5 Revered Snake Temples in India - Fusion - WeRIndia

The Hindus revere the serpent as god and call it Naga Devata.

Killing a snake is considered as a sin. Most temples have a separate shrine for the snake god.

The fifth of the month of Shravana of the Hindu calendar is called Nagara Panchami and considered a very auspicious day by those who believe this serpent god.

On this day, the snake shrine is worshipped and special offerings are made by pouring milk on it.

The belief is that it appeases the serpent god and it will bless us.

There are special temples dedicated to the serpent god too. Let me take you on a trip to these snake temples of India.

1. Kukke Subramanya Temple

Kukke Subramanya Temple, Photo by Soorajna, CC BY-SA 3.0

The main deity at Kukke Subramanya Temple is Lord Karthikeya or Subramanya and beside it is of Lord Vasuki and Shesha the Serpent Gods.

With Kumara Parvatha Peak as its backdrop Kukke Subramanya, a picturesque town in Karnataka, is thronged by devotees from far and wide to worship the lord to seek his blessings.

Many an astrologer may ask the native to visit this temple to rid him or her of the flaw in their astrological chart.

This is called Sarpa Dosha Nivarana. Apart from worshipping at the temple you can revel in the beauty of the majestic hills or even go trekking on them.

2. Mannarshala Temple

Mannarshala Temple, Photo by Sivahari, CC BY-SA 3.0

The legend goes that the Mannarshala Temple in Mannarshala located in Alappusha district, Kerala was created by Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

About 30000 images of snake gods are present among the trees and along forest paths of this temple area.

A deviation from the usual is seen here, a woman is the main priest. This serpent temple is considered to have authentic miraculous powers.

Women who cannot conceive seek blessings from the deity to beget a child and when they are blessed with one, thanksgiving ceremonies are held to commemorate it.

Turmeric paste obtained from the temple have good healing powers.

3. Naganantha Swamy Temple Tirunageswaram

Naganantha Swamy Temple Tirunageswaram, Photo by Prasannavathani.D, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Naganantha Swamy Temple in Tirunageswaram, Tamil Nadu has Lord Shiva as the main deity called the Naganathar.

Serpents like Takshaka, Adishesha and Karkotaka worshipped the lord here giving it the name of Tirunageshwar.

It has many other shrines and the prominent one being of Rahu.

The milk offering on this deity turns blue the mystery of which is not known and is contemplated to be a miracle.

The ornamental hall just at the entrance is one among the many other halls the temple premises has. The huge complex can hold many devotees who come to visit from far and wide.

4. Bhujang Naga Temple

Bhujang Naga Temple, Photo by Nizil Shah, CC BY-SA 3.0

On the outskirts of Bhuj in Gujarat is an ancient citadel the Bhujiya Fort.

According to the folklore this fort was built by the leader of the Naga Clan.

Bhujanga of this clan got killed in a battle here and it was the end of this clan.

A temple dedicated to him was built by the locals on the Bhujiya Hill and is known as the Bhujang Naga Temple.

Here the deity is worshipped as the snake god. The fort is now in the possession of the Indian army and is used to store their ammunition.

The fair on Nagapanchami here is worth a visit.

5. Sheshnag Temple

Sheshnag Temple, Photo by Bhargavinf, CC BY-SA 3.0

The king of snakes- Sheshnag created a lake near Pahalgam is what the myth goes. And it is still believed that Sheshnag is still living in the lake known as Mansar Lake today.

A temple of the deity is built on its banks, located in Jammu.

During the pilgrimage to Amaranth devotees pay a visit to this lake and worship Sheshnag.

Visiting here brings happiness to the newlyweds is the belief so many couples are seen to visit this once.

Though you are on a religious tour you may not stop yourself from getting in awe of the spectacular surroundings, the Himalayas and the lush green vegetation.

Such a list of temples is sure to please the religious who are always in search of some new places to worship and pay their abeyance.

Author Bio:

Different kinds of travellers seek advice and suggestion on how and when to go to a particular place. Rohit Agarwal is a blogger and traveller who has answers to all such queries on Trans India Travels. Referring it will sure be of help.