Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil – Legends
Naga Worship:
Worship
of Serpents had been there across all parts of the world since ancient
times. Snakes had been worshiped by Hindus, Buddhist, Jains for ages. Even
in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, the worship of Snake had been in
vogue in ancient period. The Egyptian king had the symbol of cobra’s hood in
his crown, even their Gods and Goddesses. (e.g. Osiris). There are similar
instances from Babylon and Mesopotamia. Greece worshiped snakes as god for protection.
They believed that the slain soldiers will be reborn as snakes.
Even its
believed that Athens was guarded by a snake in 5th century BC. It is also
their national symbol. In Ancient Rome, people believed that while felling a
tree, if a snake is killed, its considered as bad omen, and God also moves out
of that place. Australians and the Mayans also worshiped Snakes. Excavations
in Mexico have lots of pots and utensils with Snakes symbol embossed
on them. In Africa Pythons are being worshiped even today and they
worship it as God for Knowledge.
In India
worship of serpents is there from pre-historic period. In U.P, Naga Panchami is
observed even now. In Punjab, people draw pictures of Snakes on the wall and
worship. In Bihar, ladies take fast for 3 days and worship Serpent God. In West
Bengal, Manasa Devi is considered as the head of all Serpents. In a place
called Subramanya in Karnataka, Snake is the worship deity. In Andhra in
Laepakshi, there is a 6 feet high snake idol that’s worshiped.
In Kerala,
worship of Cobra is of paramount importance. There are close to 16,000 temples
(Sarpakkaavu) in Kerala, across all villages. Prominent among them are
Manaarshaala, Vettikaadu, Paambummekaatu mana. In Manaarshaala, even today,
a lady remains as Spinster, throughout her life, and does daily puja for
this deity. In Tamilnadu, in Thiruverkadu, Devi is believed to have appeared
initially as Cobra. In Tiruchengode, there is a 60 feet long cobra statue for
worship. In Nagercoil, a temple is dedicated exclusively for Nagaraja. The name
of this town is named after this temple only.
If we
look at Valmiki Ramayana (episode 67, sloka 46-49), its mentioned that Nagas
lived in Mahendragiri mountain area (20kms from Nagercoil) and worshiped
Serpent god. Nagas are children of Kashyapa and Kadru. Among the prominent Nagas of Hinduism are Manasa, Sesha, and Vasuki. The Nairs of Kerala and the ethnically related Tulu
people of Coastal Karnataka are
clans which are believed to have originated from the serpent dynasty.
Legends
says that the Nagas also carry the elixir of life and immortality. Garuda once brought it to them and put a cup with elixir
on the ground but it was taken away by Indra. However, a few drops remained on
the grass. The Nagas licked up the drops, but in doing so, cut their tongues on
the grass, and since then their tongues have been forked. Nagas are snakes that
may take human form. They tend to be very curious.
According
to traditions, Nagas are only malevolent to humans when they have been
mistreated. They are susceptible to mankind's disrespectful actions in relation
to the environment. They are also associated with waters — rivers, lakes, seas,
and wells — and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure. They are
objects of great reverence in some parts of southern India where it is believed
that they bring fertility and prosperity to their veneration. Expensive and
grand rituals like Nagamandala are conducted by Tuluva's in their honor.
The
prominent of Nagas in the Puranas are;
·
Vasuki or Naga raja, The King of the Nagas.
·
Ananda or Aadi
Sesha, The serpent on whom Vishnu does yoga nidra (Ananda Sayana).
·
Karkodaga, controls
weather.
·
Padmavati, the Nagi queen
and companion of Dharanendra.
·
Tarakaksha, his sword
causes earthquakes and whose roar causes thunder.
·
Takshaka, tribal king of the Nagas, whose kingdom was called as
Takshashila.
·
Ulupi, a companion of
Arjuna in the epic Mahabharata.
·
Manasa, the Hindu goddess of Nagas; the curer of snake-bites
and the sister of Vasuki
·
Kaliya, a snake punished
by Krishna in Yamuna river.
·
Matali, charioteer of
Indra; Matali was also the charioteer of Rama during the Lanka Battle.
