Pooja room

There was no pooja room in the kizhakkedathu tharavad. A big Nilavilakku was kept in front of the door that opened to Nilavara where rice was stored. There was a long verandah starting from the thalam, which extended up to the next section of the house where the kitchen was. There were a few pictures of God above the Nilavara door. It was too high, or I was too small, that I can’t remember the faces of Gods in those photos. But what I remember clearly is the hand marks on the Nilavara door. Ammoomma’s hands dipped in wet rice flour and stamped on the door would last till the next year when the door is cleaned to put the marks again. We children too would stamp our hand marks which were seen at the foot of the door.

A bunch of new paddy sheaves [kathir katta] fresh from the field hung on top of the door. It was fixed there with cowdung. I think it is the day of Illam Nira, the Birthday of the rice grain celebrated. One whole and healthy grain is selected, bathed and adorned like a girl. It needed much expertise to bathe, put kajal and bindi on the small grain. After the make up, a thread from a new cloth is bound on it like a clothing. Then the women will say “Illam nira, vallam nira “ and put the grain into the Nilavara praying that Nilavara is always filled and we have food for the whole year.

A sadya would be prepared on that day. It is Makam nakshatram and the Birthday of “Nellu” [Rice] Kerala’s food grain. Whatever be the beliefs behind these rituals, the members of the family have always progressed and live in prosperity.

As one of the ladies light the evening lamp, [Nilavilakku], all children would be ready sitting in a line for Naamajapam.

Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Rama Pahimam

Rama Padam Cherene Mukunda Nama Pahimam

This was recited at the top of our voice repeatedly for a long time. Gopala chettan, our Karanavar sitting at the far end Poomukham should hear our sound. Otherwise he would appear at the door. He need not have to say anything, but our sound would rise automatically on seeing him.

Elder ladies, knew a lot of prayers, and they would be reciting in a lower voice. As years passed, we children too learned a series of prayers starting from Ganesh stuti. Every Hindu God was remembered on evenings with short prayers . Though as children we didn’t know why we did that, and what was meant in those mantras, that became a way of life for us. Even after 50 or more years I follow the tradition of chanting those set of prayers every day without any fail.

Reading Bhagavatham and Ramayanam was done in a regular basis, but the Sahasranaamams or other mantras were not recited by anyone. It seemed to be the duty of women and children to chant and pray, while the men only listened. Fasting or Upavas was observed by most women members, and we children too got involved, though children didn’t have strict rules. Later on we followed what our elders did, without questioning them.