Uma Devi Antharjanam, Chief priestess of Mannarasala temple in Alappuzha passes away aged 93

Uma Devi Antharjanam was consecrated as the Valiya Amma in 1993 following the demise of her predecessor Savitri Antharjanam. She was 64 when she became the chief priestess.

Alappuzha: Uma Devi Antharjanam, the ‘Valiya Amma’ or the chief priestess of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja temple in Alappuzha district, passed away on Wednesday. Mannarasala is a rare temple in the country where rituals are headed by women.

Uma Devi Antharjanam was 93. According to reports, she died of age-related ailments. She was consecrated as the Valiya Amma in 1993 following the demise of her predecessor Savitri Antharjanam. She was 64 when she became the chief priestess. As per rituals, the woman who assumes the supreme position must live the life of Brahmacharini.

Uma Devi reached Mannarasala following her marriage with MG Narayanan Namboothiri, a member of Mannarasala illom.

Devotees who reach Mannarasala to pray to the serpent God also visit the Valiya Amma, who used to give ‘darshan’ at the illom.