We pride ourselves in promoting local Kerala artisans with Aranmula Kannadi or Aranmula Mirror at our Souvenir shop “Niramaya”.
The origins of the Aranmula Kannadi benefit are linked to Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. According to legend, centuries ago the royal chief brought eight families of temple artisans and craftsmen from Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu to Aranmula to create the mirrors in the temple. These unique mirrors are the result of Kerala’s rich cultural and metallurgical traditions. They have great historical and cultural value, and are thought to bring good luck.
The exact metals used in the alloy are maintained as family secrets; metallurgists suggest that the alloy is a mix of copper and tin. It is polished for several days to achieve the mirror’s reflective surface. The polishing is done using an abrasive paste made by mixing rice bran with oil extracted from seeds of maroṭṭi.
