KUKKE SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE

                      KUKKE SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE, KARNATAKA

Kukke Subrahmanya Main Diety

In this post I would like to publish the details of the Naga Dosha Pooja performed at Kukke Subramanya Temple located in Karnataka. Naga Dosha Pooja includes Sarpa Samskara Pooja, Aslesha Bali Pooja, NagaPrathista.

Subrahmanya Idol in Kukke

Temple Timings:

Morning: 7A.M TO 1P.M

Evening: 3P.M TO 8P.M

Daily Pooja Timings :

Morning: 6 AM - 7 AM
Noon: 11 AM - 12 PM
Night: 7 AM - 7.45 PM

Goopuram Of Kukke Subramanya

          Kukke Subramanya Swamy temple is in Sulia Taluk of Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka. It is one of the ancient pilgrimage locations in India. Adi Sankaracharya also visited this place and referred this place as “BHAJE KUKKE LINGAM” in his “Subramanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram”.

         Sri Kukke Subramanya Khestra has been described in the”THIRTHAKSHETRA MAHIMANIPURANA” chapter of the Sahyadrikhanda comprised in the Sanathkumara Samhitha  of Skanda Purana.This kshetra is situated on the banks of river “Dhara” which originates in the Kumara mountains 

         It is surrounded by forest, mountains and rivers. On the way you can see many water falls, It is safe to travel during day time. On one side of the road u can see a river flowing. Buses are available from Bangalore, Manglore and Dharma kshetra. Dharma kshetra is 54kms from Kukke.

HISTORY

        According to puranas, after killing the demon rulers, Tharaka, Shurapadmasura and their followers, Lord Subrahmanya reached Kumara Parvatha with his brother Vinayaka and others. He was received by Lord Indra and his followers. Lord Indra prayed Lord Subrahmanya to marry his daughter Devasena. Lord Subrahmanya agreed for the marriage. The divine marriage took place on MARGASIRA SHUDHA SHASHTI  for which Lord Siva, Brahma,Vishnu  were also present.

BILADWARA CAVES

Biladwara

       Before Subramanya, the Serpent King, Vasuki used to stay here in in a large cave which is called as BILADWARA. It’s near ABAYA VINAYAKA TEMPLE (can see in the map given below). According to the Skandapurana, Garuda was once hunting for snakes and came across Vasuki hiding in Biladwara. Striking Vasuki with his mighty wings Garuda tried to kill him.Garuda became dazed by the poisonous flames emitting from Vasuki’s mouth. As they fought, the great sage Kasyapa Muni appeared and requested Garuda to leave Vasuki, who is a great devotee of Lord Siva. Garuda told the sage that he has no food from many days. Kasyapa told him to go to the Ramanaka Islands where snakes are available in plenty. Immediately Garuda went there and satisfied his hunger. Kasyapa muni told Vasuki to go to Kumara Kshetra in Sahayadri mountains and pray to Lord Siva, you will never be bothered by Garuda again.Vasuki went to Kumara Parvatha and got the blessings of Lord Siva. Lord Siva told Vasuki that he will be blessed by his son Subrahmanya who will come here in next Kalpa and he will remain by his side. Lord Subrahmanya came to Kumara Parvatha after killing Taraka and gave darshan to Vasuki  and blessed him that he will stay with him(Vasuki) in this place forever. Hence the poojas offered to Vasuki or Nagaraja are nothing but the poojas to Lord Subramanya.

 

KUMARADHARA RIVER

Kumaradhara River

  This holy river(Kumaradhra) originates from Kumara Parvatha. As the river flows through the rocks and thick forest area. It is believed that all skin diseases will be cured by taking bath in this river. Every pilgrim is  advised to take bath in this river before they enter the temple. Take care while taking bath, best to carry a tumbler with you.  Or  tumblers are available in the near by shops.

         In Treta Yuga, Lord Parasurama came to this place and took bath in this river to relieve himself for the sins of exterminating the Kshatriya's. In Dwapara Yuga Samba, son of Lord Krishna who was cursed to suffer from leprosy came to take bath here. By applying the mud from the riverbank over his body and bathing in the river he got cured from Leprosy. 

