Temple-view from east

Temple- view from West

Poojas and worship patterns at Mannarasala, the abode of serpent Gods, are different from most other temples. It is important to visit and worship the main deities as well as the Upadevathas, Chitrakudas, Valia Amma at the Illam etc.

On the way to the temple premises, there is an ancient  Namboodiri household (Illam) now built on modern lines. This house is known as Eringadappally, the 'Moolakudumbam' or the main ancestral house sanctified as the residence of the great Brahmin appointed by Parasurama for poojas in Mannarasala temple. Legends say that when Kerala became habitable, a large number of Brahmins came as followers of Parasurama. He proposed his chief disciple to be in charge of worship to the serpent god and instructed him to follow various Pooja patterns to maintain the sanctity of the place.		Illam-south side
The residents of the Mannarasala Illam are the descendents of that great Saint appointed by Parasurama.

The village of Mannarasala is located amidst the cool shades of coconut groves, paddy fields and lush greenery. Adjoining to the temple premises, dense jungles full of creepers and trees are still maintained. These groves are sacred and are abode to numerous divine serpents. Many rows of stone images of serpents on either side of the pathway lends a mystic and worshipful atmosphere to the devotees reaching the temple. The sacred temple of Mannarasala is located amidst the shade of ancient trees entangled by many kinds of creepers, foliage and thick growth of cane and groves, exclusively dedicated as the habitat of divine serpents. 

Nagaraja  The presiding deity at Mannarasala is Nagaraja. He is Anantha (Vishnu) and Sarparaja is Vasuki (Siva). It is believed that Nagaraja, as the installed deity, is endowed with the form of Vishnu and the spirit of Siva. (From the phenomena observed at the time of the installation the power of Vasuki was manifested and that of Anantha interiorized. Taking into account the power of Vasuki which was manifest; the Saivite form of worship was followed. (This may be reason for the magnificent procession taken out here on Mahasivaratri day). Anantha represents the 'Vaishnava Sankalpa' and Siva represents the 'Siavaite Sankalpa'.
		Nagaraja

 

 

Sarpayakshi		Nagayakshi	Nagachamundi

Sarpayakshi and Nagayakshi are the beloved consorts of Nagaraja. The main temple premise has two separate sanctum sanctorums, one devoted to Sarpayakshi and the other for Nagaraja. Sarpayakshi enjoys special privileges like offering daily poojas, and is housed in the Sanctum Sanctorum. In front of the shrine of Sarpayakshi, there is an Ilanji tree (Mimusops Elengi) surrounded by serpent images and with numerous pits for serpents. The quiet shrines of Nagachamundi and Nagayakshi are to the south-west of the temple and housed in Chitrakudas. Nagachamundi is Nagaraja's sister.

Image of the serpent visible on the Koovalam tree during renovation -photo taken during 1970

'Grandfather (Appoppan) here is the five headed Anantha who assumed the form of a baby serpent and was born as the holy child of the Brahmin couple of the family, Vasudeva and Sridevi. (see history). The Grandfather's Grove is the favourite haunt of Muthassan or Appooppan. Strangely enough only yellow snakes are seen at this grove.  In the divine presence of this holy image, the Valiamma offers 'Nurum Palum' on every Ayilyam day. Next to this grove, one can see the temples of Dharmasastha and Bhadrakali. These deities are installed in isolated corners and daily worships are offered.  At the time of reconstruction of the Chitrakuda in the Grandfather's Grove, the presence of the Lord was visible in the form of a serpent on the Sathavari creeper (Asparagus Racemosus; family : Liliaceae) in a Koovalam tree (Aegle Marmelos; family:Rutaceae), now located to the northern side of the temple pond.

 

The Thevaram Chamber is to the south-west of the Sanctum Sanctorum of Nagaraja. It is a very small room built in olden times in accordance to the Sastras. There the Great Mother, who is the eternal lamp of Mannarasala, offers worship to Nagaraja.
Pulluvanpattu On the eastern side of the temple, songs are recited to please the serpents. The magical, sweetness of the Pulluvan song accompanied by the sounds from the little Veenas and the special music of the Pulluva women playing on Kudam are a familiar sight at Mannarasala. Interestingly, this near extinct musical form is still being practiced in Kerala, thanks only to the patronage offered by Mannarasala and other few serpent worship temples in Kerala. Pulluva is a community of the Hindu religion, and they traditionally follow this musical form as their vocation. It is believed that the songs, recited by the Pulluva praising the Nagaraja and his consorts, the sound of the musical instrument Pulluva Veena ( an instrument of the violin family), and Kudam (an expertly covered earthen pot connected with strings, when hit by hand or metal piece produces exquisite and enchanting music), have the divine power to appease and attract divine serpents and earn their blessings. Now people with expertise in handling these musical instruments are very rare even among the Pulluva community.

 

 

On either side of the pathway from the temple premises to Nilavara, there are many big and small Chitrakudas encircled by images of serpents, standing upright, and arranged so close to one another in unbroken rows inside the groves on either side. Inside those Chitrakudas are the innocent and helpless followers of Nagaraja. Until a few decades ago, almost all Hindu households in Kerala had their own serpent groves and ponds as part of their idol worship, also lending a perfect balance to the ecology of the region. Once the population grew manifolds, many serpent groves were removed, and most of the presiding serpent deities were relocated to divine serpent lands like Mannarasala. These strange rows of Chitrakudas are the miniature establishments of the serpents who from their groves in other places and have been brought over and installed here by the blessed priests of Mannarasala Illam.