KOCHI: A specially prepared Ayurvedic medicine will be served as ‘prasadam’ to devotees at Nelliakattu Sreedhareeyam Oushadheswari temple in Koothattukulam as part of a unique tradition of re-energising body and mind in the Karkidakam month of the Malayalam calendar.
The ‘Oushadha Seva’ month will begin at the temple on July 17, when the medicine will be served to devotees from 6 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to 7 pm till the season concludes.
It is a centuries-old tradition in Kerala to consume specially prepared medicines, and follow a strict regimen of simple diet and oil bath during Karkidakam, which falls around mid-July to mid-August.
The Oushadha Seva was preceded by a ‘yatra’ seeking divine blessings for universal wellbeing and for collecting from people the basic ingredients for making the special restorative Ayurvedic preparation. The campaign received a huge response from all over the state.
The Oushadheswari temple is associated with Kerala’s leading Ayurvedic retreat run by the Nellikkattu Mana, a Namboothiri family reputed for preserving and practising the best traditions of the centuries-old Indian wellness system.
Actor Jayaram will be awarded the first Oushadheswari Puraskaram for his contributions to art and culture.
Temple authority Narayanan Namboothiri will hand over a `1 lakh award and citation at a function at the temple on July 17.
The actor will lead a ‘pancharimelam’ featuring more than 111 artists at the temple on July 16.