Among the many holiest within the temple traditions are the ceremonial set up of an idol on its pedestal. In accordance with Temple Shastra as talked about in ‘Tantrasamuchayam’, after putting in an idol, it shouldn’t be moved or displaced because the chosen spot has been declared as essentially the most apt primarily based on varied calculations and beliefs.
A novel compound, unnamed, for lack of scientific analysis, however known as Ashtabandham within the scriptures, is used to bind the idol to its pedestal. The makers name it a ‘drugs’ as it’s made up of eight pure issues.

“In accordance with ‘Tantrasamuchayam’, earlier than putting the idol onto the pedestal, a mix of valuable stones, metals and seeds–relying on the worshipping deity—is stuffed within the holes made for the aim within the pedestal. When water, milk, ghee, or curd is poured on to the idol throughout Abhishekam, it seeps into the pedestal. Ashtabandham is utilized as a sealing to forestall it. It’s going to bind the idol to the pedestal so tight that no liquid can cross by and dislodge it,” mentioned Balakrishna Bhat, principal of Tantravidya Peetham, Aluva.

The idol has to stay fastened firmly as its stability signifies the right stability between Purusha and Prakriti wherein nature is the pedestal and the idol represents human life, he mentioned.

Ashtabandham being ready in a Koothambalam on the premises of Guruvayur temple. The components are struck repeatedly with a hammer in order that the compound attains the proper consistency

Over time, whereas a number of modifications have been caused in rituals consistent with altering instances, most temples in Kerala have caught to the normal methodology of constructing the Ashtabandham. In virtually all temples, together with these managed by devaswom boards, it’s largely made by Sivadwijars, a temple neighborhood of Malayali Brahmins.

Kaduka (Terminalia Chebula),  Amla (dried gooseberry), Chenchalyam (Shorea Robusta), Shankh (conch) powder, Kolarakku (constructed from resin from lac bugs), high-quality sand from the Periyar River, a novel kind of clayey mud that lands on the banks of Bharathappuzha after the water retreats post-monsoon, and cotton are the principle components that go into the Ashtabandham.
The bodily act of constructing the Ashtabandham is a gradual and laborious course of requiring robust, younger males. After mixing all of the components, besides cotton, they thrash it to a consistency with hammers product of tamarind wooden weighing 15-25kg. They should strike the combination repeatedly—round 10,000 hits a day—in order that the compound attains the proper consistency.

“Any modifications within the mixing percentages will have an effect on the medicinal high quality and consistency of the compound,” says KP Sarma of Vaikom, who has been concerned in making Ashtabandham for a number of years.

“For making a Koottu of 1-1.5kg required for smaller idols, we have now to strike a minimum of one lakh instances with the hammer. For larger idols, we would wish a minimum of 15kg for one spherical of binding,” he mentioned.
“The second we cease hitting, it begins to harden. Its texture resembles one thing like melting tar,” he explains. Cotton is added final. “As soon as cotton is added, it begins to solidify. Then, it have to be utilized on the idol instantly and left to dry for 41 days,” mentioned Sarma.

“Now we have been involving children as effectively in order that the normal data is handed on to the long run generations,” mentioned Narayana Sarma who headed a crew that made the Ashtabandham for an idol of Lord Guruvayurappan not too long ago.

The method began from July and resulted in September, they usually needed to strike the compound 4 lakh instances to get the correct consistency.
“Because the idol was product of Anjana Kallu, a mushy stone, the paste was utilized on not simply the pedestal but additionally on the idol to forestall it from breaking up. That is distinctive solely to Guruvayur temple and to not different Krishna temples, as the idea is that it has come from Pathalam,” mentioned Narayana Sarma.

Sarma, alongside along with his cousins and family has been making the Ashtabandham for a lot of temples within the Malabar area. Throughout lately, they’ll keep on the temple premises and the work is mostly carried out within the Koothambalam or an analogous house.

“It’s a pricey affair as a result of we have now to get individuals. Most of them are engaged in varied professions. So, taking go away and coming to do that must be helpful, even whether it is carried out in full religion,” mentioned Sarma.
“In large temples there are sponsors and we receives a commission. In smaller temples, we do it at cheaper charges. Now we have to make sure that the normal data is handed on to the following technology, identical to I learnt it from my Valiyachan,” he added.

It’s mentioned the Ashtabandham’s impact lasts for 12 years, however its makers admit it depends upon the standard of supplies, the proper mixture of the components and the compound’s consistency.

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