this village.
Institutions in Ayamkudy
Ayamkudy has three educational institutions: a lower primary school, a high school and an English medium school. It has a public library and a post office. There is a famous Siva temple (Thiruvayamkudy Mahadeva Kshetram) in Ayamkudy. There is also a Devi temple (Ambattu kavu) In this beautiful village. There are three catholic churches: Malappuram St. Theresa Church, Maduravelli Infant Jesus Church & Alphansapuram Church. More details about the temple is furnished in the next few sections of this article.History of the Temple
The history of the temple or its origin could be dated back as early as 1000 AD. The main idol is a Shivalingam, supposed to have appeared on its own in the Homagni (Sacred fire) in a Brahmin's house at Ayamkudy. This Brahmin, Namboothiri, was an ardent devotee of Vaikathappan a temple 15 km away. According to the legend he was not able to reach the temple for worship due to his old age and hence, the Deity of that temple (Vaikathappan) appeared in his Upasana Homagni. The temple was constructed later and it stands presently as the top center of the village. There seem to have been seven Ooranma families (Owners) of the temple; however, only five still have living members. The Present Ooranma Families include Pattamana Illam, Ettikkada Mana, Irishi Illam, Marangatta Mana and Neithasseri Mana.The temple houses a Rahasya Ara (Secret cabin) where the divine Power is located. This is considered to be a reservoir for the Power of the idol. The cabin is well protected with granite stones and this is one of the specialties that is worth mentioning. A lamp is lighted everyday in front of this, before the other main lamps are lighted. A serpent is believed to be sitting in front of this to safeguard the place.
There is also a water well, with a continuous and everlasting spring with cool water. This believed to have connection with the Ganges originating from the divine head of Lord Shiva. Although the well is situated in the uppermost part of the Village, its water has never gone below a certain level. Water level here is maintained even when most of the wells in the village dry up.
The Ayamkudy village seems to have been always blessed with the grace of Thiruvayamkudiyappan and it has been a center of the learned and learning for centuries. It has always been a center for learning Rig Veda with many experts resident in the village. Education in the Rig Veda takes nearly seven years and the coaching was always associated with the temple. Hence the temple has witnessed many generations learning the Veda and the echoes of the Chanting Rig Veda must have purified the atmosphere of the temple for centuries.
Until recently, the temple has also been famous for its assets in the form of land. However, the situation has dramatically changed in the recent past.
Festival
The festival in the temple is associated with Mahasivaraathri. It comes in the Malayalam month of Kumbha. The festival starts with Kodiyettu. The six day festival ends with the Aaraattu (Holy Bath), which is conducted on the Amaavasi day (New moon), in this month. Usually this falls on the very next day of Mahasivaraathri.The main functions associated with the festival are Kalabhabhishekam, Kodiyettu, Uthsavabali, Sreebhoothabali, Mulapooja, Sivaraathri Pooja, Pallivetta, Vilakkezhunnelipu, Aarattu etc.