Our
‘Oli Mana’, which was handed down
from generation to generation, is shrouded in myths. The villagers say that
though the ‘Nambuthiris’ were
converted into the Christian faith they still continue certain traditions;
there are gold and silver coloured serpents in the ‘Nilavara’ of the ‘Oli Mana’.
They believed that the eldest male member of the ‘Oli Mana’ feeds the serpents with milk and eggs;
and lamps are kindled by him in the ‘Nilavara’.
Another story goes back to around hundred and fifty years. The myth
revolves around the ‘Nambuthiri’ from
Paunbumekkat (Mekkat) ‘Mana’ at Mala. On one of his journeys, while passing
Kumbalam in his canoe, he was
fascinated by the rich and ripe areca-nut bunches in the compound of ‘Oli Mana.’ He landed to meet the landlord; ‘Oli’
Ousepachan to request for a few bunches. It was immediately made available to
him. This kind gesture pleased the Nambuthiri. Then Oli Ousepachan asked the Nambuthiri whether he could remove the
serpents, which rested in the ‘Nilavara’
of our ‘Mana’. He collected them all in a copper pot and he tied its mouth.
While he was leaving the ‘Oli Mana’,
the people of the locality defied his authenticity and said that there were no
serpents in the pot. The Nambuthiri
was so furious that he threw the pot from his hand and while doing so, the
mouth of the pot opened. At that time a few serpents wriggled out and crawled
back into their abode in the ‘Nilavara’.
The ‘Nambuthiri’ said that the
serpents were not willing to leave the ‘Mana’.
He concluded that these serpents would bring no harm but only peace and prosperity
to the members who reside therein.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com
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