There are two Subrahmanya temples in Kukke

1. Adi Subrahmanya

2. Kukke Subrahmanya

ADI SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE

 

ADI SUBRAHMANYA TEMPLE

        Adi Subramanya temple is located in the north east of the main temple. It is compulsory to visit this temple to complete your pilgrimage to Kukke. Sarpa Samskara Pooja is performed in a large hall located close to Adi Subrahmanya Temple. Here Lord Subramanya is worshiped in an ant hill. It is said to have medical properties. Mud of the ant hill is kept outside in a plate while you are coming out in the queue.  Poojas done in this temple are 

NO	SEVAS	RS	TIME
1	Ksheerabhishekam	30.00	7 AM to 11.45AM
2	PanchamrithAbhishekam	50.00
3	Nandadeepa (1 month)	350.00	7 AM to 6 PM
4	Rangapooja	500.00	4 PM
5	Alankara Pooja	100.00	7 AM to 6 PM
6	Cloth TO Anthil	10.00	7 AM to 6 PM
7	Hannu Thuppa Samarpane	50.00	7 AM to 6 PM
8	Ashtotthara Archane	15.00	7 AM to 6 PM
9	Thrimadhura Samarpane	30.00	7 AM to 6 PM
10	Karthika Pooja	50.00	7 AM to 6 PM
11	Panchakajjaya	10.00	7 AM to 6 PM
12	Shodasha Namarchane	20.00	7 AM to 6 PM
13	Mangalarathi	5.00	7 AM to 6 PM
14	Hannukayi(Kayi per 1)	1.00	7 AM to 6 PM

 KUKKE SUBRAMANYA TEMPLE

          This is the main Subrahmanya Temple. You should take off your shirts while going in to this temple. Here you can see five headed Lord Subrahmanya Swamy, Vasuki ,and Adisesha (from top to bottom) in a single idol. There is a Garuda pillar covered with silver, in front of the main deity to protect the devotees from the poisonous flames of Serpent Vasuki.Around 12 noon elephant is brought near inner entrance of the temple (near Nagaprathista Mandapam) and  prays Lord Subrahmanya, Many people will gather to see this. It is better to be there much earlier as you can’t see this clearly if you are late. Be near the Nagaprathista Mandapam before the crowd gathers. 

Kukke Subramanya temple is very famous for Nagadosha Parihara poojas. Poojas performed here are 

1. Sarpa Samskara pooja

2. Aslesha Bali pooja

3. Nagaprathista

SARPA SAMSKARA POOJA

Sarpa Samskara Mandapam

     Sarpa Samskara Pooja is done to get rid of the Naga Dosham which we got by killing a snake. Sarpa Samskara Pooja is done for two days, so you have to stay there for two days. The pooja ticket is 2500 Rs, Nagaprathista is also included in it. You have to book the ticket one month in advance by sending a DD along with a letter mentioning the date you want to perform the pooja. Mention two more optional dates also. One ticket is enough for one family. Four members are allowed on one ticket. This pooja is done in Sarpa Samskara building which is in the park near Adi Subrahmanya temple. You have to sit according to your ticket numbers. Un married people who wanted to perform this pooja can sit beside their parents and they will do on behalf of him. There will be a priest for every one. He will perform the whole ritual.

DO AND DON’T’S DURING THIS POOJA

1. First take a bath in Kumaradhara River.

2. Don’t take breakfast on the first day of the pooja.

3. Don’t go into the main temple until you complete your second day pooja.

4. You should not have food outside (any restaurant). Food arrangements are made by the temple authorities for those who participate in this pooja. Food will be provided in the dining hall near Adi Subrahmanya temple.

5. Take care of your belongings during the pooja. Some of them have lost their valuables. Our priest has been warning us continuously. 

PROCEDURE OF THIS POOJA  

FIRST DAY

Time duration : Around 8.30 to 12.00  

 

1. Take a bath in the Kumaradhara River. Go to darshan in Adi Subrahmanya temple. Afterwards goto Sarpasamskara building and be ready by 8.30 A.M.  Male devoties should remove shirts, and should wear dhoti. Sit by your numbers . Numbers won’t be in order.

2. Near every number you will find a snake idol, 2 snakes made of wheat flour, one white towel and Flowers necessary for the pooja. You have to just go and sit there. Preist allotted to you will come to you.

3. Preist will take white towel from your and he will wear it.

4. There will be four Homa Kundas on the dais for four directions and there will be four main preists,four  for four  directions.

5. Main preist will tell Samkalpa and he will explain the importance of the pooja  and how it is performed. You will be given Theertham.

6. Main preist will start the Homam and your preist will take one snake from pooja and wrap in a cloth and he will place it in the Homa Kundam. So, this indicates that  Dahana Samskara of the snake which you killed is over.

7. Another snake made of wheat dough is taken by the preist and they will leave it some where out side. It is believed that, as that snake’s family grows on, our generations and our family also will be flourishing. 

This will complete your pooja on the first day.

8. Go to your room and take bath and change your clothes. Come to the dining hall in Adi Subrahmanya temple premises and have your lunch. You will be given Rice, Sambar, Rasam, Butter Milk.

