Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple - Haripad
The temple is dedicated
to Nagaraja, the serpent God. It is believed that the deity in this temple is blessed with the spirit of Lord Shiva and has the form of Lord
Vishnu. This is the only shrine in Kerala which is headed by a priestess.
According to the legend, the first priestess of Mannarasala Temple gave birth
to a five-headed snake, which is believed to reside in the ancestral house to
safeguard the family.
The famous Mannarasala
Temple covers an area of 16 acres of dense green forest grove. The main
Mannarasala Temple premise has two separate sanctum sanctorums, one devoted to
Sarpayakshi and the other to Nagaraja. There are over 30,000 idols of snakes that can be seen in the temple premises. Women seeking fertility come to worship
here, and upon the birth of their child come to hold thanksgiving ceremonies
here, often bringing new snake images as offerings. A special turmeric paste
that is available at the temple is credited with curative powers.
Mannarsala Aayilyam is the main festival of Sree Nagaraja Temple. On the day of Aayilyam asterism in the months of Kanni and Thulam (September and October), all the serpent idols in the grove and the temple are taken in procession. The oldest female member of the family carries the idol of the Nagaraja and the procession is conducted with great pomp and rejoicing.
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