Friday, October 20, 2017

Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari

Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari
Nagaraja Temple is a Hindu Temple worshipping Nagaraja (King of Serpents- Vasuki) situated at the heart of Nagercoil Town in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The name for the town Nagercoil originated from this temple. The temple has innumerable statues of serpents. Snakes are an important part of the Hindu system of worship. It decorates the neck of Lord Shiva and acts as a bed for Lord Vishnu. Snake worship is prevalent all through India. The temple is a symbol of four religions - Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism and Vaishnavism.










Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
It is difficult to ascertain the exact age of the temple. There is no authentic epigraph to aid the historian with its chronology. The mountain Mahendragiri in the Kanyakumari district is referred to as the abode of Nagas in the Ramayana of Valmiki. From this, it can be presumed that the origin of Naga influence in the area goes back to legendary times. From the five headed-serpent deity of the temple, the name of this town Nagercoil is derived; gradually its old name, Kottar, has mostly faded. There is a part of town called Kottar, so the old name remains.






The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Temple Opening Time
The temple is open from 4.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Pooja Timings
Pooja Name
Timings
Opening Time
 5.00 am
Uchikala Abhishekam
 10.00 am
Uchikala Pooja
 11.00 am
Sayaratchai Pooja
 6.30 pm
Arthajama Pooja
 7.45 pm
Festivals
Thai Brahmmotsavam & Thai Poosam in January-February; Avani Sundays, Aavani Aslesha (Aayilyam) Star day & Krishna Jayanthi in August-September; Navarathri in September-October, Skandha Sashti, All Sundays and Tirukarthikai in November-December are the festivals celebrated in the temple. During Aavani Sundays, Lord Krishna is kept in a Adhishesha Temple car. Lord Krishna along with Sridevi and Boodevi will come around four Ratha street on the day of Thaipoosam.
Prayers
Devotees pray in the temple for relief from the adverse aspects of serpent planets. Devotes perform abishek to Nagaraja with milk and offer milk porridge – Paal Payasam – Nivedhana. They also install Naga idols in the temple campus. The Prasadam here is the sand from the ground in the sanctum of Nagaraja. The red color of the soil is said to be due to the blood shed from the idol when it got struck by the sickle. The soil that is given as   'Prasadam' has medicinal properties capable of curing skin ailments of the devotees.
Nagercoil Nagaraja is believed to bless the childless couples. If the couple come to this temple and pray with sincere faith and devotion, soon their request for a kid will be answered. Several childless couples are reported to have admitted that they were blessed with children after their visit to this temple. To get rid of 'Sarpa Dosham', besides worshiping the snake stone images in the temple, devotees offer stone images of 5 headed snakes in silver to the temple and participate in a puja ritual called   'Noorum Palum'. This will relieve them of the bad effects of Ragu and Ketu.
Contact
Nagaraja Temple,
Nagercoil – 629 001,
Kanyakumari District
Phone: +91 4652 232 420 / 241 270
Mobile: +91 94439 92216
Connectivity
Nagaraja Temple is situated at the heart of Nagercoil Town in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located at about 1 Km from Nagercoil Bus Stand and Nagercoil Railway Station. Nagercoil is located at about 20 Kms from Kanyakumari, 9 Kms from Suchindram, 14 Kms from Boothapandi, 12 Kms from Villukuri, 13 Kms from Eraniel, 24 Kms from Colachel, 15 Kms from Thuckalay, 14 Kms from Padmanabhapuram, 83 Kms from Tirunelveli, and 74 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest Railway Station is located at Nagercoil (1 Km) and Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.