Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari
Nagaraja
Temple is a Hindu Temple worshipping Nagaraja (King of Serpents- Vasuki) situated at the heart of Nagercoil Town in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The
name for the town Nagercoil originated from this temple. The temple has
innumerable statues of serpents. Snakes are an important part of the Hindu
system of worship. It decorates the neck of Lord Shiva and acts as a bed for
Lord Vishnu. Snake worship is prevalent all through India. The temple is a
symbol of four religions - Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism and Vaishnavism.
Legends
For
brief details, please refer below link;
History
It is
difficult to ascertain the exact age of the temple. There is no authentic
epigraph to aid the historian with its chronology. The mountain Mahendragiri in the Kanyakumari district is referred to as the abode of Nagas in the Ramayana of Valmiki. From this, it can be presumed that the origin of Naga
influence in the area goes back to legendary times. From the five
headed-serpent deity of the temple, the name of this town Nagercoil is derived; gradually its old name, Kottar, has mostly faded. There is a part of town called
Kottar, so the old name remains.
The
Temple
For
brief details, please refer below link;
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Pooja
Timings
Pooja Name
|
Timings
|
Opening Time
|
5.00 am
|
Uchikala Abhishekam
|
10.00 am
|
Uchikala Pooja
|
11.00 am
|
Sayaratchai Pooja
|
6.30 pm
|
Arthajama Pooja
|
7.45 pm
|
Festivals
Thai
Brahmmotsavam & Thai Poosam in January-February; Avani Sundays, Aavani
Aslesha (Aayilyam) Star day & Krishna Jayanthi in August-September;
Navarathri in September-October, Skandha Sashti, All Sundays and Tirukarthikai
in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple. During Aavani
Sundays, Lord Krishna is kept in a Adhishesha Temple car. Lord Krishna along
with Sridevi and Boodevi will come around four Ratha street on the day of
Thaipoosam.
Prayers
Devotees
pray in the temple for relief from the adverse aspects of serpent planets. Devotes
perform abishek to Nagaraja with milk and offer milk porridge – Paal Payasam – Nivedhana.
They also install Naga idols in the temple campus. The Prasadam here is the
sand from the ground in the sanctum of Nagaraja. The red color
of the soil is said to be due to the blood shed from the idol when it got
struck by the sickle. The soil that is given as 'Prasadam' has
medicinal properties capable of curing skin ailments of the devotees.
Nagercoil Nagaraja
is believed to bless the childless couples. If the couple come to this temple
and pray with sincere faith and devotion, soon their request for a kid
will be answered. Several childless couples are reported to have
admitted that they were blessed with children after their visit to this temple.
To get rid of 'Sarpa Dosham', besides worshiping the snake stone images in the
temple, devotees offer stone images of 5 headed snakes in silver to the temple
and participate in a puja ritual called 'Noorum Palum'. This
will relieve them of the bad effects of Ragu and Ketu.
Contact
Nagaraja
Temple,
Nagercoil
– 629 001,
Kanyakumari
District
Phone: +91 4652 232 420 / 241 270
Mobile: +91 94439 92216
Connectivity
Nagaraja
Temple is situated at the heart of Nagercoil Town in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The
Temple is located at about 1 Km from Nagercoil Bus Stand and Nagercoil Railway
Station. Nagercoil is located at about 20 Kms from Kanyakumari, 9 Kms from Suchindram,
14 Kms from Boothapandi, 12 Kms from Villukuri, 13 Kms from Eraniel, 24 Kms
from Colachel, 15 Kms from Thuckalay, 14 Kms from Padmanabhapuram, 83 Kms from
Tirunelveli, and 74 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is
located at Nagercoil (1 Km) and Nearest Airport is located at
Thiruvananthapuram.