Ammachiveedu Muhurthi

The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Ernakulam, in Kerala. It is estimated to be around 600 years old. The temple is famous for the annual 10-day celebration that is hosted and held during the Dhanu festival. The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi's Garbhagriha is small, measuring only 4 feet by 4 feet, by 6 feet in height. The temple has a Peedam that is clad with a silver plate upon which the deity stands. Two Shankha, in golden covers, are placed over the Peedam. The temple has a number of other deities seated outside, including Ganesha, Rektha Chamundi, Paramparu, Yakshi, Marutha, Rekshas, Gandharvan, Vethalam and Yogeshwaran. Another deity, Ginnu, is placed outside the temple premises and is worshipped by the Muslim community. Adjoining the temple there is a Sarpakavu, or snake grove, which houses images of Parappooramma Bhagavathi, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi and Naga Kanyaka. The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi temple has no main idol, and is dedicated to the guru (teacher) of the Dharmasasta, of the Shasthamkotta temple, about 35 kilometres away. The deity was entrusted to the elders of the Ammachi Veedu family as recognition of the marriage ceremonies carried out at the temple, and they are revered to this day as "Brahma Rakshas" to the right hand of the deity. Because the deity of the temple has the status of a guru, members of the family are prohibited from entering the premises of the Shasthamkotta temple.Ammachiveedu Muhurthi is a Hindu temple located in the Kollam district of the state of Kerala, India. It is estimated to be around 600 years old, and holds an annual 10day celebration during the Dhanu festival.Although there are no historical records of the early history of the temple, it is thought to have been founded around 600 years ago by the Ammachi Veedu family ("Ammachi Veedu" means "Ammachi home"), aristocrats from Kollam. The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi's Garbhagriha is small, measuring only 4 feet by 4 feet, by 6 feet tall. The temple has a Peedam, clad with silver plate, upon which the deity stands. Two Shankha, in golden covers, are placed over the Peedam. The temple has a number of other deities seated outside, including Ganesha, Rektha Chamundi, Paramparu, Ykshi, Marutha, Rekshas, Gandharvan, Vethalam, and Yogeshwaran. Another deity, Ginnu, is placed outside the temple premises and is worshipped by the Muslim community. Adjoining the temple there is a Sarpakavu, or snake grove, which houses images of Parappooramma Bhagavathi, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, and Naga Kanyaka.The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi temple has no main idol, and is dedicated to the guru (teacher) of the Dharma??stra, of the Shasthamkotta temple, about 35 km away.The deity was entrusted to the elders of the Ammachi Veedu family as a recognition of the marriage ceremonies carried out at the temple, and they are now also revered as "Brahma Rakshas" on the right hand of the deity. Because the deity of the temple has the status of a guru, members of the family are prohibited from entering the premises of the Shasthamkotta temple.The Ammachiveedu Muhurthi temple has no caste bar, and is used by worshippers of various castes and creeds. On the 10th day the Karanavan (the eldest male in the family) conducts the puja in the Kalam specially prepared for the purpose, when boiled Ninam is offered to the deity.