Hari Om
Sri Kukke Subramanya shrine in Karnataka (near Mangalore) is one place almost every devotee of Sanatana Dharma in the Southern part of India would be familiar with. Many would either have visited or would like to visit the temple at least once in lifetime for getting rid of powerful Naga (Sarpa) Dosha or Generational curses. With supreme powers, Lord Subramanya here is well known for blessing His devotees in a very special way.
The Kukke Subramanya temple is situated in the Sullia Taluq town of Subramanya in the district of Dakshina Kannada. Easily accessible by rail and highway, this small town is located about 100 km from Mangaluru while the temple is situated in a picturesque location that is relatively unexplored and different compared to many other places of pilgrimage. While the Kumaradhara river can be found running in the temple surroundings, the place is embraced from the backdrop by a beautiful mountain.
The Kukke Subramanya Temple is dedicated to Lord Subramanya or Skanda, Son of Lord Shiva and brother of Lord Ganeshji. According to legends, lord Subramanya is referred to as the Deva Senapathi – the commander of the army of the lords and is worshiped as the lord of snakes.
As advised by their Guru or a Vedic astrologer many devotees visit this powerful Temple with utmost devotion and faith to perform various Vedic rituals to get rid of deadly diseases, generational curses, various types of doshas in their chart (horoscope). Generally, Severe afflictions by nodes and malefics to Kendras and Trikonas (quadrants and trines) and benefics in a birth chart and/or other sub charts without adequate benefic influence indicate powerful Sarpa Doshas. Some times these doshas including generational curses which may also be deduced from Prasna charts through divine guidance.
Devotees are generally advised to follow certain strict rules while visiting Kukke Subramanya Temple as given below:
– One cannot enter the shrine without taking bath, or wearing a shirt, coat or cap
– Accesories made out of animal skin should not be brought into the Temple.
– Chewing tobacco, beetle leaves or Gutka is strictly prohibited.
– A devotee is not allowed to enter the temple if he has oiled his head or body.
– Female devotees should refrain from entering the temple if pregnant for sixth months or more.
– All devotees visiting the Temple for performing Vedic rituals such as, Sarpa Samskaram, Aslesha Bali or Naga Pradishta should follow additional guidelines as advised by their Guru.
The Kukke Subrahmanya Temple is considered to be the abode of ‘nagas’, and pooja or prayer here is offered to Lord Subrahmanya, along with the serpent king Vasuki. According to legends, Lord Indra was so happy with Lord’s annihilation of the demonic forces that he came forward to offer his daughter Devasena’s hand in marriage to him. Accordingly, the ceremony took place, and Lord Kumaraswamy then decided to bestow his exclusive grace on the Serpent King Vasuki, who was performing Tapasya at that time and therefore consequently, It is believed that Lord Kumaraswamy now dwells in this temple along with his wife, Devasena, and Vasuki.
Devotees also believe that a holy bath in the Kumaradhara Thirtha and Madesnana, is capable of eradicating deadly diseases such as leprosy. According to devotees, even any skin diseases get healed and cured here. The temple is also known as the ideal place for all those who suffer from any kind of Naga doshas’ to attain salvation. This is the ideal place for Naga Dosha Pariharam (remedy), by performing Sarpa Samskara Pooja, Ashlesha Bali and other such rituals. In fact, a lot of devotees from all across the country visit the temple precisely for this purpose.
Mythological Stories Associated with the Kukke Subramanya Temple
Lord Subramanya reached this place after defeating the asuras or evil forces and killing their chiefs Tharakasura and Soorapadhma. He cleansed his Shakti weapon in the river present at the place. Waters from all the holy rivers were brought here for the wedding ceremony of the Lord as discussed above, and the same waters are believed to have flown down to become the river Kumaradhara.
Another mythological fact is that the Serpent King Vasuki who was an ardent Shiva Bhakta is said to have been meditating for many years in the Biladwara caves of Subramanya, in order to escape from being attacked by the holy eagle Garuda. As per Lord Siva’s instructions, Shanmuka or Subramanya is known to have appeared before Vasuki, blessing and permitting him to stay at Subramanya for eternity, as Vasuki was also an ardent devotee of Lord Subramanya. Hence, it is also believed that any Puja offered to Vasuki is equivalent to a puja having been offered to Lord Subramanya himself. Therefore, this place is known to have became important for people wanting to perform Sarpadosha Puja.
Also, in Shankara Vijaya, a traditional biography by the Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavad pada, he says that he camped at Kukke Subramanya for a short while and he himself refers to this place in his ‘Subrahmanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram’ as ‘Bhaje Kukke Lingam’.
This temple building faces East, with the main entrance being at the back of the Sanctum. Located in between the sanctum and the entrance of the temple is a silver plated garuda kamba, which is believed to protect devotees from the poisonous breath of Vasuki who resides inside the sanctum sanctorum. Present beyond this are two halls, the inner one leading to the sanctum. Located on the pedestal is a sculpture of Subramanya with Vasuki. A little below, one can find the idol of Sesha.
A wide range of rituals are performed at this temple and the important ones are:
Sarpa Samskara
Sarpa Samskara is the puja performed to snake god to get rid of the sarpa dosha or any negativity caused by strong doshas in one’s life. Sarpa Dosha is caused by one’s wrong doings or bad actions either knowingly or un-knowingly through many ways in one’s present or previous births. People from various places across the country perform this puja at Sri Kukke Subramanya temple to get rid of the dosha completely.
This ritual is generally performed as advised by the Vedic astrologer or a Guru and can be done either by the person afflicted if he is a male and married, or through a priest. This is because the puja involves rituals similar to the ones while performing a shraaddha (death rites). The devotees performing the Sarpa Samskara seva will have to stay for two days at the temple premises and follow other instructions with respect to diet and hygiene. The seva occurs during the day time and the food will be normally provided to the devotees by the temple trust.
Naga Pratistha Puja
This ritual is performed for ones relief from Kaala sarpadosha, santaana (or putra) dosha (Childlessness) and associated problems. The Puthrasanthana puja is to get rid of childlessness dosha and is performed on all days except on Ekadashi or any other days on which a devotee observes fasting.
The Naga Prathista Puja is performed at the Nagaprathista Mantapa in the temple’s outer quadrangle after main or mahapuja.
Ashlesha Bali
This ritual is performed by the devotees whose charts are afflicted by Kaalasarpadosha due to various reasons or configurations and this ritual also is held on all days except Ekadashi and other days when a devotee observes fasting. This puja or Homa is performed on the day of Ashlesha Nakshatra every month. However, Shravana Masa, Margashira Masa and Karthika Masa are considered most auspicious to carry out this puja.
May Devotees receive bountiful and choicest Blessings of Lord Kukke Subramanya for security, peace and trouble-free life and loving.
Om Saravana Bhava!
Vel Vel Vetri Vel !
GF’ Blessings.
