One of the 8 Kuladevatha Mandirs  at  Ambalamedu
Sri Kula Devatha Mandir Complex .Ambalamedu.

H.H.Sudheendra Thirtha Swamiji once told the community in Kerala that their welfare is likely to be affected if they forgot their roots. He added that all GSBs have from time immemorial had their own family- deities or KulaDevathas in Goa and if these Gods and Goddesses are neglected ,they will be inviting divine wrath. He then identified eight deities and insisted that temples be built for them .The KulaDevathas in Goa and Konkan area lay scattered but here they could all be accommodated in one complex .Eleven acres of the land lying adjacent to the Balakashram and Vriddhashram (old age home) run by the community in Ambalamedu near Ernkaulam was procured. The Kashi Mutt Ambalammedu is also situated in adjacent plot. By virtue of its elevation, the site easily qualified for Temple-construction .To Thanthrasamuchayam of Chennas Narayanan Namboodiripad and the Kerala Chapter of Vasthushastra, Mr.A.R.S.Vadhyar ,an architectural expert among Konkinis added his own innovative skills and the Temple complex took place in record time.

The temples that came up have deities as follows:

•  Sree MahaGanapathi
•  Sri Lakshmi Narayana- Mahamaya-SrMahamaya-Aryadurga-Navadurga
• -Shanthadurga-Karthyayani-Narasimha
• Sri Damodar
• Sri Ramanath Shantheri Kamakshi
• Sri Mahalasa Narayanee
• Sri Mahalakshmi
• Sri Nagesh-Baneshwar
• Sri Devaki Krishna-Rawalnath

Though the temple style is not ostentatious it is a fusion of different schools of architecture: a blend of North Indian and South Indian shades of temple craft found in Kerala,Tamilnadu and Karnataka, the Gothic style brought in by the colonialists and the facade of Jain and Buddhist Viharas.

The difficult topography had been tamed through split-level planning. Coconut palms aplenty,swiing their heads in unison to wafts of western and eastern winds. With well manicured greenery amidst sylvan surroundings ,the shrines blend into the picturesque setting.

Tapovan ('Pallithaamam') or royal-cum-holy groves have always been an integral part of Mahaakshethras in ancient and medieval Kerala and quite thoughtfully and tastefully the architect included a garden also within the complex. The garden which nurtures Tulsi,Athi(Ficus-Racemosa),Ithi(Ficus-Benjamina)Arayal,(Ficus-Religious), Peraal (Ficus-Bengalensis) ,Ashokam,Champakam,Parijatham,Elanji, etc., thus provides flowers and leaves essential for temple rituals; a sort of self -reliance in floral offerings.

The pagoda of Devaki Krishna Temple is the tallest at 16 mts above the ground level. and the next is that of MahaGanapathi temple at 14 mts. The basements are designed as cellars and there is a Pradakshina Vazhi for circumambulating the deities Idols are made out of KrishnaShila (Black granite ) .Marble flooring adds to the luster of the temples.

DwaraPalakaas as mentioned in scriptures ,Gopakumar,Pusthi,Thrishti,Nandi,Shringi,Jyaa-Vijayas et-al project the attention given to minute details. There is a special enclosure for Navagrahas as well. The pull of the place is so magnetic that even atheists will be tempted to overstay their welcome Sri Kula Devatha Mandir Complex at Ambalamedu is made -to-order setting for pilgrimage, retreat and meditation

.Here history lies entwined with tradition. Gowda Saraswath Brahmins always had the reputation of being proficient in the Vedas ,Upanishads,Purana and scriptures and they were famous for 'Karmashuddhi'. The rulers of ancient India made their presence mandatory at Yagnyas and many have received honorific titles.

The concept of eight family -deities in one compound is a rare one and thus the complex attracts pilgrims not only from Kerala but from other parts of India as well. . .

BACKGROUND

His Holiness Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji ,who was constantly desirous of uplifting the disciples of Shri Kashi Math Samsthan in their spiritual and secular life ,observing that many of the members of the Samaj are hardly aware of worship of the Kuladevathas,which they were enjoined upon by Lord Parasuram Himself to worship ,after mature thought and consideration ,with a view to revive the said worship ,convened a meeting of certain prominent members of our community on 9-5-1988,while camping at Sree Venkatachalapathi Temple at Karnakodam.Swamiji addressed them and reminded them about our ancestry, our hoary tradition ,how we migrated from banks of river Saraswathi in Punjab to Mithila Desa formerly ruled by the great King Janaka in the place called "Thrihotrapura"forming north eastern part of present Bihar State ,the area then known as Gouda Desa,later how a number of our people belonging to each Gothra were beckoned by Lord Parasuram to come to Gomanthak and settle there and sanctify the place with Vedic rituals, rites and their knowledge and how still later many of our people migrated to western coasts of Karnataka and Kerala on account of unbearable persecution by Portuguese rulers ;since migration about 400 years have passed and many of our families especially those settled in middle and southern portion of Kerala have almost forgotten their duties of worship of Kuladevathas,it is the duty of every member of our community belonging to each Gothra to worship his Kuladevatha for his spiritual and secular development ,in addition to his worship of Ishta Devathas and that it is desirable to revive the worship for the welfare of the community .

HISTORY

Revered Swamiji conducted the Bhoomipooja at the Temple site on 7th June1989.Shilanyas of Shri Mahalakshmi Temple was conducted 0n21-6-1989.Shilanyas of Sree Damodar,Sree Nagesh and Sree Ramanath Santheri Kamakshi Temples on10-10-1989.When the construction of the 5 temples undertaken was fairly completed by Sept.1991,a word advice and direction came from Swamiji that it would be desirable to start the work on the rest of the 3 temples viz., for Sree Mahaganapathi,Sree Mahamaya and Sree Devaki Krishna and Navagraha Mantapam and take up the construction of Quarters, Guest Houses ,etc. later at the second stage.Swamiji conducted the Shilasthapanam for these temples on 28-11-91 and by God's grace and blessings of Swamiji, we could complete the construction of these temples also.

The Prathishtas of the Kuladevatha deities have been conducted by our Reverend Swamijis, H.H.Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji and Uttaradhikari H.H.Srimad Raghavendra Thirtha Swamiji, in the midst of Vedic recitals, devotional songs and reverberation of holy chanting of "Hare Rama Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare" during the auspicious muhurtham between 12.50p.m. and 1.03p.m.(extract from a report appeared the Souvenir released in connection with Prathishtha Ceremony and Sanyasashrama Suvarna Mahotsava.)

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