Worshipping the forces of Nature has been a part of Indian culture, religion and mythology for centuries. From Sun and Water to Wind and Fire, every force of Nature is revered and worshipped with great divinity. The tradition of offering prayers to serpent deities too is very common. Mannarassala Sree Nagaraja Temple is one of the many amazing temples dedicated to the serpent god – Nagaraja. Located at Mannarassala in the Alappuzha district, the temple is considered to be the supreme place of worship for serpent gods in Kerala.
Located in a forest glade, surrounded by plenty of greenery, the temple is an internationally known pilgrimage centre. The history of the temple is associated with lord Parasurama who is considered as the creator of Kerala. One of the unique features of the temple is that it has over 100,000 images of snakes along its paths and on the surrounding trees. A lot of couples who struggle to have children come seeking blessings at the temple. It is believed that praying at the temple will bring results and often couples are seen making thanksgiving offerings by bringing new snake images. The turmeric paste given as ‘prasadam’ in the temple is believed to have curative powers.
