Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

Location Of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple is a very ancient and internationally-known centre of pilgrimage for the devotees of serpent gods. The temple is located about three kilometers to the south-east of the bus station in N.H.47 at Haripad, in Alleppey district of Kerala. Haripad, a culturally renowned ancient town with prominent role in the history of Central Travancore, is rich with its exquisite green paddy fields, towering coconut palms and serene atmosphere of the adjacent hamlets. Now Haripad is a well-developed town with enough civic infrastructure like shopping complexes, hotels & lodges, educational institutions and hospitals. The ancient Subrahmanya Swamy Temple in Haripad, which is       one of the renowned Subrahmanya temples of Kerala and a testimonial to the glory of the great Kerala temple architecture, is located on the way to the Mannarassala temple. Proper signboards are available from the N.H.47 to the temple. Since the temple is very renowned, accessibility to the temple may not be a problem for the devotees. Various cabs and auto rickshaws are available near the Haripad bus station and Railway station to reach Mannarassala at nominal fare. Since located near the highway almost equidistant between the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi (approx.113 kms and 103 kms respectively), it is easy to reach Haripad via bus and train. How To Reach Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple                     Nearest Airports Location Of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple Thiruvananthapuram International Airport      - Distance 121 kms. Nedumbassery International Airport - Distance - 132 kms.                      Nearest Railway Stations Haripad Railway Station - 2 kms Mavelikkara Railway Station - 10 kms Kayamkulam Railway Station - 11 kms Bus Stations  Haripad Bus Station  - 2 kms Kayamkulam Bus Station - 8 Kms

Legends Of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

The Thani tree in Manarasala temple

In the light of experience, many devotees who have experienced and heard about the miraculous powers of the serpents and the presiding deities here, tell many stories about Mannarasala temple.

The divine serpents at Mannarasala Temple

It is not a rare thing to see the same serpent appear in the same location for a number of days in the temple premises. On the steps of the gatehouse, on the hedgerows, among the creepers; those who perform bhajanam in the temple can stand very close at any time and pray.

Yellow snakes Of Mannarasala Temple

On one occasion, about six decades ago, a fierce yellow serpent started dancing on the eastern bank of the holy pond near the Appooppan Kavu carrying an evil snake in its mouth. Then it vomited the evil snake and released it. The serpent raised its hood either out of fear or out of a desire of revenge. The fierce snake with a sense of humour swallowed that cobra again. The late Valia Amma came to know about it. She came to the spot with tears in her eyes and spoke a few words. The serpent did not budge. This drama lasted for half an hour. Amma became sad. With the chanting of manthras, she prayed for the release of the cobra. No more delay, the serpent left the cobra, bent down its head and went straight into the Appooppan Kavu, as if nothing had happened. The nature of the yellow snakes of Appoppan Kavu is beyond description, and is wonderful.

The story of a Tahsildar who opened the cellar

When Sri Chitra Thirunal was ruling over Travancore; the destruction caused by World War II was spreading all over the country, the people were oppressed by poverty; there was famine everywhere. Sir.C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer was the Diwan, a man of great intellect and formidable prowess. Orders were issued to take over foodstuff from any household, even if they are in the custody of the great ones, and to introduce rationing. The Tahsildar of Karthikappally at that time was a Tamil Brahmin; a native of Haripad; his house was very close to his office; a gentleman who knew exactly the income of each individual and family in the locality. He was waiting for an opportunity to please the Diwanji. He got ready to display his skill to the maximum. Among the list of landlords the Mannarasala Illam was included. One day very early in the morning the Tahsildar and his associates came to the Illam along with a batch of policemen. They took away every grain of rice and paddy, even what was meant for Nivedyam. Everything was heaped in the courtyard. He was disappointed at not being able to collect as much rice and paddy as he had expected and it made him indiscrete. He knew very well that no one would enter the Nilavara. He issued orders to open the doors of Nilavara on the suspicion that foodstuff had been illegally stocked there, without heeding to the requests of the family members not to open the Nilavara. No one came forward to do so, including the accompanied policemen. The infuriated Tahsildar under a false sense of prestige opened the cellar. But he could not enter inside and had to retreat. (No great delay; he lost his eyesight and his family which had been rich was reduced to penury and destroyed. He was completely broken and had to sell off whatever left; and had to leave the place forever ). The officers came with their men to take away the rice that had been heaped in the courtyard. On the top of that heap, a serpent was seen; and the policemen were frightened. They approached the head of the family for help. He advised them to take away everything leaving behind what was meant for nivedyam in the temple. They were ready to do so; and the serpent slowly crept away and disappeared into the jungle nearby.

Tale of a trespasser into Nilavara

There is a tale that has been well-known from ancient times depicting about the consequences for trying to enter the Nilavara, except by the Great Mothers from time to time. A few days after Anantha the ‘Muthassan’ disappeared in the Nilavara, his younger brother had the desire to meet his brother. When he insisted obstinately, the mother said “ Then, enter the Nilavara and close your left eye and look at the south-west corner with your right eye…”” The son followed it and saw a brilliant light. The eye that saw it lost the power of sight! It is interpreted that the main characters in this tale, the Mother and the younger brother could have been the Valia Amma and son of a later generation, and that it may perhaps have happened. A young boy of the family may have felt the desire to see the “Muthassan”, and the Mother may have yielded to the unlimited obstinacy of the son. That mother by divine insight must have realized that he might lose eyesight because of the halo of light; hence she may have advised him to close one eye and look with the other eye. And in this way he might have lost the sight of one of his eyes because of the flaming brightness of the light.

