Nagercoil Nagaraja temple is a famous snake temple located at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. The temple is around 22 km from Kanyakumari and around 58 km from Thiruvananthapuram.
Nagercoil Famous Temple Facts
A five headed Nagaraja murti (serpent king) with enormous power is worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Along with Nagaraja, Vishnu Bhagavan and Shiva are worshipped in the temple.
The place Nagercoil gets its name from the temple. Nagercoil means temple of the serpent deity.
The temple is famous for getting rid of sarpa dosha – curse of serpents or problems created by serpents in life.
Those people facing problems in life due to bad positioning of Rahu and Ketu Navagraha in horoscope and various other sarpa doshams in horoscope find relief after offering prayers in the temple.
The platform of a peepal tree in the temple has an array of snake murtis – mostly five-headed ones. People circumambulate the peepal to find relief from sarpa dosha.
The sanctum sanctorum of the roof is a thatched roof made using bamboo and coconut fronds. It is replaced in every karkidakam month (July – August).
The most auspicious days in the temple are Ashlesha or Ayilyam birth star in a month and Sundays.
Special pujas are held for 12 days coinciding with the Ayilyam nakshatra in Thulam month (October – November).
The 10-day annual festival in the temple concludes with Arattu on Ayilyam nakshatra in makaram month (January – February).
Although the temple is located in Tamil Nadu, pujas are performed as per Kerala Tantric tradition.
The main priest or tantri in the temple is from Pambummekkattu Mana or Thiruvalla Illam. One year the priest is from the Mana and next year it is from the Illam.
The sanctum sanctorum is located below the ground. Mud that appears in the sanctum sanctorum is given as prasadam.
The mud or soil that is given as prasadam from the temple has curative properties and is known to cure skin diseases.
Childless couples are blessed with children after offering prayers in the temple.