Sri Nagaraja temple – Nagercoil
The Nagaraja Temple, also known as Nagaraja Kovil, is a prominent Hindu temple located in Nagercoil, a city in the Kanyakumari District, southernmost part of Tamil Nadu, India. This temple is dedicated to Nagaraja, the serpent deity, and is renowned for its unique architecture, religious significance, and the annual Nagaraja Festival.
Image Attribution: @rajamanickam_ms from instagram
Connection of Nagercoil and Nagaraja Temple:
The name “Nagercoil” itself has a connection to this temple and its deity.
- “Nagaraja” refers to the serpent god, who is the presiding deity of the temple.
- “Koil” in Tamil refers to a temple.
So, “Nagercoil” can be loosely translated to “Temple of Nagaraja.” The city derives its name from the significant presence of the Nagaraja Temple and the importance of serpent worship in the local culture. The temple and the city are closely intertwined in terms of their cultural and religious heritage.
Deity of Nagaraja Temple:
The primary deity of the Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple is Nagaraja, the serpent god. Nagaraja is a form of Lord Vishnu, and he is typically depicted with a canopy of five serpent hoods. Serpent worship is a central aspect of the temple’s traditions, and Nagaraja is revered for protection from snake-related issues and afflictions. Ananthakrishnan with Bhama and Rukmani is present in the second shrine. Lord Shiva is present in the third shrine. Other deities are Goddess Durga, Lord Muruga, Nagamani Boothathan and Dharmasastha.
Nagaraja Temple Architecture:
The entire temple covers an area of 72 cents. The gate on the southern side of the temple is Mahameru. Devotees generally use this gate a lot .Makameru is a Kerala style building. Maha Mandapam is a large hall with 29 pillars. It has Nagarajan’s temple on the north side, Ananthakrishnan temple on the south side and a small sanctum sanctorum of Shiva in the middle. All these three are towards east. All three temples have the above-mentioned prakara around them. This Utprakaram has a raised platform all around. There is a facility to see Nagarajar sanctum sanctorum from Utprakaram.
History of Nagaraja Temple:
In the past, this area was densely overgrown with tall grasses and dense bushes. A woman, tending to her cattle, made a startling discovery one day when she found blood on her knife. To her astonishment, a five-headed Cobra lay where she had been working. Fleeing in fear, she sought refuge in a nearby village, sharing her harrowing experience. A sizable crowd gathered as the snake miraculously transformed into a statue, revered as Nagarajar, the King of Cobras. Villagers used coconut leaves to veil the statue, and the story spread widely, drawing devotees with Naga Dosha from South Tamil Nadu and Kerala. King Udhaya Marthanda Varma, guided by a dream from Nagarajar, built a grand temple, leaving the inner sanctum unprotected by concrete.
Festivals of Nagaraja Temple:
Nagaraja Festival: The annual Nagaraja Festival is a major event at the temple. It typically takes place in the Tamil month of Aavani (August-September). During the festival, a grand procession is held, featuring an idol of Nagaraja adorned with flowers and jewels. Devotees from various places gather to witness and participate in this event.
Thai Bhramotsavam: The Nagercoil Nagaraja Temple festival spans over ten days and culminates with the auspicious arattu ceremony on the Ayilyam nakshatra day in the month of Makaram.
Other major festivals celebrated here are Navaratri and Soorasamharam.
Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja:
The temple is renowned for performing Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja, a special ritual aimed at pacifying and seeking protection from snake-related afflictions. Many people visit the temple to have this pooja performed.
Visiting Hours of Nagaraja Temple:
Nagaraja Temple Nagercoil operating hours are as follows:
- Morning: 5:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.
- Evening: 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Speciality of Nagaraja Temple:
The Sanctum Sanctorum of Nagaraja is a unique place, with its floor covered in wet sand, which used to be a paddy field. This wet sand is offered as Prasad to devotees. It is believed that this Prasad can cure all type of skin diseases. What’s truly remarkable is that the sand appears black during the Dakshinayana Punya Kala, which encompasses the southward journey period of the Sun from July to December, and turns white during the Uthrayana Punyakala, the northward journey period of the Sun from January to June.
How to reach Nagercoil Nagaraja temple:
By Air: The nearest major airport is Trivandrum International Airport (Thiruvananthapuram International Airport), which is approximately 70 kilometers away from Nagercoil. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Nagercoil.
By Train: Nagercoil Junction is a well-connected railway station. You can check the train schedule and book tickets to Nagercoil from various parts of India. The temple is within the city, so you can hire a local taxi or use public transportation from the railway station to reach the temple.
By Road: Nagercoil is well-connected by road. You can reach Nagercoil by bus or taxi from nearby cities and towns. National Highway 44 (NH 44) connects Nagercoil to various parts of South India.
Once you arrive in Nagercoil, you can ask for directions to the Nagaraja Temple, as it is a well-known local landmark. Local transportation, such as auto-rickshaws or taxis, can take you to the temple from the railway station or the bus stand.