Keerthimangalam KK Trust 2.88

Nagaraja is a Sanskrit word and its meaning is ‘King of Snakes’.Adishesha or Anantha and Vasuki are known as Nagarajas.Lord Anantha is the thousand-headed immortal and infinite snake upon whom rests Lord Vishnu in the primordial ocean of milk (Kshirasagara). The Lord of Serpents, Sheshanaga was incarnated to the earth in the form of Lakshmana during Treta Yuga and during the Dwapara Yuga, he incarnated as Balarama. He is said to be an eternal companion of Vishnu in all incarnations.Lord Vasuki is the necklace of Lord Shiva and he represents the dormant energy, called Kundalini, the serpent power.

Anantha,Vasuki,Takshaka,Padma,Mahapadma, Gulika,Shamghapala and Karkkodaka are the Ashtanagas(eight great snakes) described in Hindu Puranas. Kashyapa and Kadru are considered as the parents of all snakes.

Mythology says that Kerala was created from the Arabian Sea and given to the Brahmins (Namboothiris) as a "donation" by Parasurama to save himself from the sins of killing numerous kshathriya kings. The land was full of forests and poisonous snakes were found in plenty. So the Brahmins refused to stay there. Parasurama requested Lord Shiva to provide a solution. Shiva told Parasurama to start worshipping Anantha the king of snakes. Parasurama did so and Anantha advised him to start snake worship in Kerala and provide some forest especially for snakes in the form of Sarppakkavu (Snake forests). Parasurama later installed the idols of Anantha and Vasuki at Vettikkottu (near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district) and Mannarassala(near Harippadu in Alappuzha district) and started worshipping them. The Brahmins also worshipped Anantha and Vasuki and the pleased snake gods made Kerala suitable for living.

Brahmins made several Sarppakkavu in Kerala and they were there in all the agricultural plots throughout Kerala. All temples in Kerala will have Sarppa Prathishtas and some temples will have large Sarppakkavu.There are several families in Kerala having a Sarppakkavu in their own land.Once in six months or once in a year there used to be puja (offerings) to the snakes in these Sarpa Kavu.Even now, there are some Sarppakkavu in Kerala were people are worshiping snakes. To these "preserved forests" none are allowed to enter even for collecting firewood or anything else. These forests are filled with trees and plants, which are herbs for the treatment of snakebites.

The main festivals associated with Nagaraja are the Aayilyam day in the months of Kanni (September-October) and Thulam (October-November) and Nagapanchami in Karkkidakam (July-August). Aayilyam in Kanni is famous as Vettikkoottu Aayilyam and Aayilyam in Thulam is famous as Mannarassala Aayilyam.