Chief Priestess Of Mannarasala Temple Uma Devi Antharjanam Passes Away At 93

Uma Devi Antharjanam, also known as 'Valiya Amma' or the senior priestess of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja temple situated in the Alappuzha district, has passed away on Wednesday. She was 93 years old.

Mannarasala stands as a unique temple in the country, where the leadership of rituals is entrusted to women.

Uma Devi Antharjanam dedicated her service as the primary priestess at the historic Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple located in Haripad. She died due to age-related ailments, according to reports.

Uma Devi Antharjanam was married into the Mannarasala family and became the wife of MG Narayanan Namboothiri. She became the chief priestess of the famous Mannarasala snake temple after the former chief priestess, Savitiri Antharjanam, passed away on October 24, 1993.

Valiya Amma, as she is known, began conducting rituals at the temple from March 1995 onwards. Taking on the mantle of chief priestess at the age of 64, Uma Devi adhered to the rituals that demand the supreme figure to lead a life of Brahmacharini.

Devotees who flocked to Mannarasala temple to offer prayers to the serpent deity also sought the presence of Valiya Amma, who used to provide 'darshan' at the illom.