{"id":1032,"date":"2019-10-09T15:37:33","date_gmt":"2019-10-09T10:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.keralatourism.holiday\/blog\/?p=1032"},"modified":"2023-07-31T19:06:45","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T13:36:45","slug":"mannarasala-sree-nagaraja-temple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.keralatourism.holiday\/blog\/mannarasala-sree-nagaraja-temple\/","title":{"rendered":"The Legend of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple: Unraveling the Mysteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple<\/strong> is a very ancient temple which is located near Harippad in the Alappuzha<\/a><\/strong> or Alleppey<\/a><\/strong> district of Kerala. The Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple<\/a><\/strong> is an internationally renowned temple dedicated to Nagaraja, the serpent god. Its beautiful setting amidst dense green forest grove creates a tranquil and eco-friendly ambiance all around. This divine shrine is under the support of a Brahmin family. And unlike other temples in the country, Mannarasala Temple is headed by a priestess whom the devotees fondly call as Mannarasala Amma<\/strong>. It is said that the deity of this shrine is blessed with the spirit of Lord Shiva and has the form of Lord Vishnu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temple is adorned with over thirty thousand paintings and drawings of snakes all along the paths crisscrossing the serene forest area. Mannarasala Temple is often visited by swarms of devotees from far and near to offer prayers to the serpent god, Nagaraja<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The lively and exotic temple festivals of Kerala<\/a><\/strong> are too surprising and experiential that offers you a chance to delve into the vivid culture and tradition of the state<\/a><\/strong>. Kerala\u2019s rich culture and heritage justifies why it is so-called the \u201cGod\u2019s Own Country<\/a><\/strong>\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of Mannarasala Temple:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The\nhistory of Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple is closely associated with Lord\nParasurama who is believed to be the creator of Kerala. Legend has it that\nParasurama threw his axe into the sea and thus raised the land from the sea,\nknown as Kerala. He then gifted the land to the Brahmins. But the land was not\nhabitable because of the high concentration of salt which led them to leave the\nplace. Parasurama, who was deeply saddened by this, decided to start a penance\nto please Lord Shiva, who in turn ordered him to worship Nagaraja. Lord\nNagaraja, being pleased with Parasurama’s penance, appeared before him to bless\nhim with a desalinated land and also granted his eternal presence in Kerala.\nThus, Nagaraja decided to reside at that place and bless its residents as per\nthe wish of Parasurama. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Legend says that a Brahmin couple named Vasudeva<\/strong> and Sreedevi<\/strong> who were childless, resolutely worshipped for a child. An unexpected fire broke out in the forest during that time, around the dwelling place of Nagaraja. The forest was burnt down and the serpents were badly burnt by the flame. The couples, Vasudeva and Sreedevi took care of the wounded serpents, they poured ghee mixed with honey and oil on the wounds and cooled their melted bodies with sandalwood paste and comforted them. The serpents were put back at the foot of the banyan trees and new pits were also constructed for them to reside when they regained their health. The couples conducted elaborate poojas and offered a mixture of ghee, milk, Payasam, rice powder, turmeric powder, coconut juice, bananas, cow’s milk to the Nagaraja as a ritual. This ritual is still observed in the Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple which is known as Nurum Palum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nagaraja was very pleased with the offering, love and care of the couple that he appeared before them and said that he would incarnate as their son and stay at Mannarasala permanently in the form of a serpent. True to his words, Sreedevi became pregnant and gave birth to a five-headed serpent child and also a human child. Both the children grew up together. As time went by, Nagaraja asked his younger brother to get married for the perpetual preservation of the holy family and he obeyed him. Nagaraja, who realized that the objectives of his incarnation had been done, informed his mother that he would live at this home forever at the cellar. He then went to the cellar and after suggesting certain rituals and rules for offering worship, he vanished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"idol-of-snake-gods-in-a-hindu-temple\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Devotees believe that the five-headed Nagaraja still stays in the cellar of the house, meditating for the prosperity of his descendants. Nagaraja gave certain instructions that only mother herself can offer worship to him and men are allowed only on certain days, before leaving for the cellar and he also instructed that after the mother’s time, the senior-most Brahmin lady in the family would have the status of the Mother. This is the main reason why the rituals of the Mannarasala Temple are carried out by a woman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festivals Celebrated in this temple<\/h4>\n\n\n\n