At Mannarasala in the Alappuzha region of Kerala, amid a dense and ancient sacred grove, stands the Sree Nagaraja temple, the greatest of all the serpent shrines of Kerala, dedicated to Nagaraja, the king of serpents, and the serpent-goddess Nagayakshi. Tradition links it to Parashurama, who is said to have consecrated the worship of serpents here. The grove is filled with thousands of images of nagas, and, uniquely, the temple's chief priest is traditionally a woman, revered as the Amma. Devotees come to seek the blessing of the serpent-gods for fertility, health, and relief from sarpa doshas. Mannarasala is a place of deep antiquity and living faith.
Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple
Nagaraja, king of serpents, in a grove of thousands of naga images.
