ETTUMANUR VALIVILAKKU RITUAL

In certain temples offering oil to the Akhandajyothi is treated as one of the kainkaryas and this seva is performed by almost all the visiting bhaktas paying a small amount for the supply of oil, round the year. And that jyothi has been burning for some centuries unextinguished. The feeding of the metallic lamp with oil is perennial and temple accounts furnish that the excess of oil collected exceeds thousands of tons and it is distributed to some temples, whose income is inadequate for this ritualistic worship. This is a concrete example seen at Ettemanur Mahadeva temple, where the brass lamp lighted up as far back as in 1545 is still burning and it will go on till eternity, says the local with a broad smile lighting up his face. This temple tradition came into being under bizarre conditions and its origin makes the listeners gape and gaze. The temple is famous for some unique features, like offering the midnight puja during the major annual ten-day festival, falling in the month of Kunbham corresponding to Feb-March. And another, is the provision made for availing the Ezhra Ponnani Darsan. Above all, the archamurti himself is giving darsan in three aspects, such as Dakshinamurti-the bestower of wisdom, Kirata, the celebrated hunter, who fought against the formidable Arjuna and Satchidanand the Lord bliss every day. The brass lamp kept here goes by the name of Valivilakku.

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