Mezhathol Agnihothri
Encyclopedia
Mezhathol Agnihothri revived the traditions of the ancient Shrauta traditions in Kerala
, India
the 4th century AD. At that time, Buddhism
and Jainism
had eroded the ancient Vedic Religion
culture of India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 Yaagams. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox Nambudiri Brahmins.
(12 children born from the Pariah woman), as the son of Vararuchi. He is said to have been born in 342 AD, and was found on the banks of the Nila River by an Antharjanam
belonging to the Vemancheri Mana
, Alathur
, Karikkad
, Panniyur, Sukapuram, Perumanam and Irinjalakkuda) have the right to perform Yaagam. 17 Nambudiri experts are required to perform Yaagam, and they come from Kalakandathur Griham, Maathur Griham, Kulukkamillaavur Griham, Chemmangad Griham, Pazhoor Griham, Muringoth Griham and Vella Griham.
It is believed that if a person performs 100 Yaagams, that person has the same status of Indran. After Mezhathol performed 99 Yaagams, Indran, worried that he may lose his power, requested Mezhathol not to perform the 100th Yaagam. Mezhathol declined, explaining that he was not performing the Yaagams for personal gain, but to retain the culture of Yaagam amongst Brahmins. At this, Indran gave Mezhathol and his seven associates the same status as himself.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
the 4th century AD. At that time, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
had eroded the ancient Vedic Religion
Vedic religion
Vedic religion may refer to:*the historical Vedic religion- Vedic Hinduism **Vedic mythology*Shrauta, surviving conservative traditions within HinduismIn wider meanings of the term "Vedic"*Vedanta*Hinduism in general...
culture of India. Mezhathol rejuvenated the ancient customs by performing 99 Yaagams. The Shrauta traditions still remain intact in Kerala today, maintained by the rigidly orthodox Nambudiri Brahmins.
Early life
Mezhathol was the first child of the famous Parayi petta panthirukulamParayi petta panthirukulam
Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, is a Malayalam language phase which translates as "twelve kulams born of a Pariah Woman". This phrase is a well recognized as the title of an important legend of ancient Kerala, a southern state in India. The 'Kulams' refer to vocation based hierarchical ethnic groups...
(12 children born from the Pariah woman), as the son of Vararuchi. He is said to have been born in 342 AD, and was found on the banks of the Nila River by an Antharjanam
Antharjanam
The Ladies of Nambudiri Brahmin's are called Antharjanam. They are called so because the word literally means "peoples inside the house". The females of this caste often have this as their surname.-Famous Antharjanam's:...
belonging to the Vemancheri Mana
Yaagam
Mezhathol Agnihothri began gathering interest in the Yaagam culture and proceeded to perform 99 Yaagams, one after the other. However only seven of the original 32 Nambudiri Graamams (Villages) agreed to assist Mezhathol, and today only these Graamams (TaliparambaTaliparamba
Taliparamba is a city and a municipality in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala and spread over an area of 43.05 km2. It stretches from the coastal area of Ramanthali to Nuchiyard and Vayathur villages, touching the Karnataka border.Taliparamba is a big town of 67,000 people...
, Alathur
Alathur
Alathur is a small town in the Palakkad district of Kerala, South India. It is the headquarters of the Alathur Taluk and is situated at the south west end of the district 24 km from the district headquarters at Palakkad. Alathur Taluk is predominantly rural and has an agricultural economy...
, Karikkad
Karikkad
Karikkad is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Karikkad had a population of 10898 with 5148 males and 5750 females....
, Panniyur, Sukapuram, Perumanam and Irinjalakkuda) have the right to perform Yaagam. 17 Nambudiri experts are required to perform Yaagam, and they come from Kalakandathur Griham, Maathur Griham, Kulukkamillaavur Griham, Chemmangad Griham, Pazhoor Griham, Muringoth Griham and Vella Griham.
It is believed that if a person performs 100 Yaagams, that person has the same status of Indran. After Mezhathol performed 99 Yaagams, Indran, worried that he may lose his power, requested Mezhathol not to perform the 100th Yaagam. Mezhathol declined, explaining that he was not performing the Yaagams for personal gain, but to retain the culture of Yaagam amongst Brahmins. At this, Indran gave Mezhathol and his seven associates the same status as himself.