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India Society Blogs

Five Must Visit Snake Temples in India

Udit Lakhoria September 12, 2022
The religious nation of India is home to various temples devoted to serpents, some of which are world-renowned. Interestingly, snakes have a high status in Indian mythology and are revered. Hindus worship serpents as Gods, referring to them as Nag Devata. Snake killing is considered a sin in Indian society. If a snake is mistakenly killed, a puja is done.  Following are the top five snake temples in India: The Mannarsala Temple Location: Kerala
  • It is one of India's most significant and most prominent snake temples near Mannarsala, Kerala. 
  • The shrine is dedicated to Lord Nagaraja, the snake ruler.
  • Within its enclosure, which leads to the temple, there are around 30,000 stone snake statues and representations.
  • The Mannarashala Temple is believed to have been built by Lord Parashurama.
  • The temple is claimed to be 3,000 years old. It is customary for newlyweds and childless couples to visit temples and make a wish for children.
  • Another unique feature of the temple is that the prominent priest is a woman.
The Temple of Bhujang Naga Location: Gujarat
  • The Bhujiya Fort lies on the borders of Bhuj, Gujarat.
  •  According to legend, the fort is named after the last Naga Clan Bhujanga, who fell in combat. 
  • Locals constructed the Bhujang Naga Temple on the Bhujiya hills in his honour.
  •  During Nag Panchami, a celebration is held annually around the temple. 
  • The fort is currently under the control of the Indian Army and is used to stockpile munitions.
The Nagaraja Temple Location: Tamil Nadu
  • The temple is located in the middle of Nagercoil town and contains several statues of serpents, particularly cobras.
  • The temple's major devatas (deities) are Nagaraja and Krishna, while the upadevathas are Shiva, Subrahmanya Swami, Ganesha, and Dwarapalaka. 
  • Nagaraja is displayed as a five-headed serpent. The Nagaraja Temple inspired the city of Nagercoil's name. 
  • Though the exact age of the temple is unknown, there is a legend surrounding its construction. 
  • According to legend, a girl was mowing grass when her sickle unintentionally struck the five-headed serpent.
  •  The girl ran away to the neighbouring settlement, where she reported the incident. Consequently, the village residents went to the location, cleaned it up, constructed a shrine, and maintained it as a place of devotion.
The Sheshnag Temple Location: Jammu & Kashmir
  • Sheshnag, commonly known as the Lord of Snakes in folklore, constructed a lake near Pahalgam.
  • Because it is claimed that Sheshnag still dwells here, a shrine devoted to the snake god has been constructed on its banks. 
  • Pilgrims on their way to Amarnath Cave stop here to worship Sheshnag. The beautiful surroundings and lush greenery of the sacred place are fantastic.
The Agasanahalli Nagappa Temple Location: Karnataka
  • Because the sage Agastya is claimed to have meditated here, this location is known as Agasanahalli. 
  •  According to folklore, Lord Narasimhaswamy appears at Agasanahalli as Lord Subramanya (the Lord of Snakes). 
  • The Lord appears here in the form of an anthill, which is a unique feature. 
  • Surprisingly, a golden-coloured snake has been spotted near this shrine. 
  • Agasanahalli Nagappa Temple is an unknown temple that is shrouded in mystery. As a result, it is considered one of India's most extraordinary snake temples.
Final Thoughts: Kindly do not disturb or harm snakes in the name of religious practice.