Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Temple
This temple is situated in the town area. It was established by an aristocratic family called Ammachi Veedu (Ammachi home). Here there is no idol. The deity is the Guru (teacher) of Dharma Sastha of the Sasthamkotta temple. Impressed by the marriage ceremony rituals conducted by Ammachi Veed elders Dharmasastha voluntarily gave the deity to the eldest in the family. This beneficiary is seated on the right side of supposed deity and is known as Brahma Rakshas. The members of the family are debarred from entering the premises of Shasthamkotta temple as the deity of the family temple occupies the position of a Guru (teacher). On behalf of the family Poojas (homages) have to be performed in Shasthamkotta temple on all auspicious occasions as a custom.
A Peedam (a small siting platform) compensates the idol here. It is installed in a small room of 4’x 4’x 6’. There are two conches over the Peedam which is insulated by silver sheet. There is a Sarpakavu (snake grove) near the temple. Parappooramma Bhagawathi, Nagaraja (snake king), Nagayakshi (devil spirit of snake) and Naga Kanyaka (snake virgin-girl) are installed. The Sarpa bali (snake sacrifice) and Noorum Palum (food and milk to snakes) ceremony are conducted by the Tantri (priest) of Pampummekkattu Mana of Mala in Thrissur district (Mana is dwelling structure of Brahmins). The temple has several sub-deites seated outside. They are Rektha Chamundi, Ganapathy, Paramparu, Marutha, Yakshi, Gandharvan, Rekshas, Vethalan, Yogeshwaran etc. Outside the temple premises there is the installation of a deity called Ginnu who is mainly worshipped by Muslim community.
Ammachiveedu Muhurthi is considered very powerful to ward off evils and deliver prosperity to the devotees. There is no caste bar here. The people of all castes and creeds throng to this temple.
The annual festival lasts 10-day. It begins in Dhanu (December/January) after the Mandala Pooja in Sabarimla Dhrama Sastha temple. There is an unexplained treaty between Ammachiveedu and Sabarimala temple. The members of Ammachiveedu are forbidden from undertaking pilgrimage to Sabarimala. On the concluding day of the festival the eldest male in the family conducts the rituals. These rituals are carried out in a Kalam (multi-colour powder drawn circle).