The mother and the serpent-child

Legends say that Anantha, was born as a five hooded serpent-child to Vasudeva and Sreedevi of the Illam. Once the aims of his incarnation were fulfilled, he informed his mother that he would remain in the Nailavara in Samadhi forever, blessing the devotees.  The Mother who was so full of affection could not put up with that separation. Human weakness pained the Holy Mother. She rushed into the cellar herself; there shone only a halo of light… The Lord had his hermitess Mother as the one and only centre of confidence in this world. The beloved son consoled the Mother. Only the Mother was granted the opportunity and authority to see the Lord face to face; he gave his full consent to be satisfied with the Mother’s offering of worship just once a year. (Still Nurum Palum is offered only once in a year, the day next to Sivaratri by the Great Mother). He also revealed the secret truth that the worship in the cellar need be offered only by the Mother and the worship offered in the temple will reach him without any loss of time, with the same force. Thus he gave his beloved mother the unusual permission to offer worship in the temple as well as the rare opportunity ever granted to an antarjanam (women) priestess.

Former Valia Amma

Timings Of Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple





Mornings: 5 AM   to 12.00 PM   (Sundays until 1.00 PM)

Evenings: 5.30 PM to 7.30 PM

Offerings In Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

Mannarasala is a place where prayers have been granted, where Serpent-worship has been sanctified for ages. We don't have to worry about what can be dedicated to propitiate the Lord Nagaraja and the serpent gods. You may offer anything according to your capacity, such as things which will make the serpents happy (articles that can be used in Abhisheka and Alankara; incense, flowers, lamp etc., which can be used for worship.) Those who suffer from incurable diseases, those possessed by fear as a result of the anger of serpents and thereby find life unendurable - all of them come here to stay and pray (bhajanam) and go back with their wishes fulfilled. There are some special ritual practices and regulations for this bhajana. In recent times, the fame of this temple has been spread far and wide for the prayers answered for having child to couples. The 'Uruli Kamazhthal' offering with devotion and prayers, has helped numerous devotees to have children, who come to this temple.

Main Offerings In Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja temple

For wealth and prosperity  A pot filled with gold or a gold pot filled with other things. For education, prosperity and fame Silk grains, divine ornaments. For recovering health Salt For protection from poison Turmeric For curing diseases Pepper, mustard, green peas etc. For protection from damage Serpent cave made of gold etc., images of serpents' eggs, tree, earth etc., For long life  Melted butter (ghee) For getting whatever one wants Milk, ripe kadalai fruit, nilavarapayasam. For having child A vessel named Uruli made of brass, bronze etc. for   performing 'Nurum Palum'.

Other Important offerings In Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple

1. Sarpabali * - Rs. 15,001/- 2. Nurum Palu** - Rs.172/- 3. Naurum Palu* - Rs.101/- 4. Muzhukkappu* - Rs.751/- 5. Enna Abhizhekam(oil) - Rs.10/- 6. Dhara* - Rs.10/- 7. Neyyabhizhekam (ghee) - Rs. 25/- 8. Tender coconut abhizhekam- Rs. 5/- 9. Palabhizhekam - Rs.10/- 10. Sahasranamarchana - Rs.10/- 11. Mrithyunjayarchana - Rs.15/- 12. Ashtotharasatham Archana -Rs.5/- 13. Archana - Rs.3/- 14. Palumapazhavum Nivedyam -Rs.5/- 15. Malar Nivedyam - Rs.3/- 16. Kadalippazha Nivedyam -Rs.5/- 17. Nilavara Payasam - Rs.20/- 18. Payasam - Rs.5/- 19. Palpayasam* - Rs.15/- 20. Appam * - Rs.25/- 21. EnnaVilakku - Rs.5/- 22. Neyyu Villakku - Rs.10/- 23. Mala - Rs.3/- 24. Uruli kamazhthu - Rs.25/- 25. Urulinivarppu - Rs.25/- 26. Urulinadakku veypu - Rs.25/- 27. Annaprasam - Rs.9/- 28. Thulabharam - Rs.10/- 29. Sarppaprathima Nadakku Veypu -Rs. 7.50/- 30. One day puja* - Rs.751/- 31. Ganapathi Homam* - Rs.25/- 32. Bhagavathiseva* - Rs.251/- 33. Wedding* - Rs.65/- 34. Thrimadhuram - Rs.3/- 35. Chathussatha Nivedyam* - Rs. 2501/-

** It is mandatory to produce 'prashnacharthu' (directions from experts) for performing the Nurum Palum for sarppahimsa and eliminating sarppasthanam.   It is mandatory to book in advance for the offerings with the star mark *.   It is advised to source pooja materials like salt, turmeric, puttu (abode of serpents), Sarppavigraham, Uruli etc. from the outlet of Devaswom.   Sarppavigraham, Mutta ( egg), Puttu etc. should be made only of any four metals like Gold, Silver, Iron or brass.

D.D./ or Money Order should for any offering should be addressed as -                    THE MANAGER Mannarassala Temple Mannarassala P.O. Harippad, Kerala India Pin : 690550.  Phone Number of Mannarasala Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple Is                                         :::   +91-0479-2413214 View Larger Map *********************************************************************************** All the data available here was collected from reliable sources even though these are subjected to change. For conformation please contact the temple officials directly in the above given phone number.