9. As you participated in Dahana Samskara you should not enter in to the temple on that day. I think you should not go in to the Adi Subrahmanya temple also after the pooja.

10. Evening you can do Pradakshinas around the Adi Subrahmanya temple(outside only)  .

11. Dinner is forbidden. Tiffin will be provided by the temple at 6.30 P.M. Be there by 6.30 P.M.

 SECOND DAY

Time Duration:6A.M TO 8A.M

On second day we are asked to report by quarter to 6 A.M as pooja starts by 6A.M sharp.

 

1. All arrangements are made by the preists on the first day evening itself.

2. Go and sit in your places, where you performed your first day’s pooja. Same preist will attend.

3. Now you can see a snake rangoli filled with Turmeric powder and Kumkum, snake idol and Pindas .

4. On the first day, you completed Dhahanakanda Of the snake killed by you. Now you have to do Pindapradana. The whole ritual is done by the preist itself you need not do anything.

5. After the pooja preist will take the Pindas, and leave them outside. I think Pindas are also made of wheat flour. Now pooja is completed.

6. You will be called to take  blessings of the main preist.

7. Now GO PUJA is done outside the hall by the main preist and you have to do Pradakshinas to the cow.  You can do it while you are leaving after you complete   Brahmachari Pooja also. 

8. Now Brahmacharis will come into the hall. They will sit according to their age. Though dakshina is included in the ticket itself, you can see every one offering dhakshina to them and touching their feet.

9. Breakfast will be arranged by the temple itself. Go for the breakfast after the completion of the pooja. Milk, Coffee, Tea are also offered.

10. At 12p.m you have to attend for Nagaprathista. It will be done at Nagaprathista Mandapam, in premises of the main temple .GET SANKALPAM  DONE AT SANKALPA MANDIR. It is better to be there at the earliest as crowd gathers there to see elephant  praying Lord Subrahmanya. Meanwhile if you are interested you can do other poojas available depending upon the time. We went for Aslesha Bali pooja .

11. They will give you one full coconut and one half coconut and small sticks in the prasadam cover. We were told to keep those sticks in our pooja room and not to eat onion until we eat the sweet prepared by using those coconuts. As it takes 2 days to reach our place we were told to eat half coconut before eating outside.

12. Take your lunch at the dinning hall, in the main temple

ASLESHA BALI POOJA

      POOJAS ARE NOT DONE ON DHASHAMI, FASTING DAYS LIKE EKADASI, SHIVARATRI, ASTAMI, ECPLISE DAYS, AND FIFTEEN DAYS DURING ANNUAL FESTIVAL. JUST FIND OUT BEFORE PLANNING THE TRIP.

        Aslesha Bali pooja if performed on Aslesha Nakshatra, will give good results. It is believed that when performed on other days it won,t have power. In Kukke this pooja is performed in two shifts. Ticket for this pooja is 400Rs. You can get them in the counter. GOTO  SANKALPA MANDIR  IN THE MAIN TEMPLE AND GET SANKALPAM DONE BY ANY OF THE PREISTS AVAIALABLE THERE. After Sankalpa go to the Aslesha Bali pooja. Rangoli of a snake is drawn and Pindas made of rice are offered. We couldn’t see anything as so many people gathered there. Here also you are given cover of full coconut as prasadam. Prepare sweet using this coconut and don’t eat food or curry made using onion until you eat that coconut. 

NAGAPRATHISTA

        Ticket for NagaPrathista is 400Rs. Ticket should be obtained before 10 A.M. It is done near NagaPrathista Mandapam after MahaaPooja in the main temple. Ticket is given at the counter. Preist will come and do Abishekam with water to the idol of the snake. Small Square shaped stones on which snake are carved are kept in pooja and after pooja you are given Prasadam.

PRATHANA (PRAYER)  

        For marriage, Santhanaprapthi, Employment, and relief from chronic skin diseases and various problems, Prathana is performed after MahaPooja either at 12-20P.M or 7.30P.m. Devotees are required to obtain receipt from the Seva counter. Better find out the exact time.

OFFERINGS MADE HERE

ABAYA VINAYAKA TEMPLE

        Those who are suffering from Nagadosha will offer snakes idols which are made of silver in the hundi. They are available in the shops, small one costs around 50rs. Different organs shapes are made in silver, depending upon our problem we can offer them. For skin diseases you can offer skin shape made of silver it costs around 20Rs.

 

TEMPLES TO VISIT

1. Abaya Vinayaka Temple

2. Biladwara

3. Vana Durga Temple 

MAP OF THE HOTELS IN KUKKE

VANA DURGA TEMPLE