Vattapalli Matom
Encyclopedia
Vattappalli Matom is the ancestral homestead and abode of the Thantri
(chief priest) of the Thanumalayan Temple
, Suchindrum. Matom or Madom literally means abode and normally represented Brahmin houses in South India. The present building was built in 18th century AD and its architecture is a combination of Kerala and Tamil Nadu styles. The construction is very similar to the Nalukettu or Pathinarukettu with the main rectangular structure and with four walls joined together with an open courtyard in the centre. The open courtyard is called an anganam and the four sides of the house consists of rooms named after the four directions. These are Vadekkoram(northern area), Thekkoram(southern area), Kizhakkoram(eastern area), Padinjareoram(western area) and Oram is a Tamil word meaning corner area. The house is built according to the Thathchu Sasthra or the science of carpentry and also according to Vastu Shastra
. It is located very near to the Thanumalayan temple and the family is believed to reside here from the time the temple was constructed. The family is also famous for Ayurveda
practice and runs an established clinic with dispensary in the premises. The current head and Thantri of suchindrum Thanumalayan Temple
is Dr.N.P Sharma.
who was residing here as the heir and Tanthri to the temple as well as the Physician to the Travancore Kings. His works Hridayapriya in Sanskrit is considered to be one of the finest books on Ayurveda
. Another of his work titled Thiruvitamcore Charitram is considered to be one of the first historical book about Travancore state. Vaikkath Pachu Moothathu was awarded with the Veera Sringala by Maharaja His Highness Ayilyam Thirunal which is preserved at his residence even today. It is said that Swami Vivekananda had come to this house and stayed here on his way to perform penance in Kanyakumari.
1 Sandya vandanam and Nama Japam done on a daily basis
2 Thevaram/ Havisu Nevedyam for the family deity which is done on a daily basis.
3 Vidyārambham (Ezhuthiniruthu)is done either when the child attains three or five years. On the tongue of the child the letters "Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah Avignamastu "and all the alphabets are written with a piece of gold. The child is made to write the same letters from "Hari Sri" onwards with its index finger on raw rice in a bell metal vessel and the child is made to utter each word when it is written. Either the father of the child or an eminent teacher officiates at this ritual. The family has extended this to other needful people in the village under the guidance of Dr.N.P.Sharma
4 Upanayanam is the ceremony of wearing the sacred thread called Yajnopaveetam. When the child attains eight years, the wearing of the sacred thread “Yajñopaveetam”, is ceremoniously done. This is only in the case of the boys. It is taking the child to the teacher for initiation of formal education.The upanayanam ceremony is followed by Brahmopadesham - teaching Gayatri mantra to the boy. This practice is only done for internal members of the family.
Thantri
Thantri or Tantri is the Vedic head priest of Hindu temples in Kerala and a very few temples of coastal Karnataka in southern India.Thantris Shrauta are Namboothiri Brahmins who have studied the ancient tantras, and Poorva Mimamsa -- , unlike other Brahmins in India who are Smarta and follow...
(chief priest) of the Thanumalayan Temple
Thanumalayan temple
The Thanumalayan temple is an important Hindu temple located in Suchindram in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India.- History :...
, Suchindrum. Matom or Madom literally means abode and normally represented Brahmin houses in South India. The present building was built in 18th century AD and its architecture is a combination of Kerala and Tamil Nadu styles. The construction is very similar to the Nalukettu or Pathinarukettu with the main rectangular structure and with four walls joined together with an open courtyard in the centre. The open courtyard is called an anganam and the four sides of the house consists of rooms named after the four directions. These are Vadekkoram(northern area), Thekkoram(southern area), Kizhakkoram(eastern area), Padinjareoram(western area) and Oram is a Tamil word meaning corner area. The house is built according to the Thathchu Sasthra or the science of carpentry and also according to Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra
Vastu Shastra is an ancient doctrine which consists of precepts born out of a traditional and archaic view on how the laws of nature affect human dwellings. The designs are based on directional alignments...