Ashta Nagas:
The
eight revered Nagas are referred as Ashta Nagas they are Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkodaga, Shankhapala, Gulika, Padma and
Mahapadma. It is said about the colors of Nagas that Vasuki is pearl
white, Takshaka is red, Karkodakan is black with 3 white stripes in his hood,
Padma is pink as lotus with white streak and coral ornaments, Mahapadma is
white with trident mark in head, Shankhapala is yellow with white streak in
hood, Gulika is red with crescent mark in hood.
Origin of Nagaraja Temple:
It is
believed, it was established by a senior member of the Nampoothiri Brahmin
family of Kerala -'Paambummekaatu Mana' of 'Mala, Trissur. The Nampoothiri
consecrated a Nagaraja image in his residence after he had a vision of Vasuki,
the head of snakes. Whoever came to his place with skin related problems,
presumably caused by Sarpa Dosham - ill - effects of snakes as per
horoscope were cured. Once the Nampoothiri priest visited the palace
of a Pandya king on his request and cured his skin problem which happened
to be leprosy, using his mystical power.
On his
way back to Kerala, in the place where Nagaraja temple stands now, he saw a
peasant woman quite upset over an incident in which her sickle had just hit the
head of a Nagaraja stone idol hidden in the ground covered by bushes, etc.
Surprisingly blood was oozing out of the idol. The place used to be a wooded
area then. The learned Nampoothiri pundit realized it was five headed Nagaraja
idol with enormous power.
Without
wasting time, with help from the local community, in the same place he
consecrated the Nagaraja idol with consent from the local ruler,
which later became the famous Nagaraja temple of Nagar Kovil. Initially
the temple was a hut with thatched roof. Responding to yet another vision he
had during his sleep, he finally consecrated the Nagaraja idol in the same
place where it was found and the idols of Shiva and Vishnu were
consecrated in the new structure which became Sanctum Sanctorum or
Srikoil.
The
temple rituals and pooja protocols being followed here are based on Kerala
tradition as this part of Tamil Nadu was under the control of Travancore
princely ruler prior to 1956. The main tantri is from Kerala from the
Nampoothiri family of Paambummekaatu Mana' of 'Mala, Trissur. Because of
dispute over the puja rights, in this temple, the tantric rights are
bestowed for alternative years only. One year for the tantri from Thiruvalla
Illam and next year it will be tantri from Paambummekaatu Illam. This
system is followed at present. The temple has been under the management of
Tamil Nadu Devastanam since 1956.
King of Kalakad:
Once the
King of Kalakkad, who was stricken with leprosy, came to the temple on
Sunday in the Tamil month of Avani and did penance before the deity.
Miraculously, he was cured of the disease, and the fame of the temple spread
far and wide. The king built the present temple in gratitude. On every Sunday
during Avani (August/September) the king, accompanied by his
wife and children, used to visit the temple and offer poojas. Ever since, the
temple is visited on every Sunday in Avani by thousands of devotees and the
serpent shrine is worshiped.
Cobra saved Marthanda Varma:
In mid-18th Century,
King Marthanda Varma of Venadu kingdom (South Travancore) had lot of
enemies. One day he was taking rest in the South side building of the temple.
Knowing this, his enemy went up to kill him. His sword missed target as he was
interfered by a cobra in between. The king woke up in the meantime and caught
his enemy. From then on, the South Entrance is called as Maha Meru Maaligai.
Jain Belief:
Once
upon a time, a pair of Snakes lived in this place. Mahibalan killed them.
During death, they were listening to the chanting of Parsvanatha. By virtue of
that, they got rebirth as the King and Queen of Snakes in the underworld. Later,
a Gandharva named Samwaran was travelling across the sky. He was disturbed by
the chanting of Parsvanatha. So, he made heavy rain fall to submerge him. The
king cobra (Dharnendra) raised its hood over Parsvanatha and protected his
tapas from the rain. As rain continued, water level raised. To prevent Parsvanatha
from sinking, the Queen Cobra (Padmavathy) became a Lotus flower and gave seat
to Parsvanatha. Samwaran couldn’t succeed in his effort. People can see
2 huge snake statues in the temple, depicting this story.
No report of Cobra Bite:
A
fascinating fact about this temple is there are several cobras moving here and
around the temple prescient and so far, there has been no report of any cobra
bite what so ever. No report of bite in the adjacent areas as well.