Nagaraja Temple, Manjakombai, Kundah,
Nilgiris
Nagaraja Temple is a Hindu
Temple located in Manjakombai (Manihada) Village in Kundah Taluk near Ooty Hill
Station in picturesque Nilgiris Hills in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. The
deity in this temple is considered a powerful. The temple lies in a calm and
serene location surrounded by fresh air which creates a perfect environment for
worship and meditation.
Legends
Construction
of this Temple:
The people of Manjakombai began
digging the ground for collecting sand in order to build a temple in the place.
On digging for a few meters, they heard a sound and is said to have found a Nagaraja
idol and a couple of caves beneath the ground. A rock is believed to have
obstructed the construction work on further digging, which upon removal had
revealed the presence of a live snake. A temple for the Goddess and Nagaraja
were later raised in the same place. It is that snake which is still believed
to be alive.
Underground
Tunnel between Nagaraja & Heddhai Amman Shrine:
There is yet another specialty
attached to this temple. A live snake is believed to reside within the sanctum
sanctorum of Sri Nagaraja. It is also believed that this snake had created an
underground pathway or tunnel between the Nagaraja temple to the Heddhai Amman
Temple in order commute between the two shrines.
Sri
Rama foot Print:
According to hearsay, while Lord
Rama was passing through this temple, he has left his print of his feet on a
rock here during his 14 years Vanavasa – forest life. There is also a feet
symbol on a rock confirming this faith. A large number of Rama devotees visit
this temple. The high monkey population in the locality support the Ramayana
theory.
The Temple
Presiding Deities of this temple
are Lord Nagaraja and Goddess Heddhai Amman. A separate shrine dedicated to
Goddess Santhanalakshmi is also found in this temple. The feet symbol of Lord
Rama is revered highly by the devotees. Banyan tree is the holy tree of this
temple while Santhana Kulam is its holy spring.
Hero Stones
Rare hero stones, mostly dating
to a period between the 2nd and 14th century can be found
near Manjakombai Nagaraja Temple in Melur. The hero stones and dolmens are the
only ancient monolithic structures found in the upper plateau of the Nilgiris,
and a few stones, carved more recently, even tell of the British’s arrival in the
Nilgiris. Most other hero stones are found at lower altitudes, in areas
bordering present-day Karnataka. Most of the stones date back to the 11th
and 14th century during the time of the Hoysala and Vijayanagara
dynasties, whose militia, along with their families, settled here.
The carvings show the valour of
those who died protecting their people and cattle from carnivores such as
tigers and leopards. The Kurumbar tribes, who are renowned for their
stone-carving abilities, are believed to have a historical link to the site as
well and could have been the first settlers in this particular region to have
carved the earliest hero stones. Unfortunately, the picturesque location of the
hero stones, surrounded by beautiful Shola forests, have also led to them being
ignored and not being protected for their historical and cultural value.
Temple Opening Time
The temple remains open from
6.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Festivals
The annual fire pit (generally
called flower pit) festival is celebrated in the temple on May 1st and 2nd. On
the days of fasting, every devotee must wear only yellow or red coloured
clothes with a sacred garland around their necks. Women devotees should at the
least have a red or yellow coloured towel adorning their necks. It is believed
that a devotee, who walks on the fire pit when fasting, would receive the
immense blessings of the deity. Their wishes and desires are said to get
fulfilled. The crowd turn up for this festival easily exceeds fifty thousand. A
large number of devotees throng the temple on new moon days too.
Prayers
Pilgrims are attracted to this
the temple due to its serene location and greenery, which makes this an ideal
place for getting mental peace and happiness. On performing the necessary pujas
in the Nagaraja shrine, devotees usually take a piece of white cloth and a lime
to the shrine of the Goddess Santhanalakshmi. Going around this shrine, they
tie a tiny toy cradle with this white cloth in the temple’s tree for child
boon. There is also a belief that people addicted to liquor and tobacco are
cured of these bad habits on offering their prayers to the deities here.
Those childless couples, who
were blessed with a child on worshiping this deity, usually undertake to walk
on this fire pit as a mark of devotion and gratitude to the deity. Tonsuring is
also done by the devotees as a mark of respect to this god. People affected by
various Naga Doshas (adversities in their horoscope due to snakes) offer milk
to the anthill, which is considered scared. Following this ritual continuously
on all the new moon days (Amavasya) is said to relieve the person of Naga
Doshas.
Contact
Nagaraja Temple,
Manihada - Manjakombai,
Kundah Taluk,
Nilgiris District – 643221
Phone: +91 423 228 6258
Mobile: +91 94869 04422
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 21
Kms from Kundah, 23 Kms from Ooty, 23 Kms from Ooty Bus Stand, 24 Kms from Ooty
Railway Station, 25 Kms from Coonoor, 45 Kms from Kotagiri, 50 Kms from Mettupalayam
Railway Station, 84 Kms from Coimbatore and 89 Kms from Coimbatore Airport.
Ooty is well connected to Coimbatore, Kerala and Karnataka. Private Taxis are
available from Ooty, Coonoor and Kotagiri to reach this place.
Location | Photos