. It is located very near to the Thanumalayan temple and the family is believed to reside here from the time the temple was constructed. The family is also famous for Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
practice and runs an established clinic with dispensary in the premises. The current head and Thantri of suchindrum Thanumalayan Temple
Thanumalayan temple
The Thanumalayan temple is an important Hindu temple located in Suchindram in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India.- History :...
is Dr.N.P Sharma.
Prominence in the 1800s
The house was the abode of the famous Vaikkath Pachu MoothathuVaikkath Pachu Moothathu
Vaikathu Paramesvara Sivadvija, popularly known as Vaikath Pachu Moothathu, was a versatile scholar of erstwhile princely state of Travancore...
who was residing here as the heir and Tanthri to the temple as well as the Physician to the Travancore Kings. His works Hridayapriya in Sanskrit is considered to be one of the finest books on Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
. Another of his work titled Thiruvitamcore Charitram is considered to be one of the first historical book about Travancore state. Vaikkath Pachu Moothathu was awarded with the Veera Sringala by Maharaja His Highness Ayilyam Thirunal which is preserved at his residence even today. It is said that Swami Vivekananda had come to this house and stayed here on his way to perform penance in Kanyakumari.
Period in 1900s
This was a very important period in the history of Travancore when the king made the temple entry proclamation to all Hindus. Suchindrum temple was also one among the temples to adopt the practice. During this period the senior head of the family was one Parameswara Sarma who was very famous for his absolute accuracy in astrology. His younger brother Neelakanda Sarma was a famous Ayurveda doctor who practiced Ayurveda medicine in various places in and around Kanyakumari district. He established an Ayurveda dispensary at Suchindram and also was the Tanthri(Chief Priest) to the temple during '70s and '80's. The family still continues with this tradition of Ayurveda and the most recent exponent is Dr. Shiva Prasad who is the youngest in the lineage to practice Ayurveda.Period in 2000s
Major modification was done to Vattapalli Matom by rebuilding the house. The older Kerala type architecture(wooden ceiling) was changed and concrete structure has been erected.Customs Followed in This House
Most of the customs followed by members of this house relate to Thantric texts and practices similar to other Brahmin families in India. The current members are highly social and responsible spreading their knowledge to the needy. The current head of family Dr.N.P. Sharma is also the president of the main school(SMSM High School) in the village and lead Ayurveda physician practicing the village. He has three younger brothers who assist him for the activities of the temple and daily pooja at the family deity. Some of the customs are given below.1 Sandya vandanam and Nama Japam done on a daily basis
2 Thevaram/ Havisu Nevedyam for the family deity which is done on a daily basis.
3 Vidyārambham (Ezhuthiniruthu)is done either when the child attains three or five years. On the tongue of the child the letters "Hari Sri Ganapataye Namah Avignamastu "and all the alphabets are written with a piece of gold. The child is made to write the same letters from "Hari Sri" onwards with its index finger on raw rice in a bell metal vessel and the child is made to utter each word when it is written. Either the father of the child or an eminent teacher officiates at this ritual. The family has extended this to other needful people in the village under the guidance of Dr.N.P.Sharma
4 Upanayanam is the ceremony of wearing the sacred thread called Yajnopaveetam. When the child attains eight years, the wearing of the sacred thread “Yajñopaveetam”, is ceremoniously done. This is only in the case of the boys. It is taking the child to the teacher for initiation of formal education.The upanayanam ceremony is followed by Brahmopadesham - teaching Gayatri mantra to the boy. This practice is only done for internal members of the family.
See also
- Nālukettu
- Suchindram temple
- MoothathMoothathMoothath is a Hindu caste in Kerala. They belong to the Ambalavasi category as per the Kerala government census but are a closed community that neither belong to the Namboothiri nor adhering to the Pushpaka Brahmin. Thus they have a unique identity and mostly inter marry within the same community...
Brahmin - TharavaduTharavaduTharavad is a system of joint family practised by people in Kerala, especially Nairs. Tharavadu was a legal entity like a Hindu Undivided Family as per Indian Income Tax laws, and was entitled to own properties. The others, like Namboothriris, Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims also now refer to...
- Malayalam Literature from Kottayam