The greatness of Hinduism lies in the fact that Hindus are
able to see divinity in all animate and inanimate. Urumbachan Gurusthanam
in Kannur in Kerala reiterates this fact. The temple is located near Thottada
in Kannur and there is no murti in the shrine. Devotees offer prayers here to
get rid of ant related in problem in their house or property.
For local residents, the temple of ants is Urumbachan
Gurusthanam. The faithful offer coconuts to Urumbachan, to free their
residences of ants without using any insecticide. The belief dates back to
several centuries, though there is no historical evidence. The Gurusthanam is
associated with the nearby Udayamangalam Ganapathy temple, considered to be the
second important Ganesha mandapams in Kolathunadu.
Times of India reports
According to local legend, the original plan was to construct a Ganapathy temple, where the Gurusthanam now stands.
"The carpenter fixed a stick at the site," said M Narayanan, a former office bearer of the temple's devaswom, managed by the Chaliya community.
"The next morning, the stick was not seen and an anthill had come up at the spot where it was fixed. The stick was later found a few hundred metres away," he said. Taking it as the wish of the gods, the Ganapathy temple was constructed where the stick was found. "A circular platform, the sanctum sanctorum, was built around the anthill," Narayanan said. After the appearance of the anthill, the local residents started worshipping the eusocial insect, believing that the ants had replaced the stick.
"Though the lamp is lit at the Gurusthanam every evening by residents of a nearby house, pujas are performed only on the 'Samkrama' and other special days," said Jenuayichankandy Janardhanan, a local resident.
He added that people from even far off places offer coconuts to Urumbachan to get rid of ant menace. As a strict practice, we don't kill or hurt ants," Janardhanan added. It is believed that the place has the holy presence of Lord Subramanya and hence the temple's annual festival is held on 'Karthika' in 'Vrischikam'.