During a particularly prosperous year, the Alummoottil family decided to expand their granary. In their haste, they demolished a small shrine dedicated to Agni Deva (the fire god).
The following harvest season, the family faced an unprecedented series of fires. Stored grains turned to ash overnight, and the granary walls bore scorch marks despite no visible flames.
One night, the chieftain, Velu Channar, woke to find his room filled with smoke. Standing at the foot of his bed was a figure wreathed in fire, its voice like the crackling of flames.
“You have insulted me,” it said. “Restore my shrine, or I will consume everything you hold dear.”
Terrified, Velu Channar promised to rebuild the shrine. The family held a grand ceremony, dedicating a new altar to Agni Deva and offering ghee, firewood, and prayers.
The fires ceased, but the family learned to respect the unseen forces that governed their land. To this day, the shrine stands near the granary, with offerings made annually to honor the fiery guardian.
