| Temples & Legends Of Kerala |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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THE TEMPLE FOR SERPENTS |
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It was
estimated that even over a century ago there were 15,000 serpent groves in the former
Travancore and Cochin states alone. Of course there have been many additional ones erected
since. One such grove is at Mannarsala, the abode of the snake king and queen, the most
important serpent worship centre in Kerala. It is a small beautiful village about 3 km to
the northwest of the famous Sree Subrahmanyaswami temple at Haripad.
Magnificent grove
The temple is situated in the midst of a magnificent grove covering an area of 16 acres.
There are thousands of snakes of granite in this area covered with dense thickets. In the
main temple there are two idols. One is of the Nagaraja or the snake king and the other of
Sarpayakshi or the snake queen. On the northern side of the temple there is an illam or
house whose heir is the oldest female member. She is called Nambiathy who performs puja in
the temple. |
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