Ashlesha Nakshatra, or Ayilyam Nakshatra, is the 9th birth
star among 27 birth stars in Hindu Jyotish And astrology. The day when the
Nakshatra falls is considered highly auspicious to perform rituals and worship
of Nagas or Snakes in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. But why is Ayilyam
important to serpents?
Lakshman, the brother of Bhagvan Sri Ram in the Ramayana,
was an incarnation of 1000-headed snake Adi Sesha. Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu
reclines on Adi Sesha in the milky ocean.
Lakshmana’s birth star was Ashlesha or Ayilyam and based on
this fact devotees offer pujas on the day to Nagas.
Abhishekam with milk, water, and coconut water are performed
on the day on Naga murtis in majority of the Naga Temples in South
India .
Ayilyam Nakshatra day is highly auspicious at Mannarasala Nagaraja
Temple and Vettikkottu Nagaraja
Temple Nagaraja
Temple
Numerous other temples which have murtis of Nagas perform
special pujas on the day.
People suffering from various skin ailments offer worship on
the day.