Sarpa Dosha is a dosha that can haunt an individual through his past, present or future life as it is considered to be very inauspicious. A sarpa dosha generally occurs due to killing of a snake in the past or present life by an individual or his father/grandfather without any puja being done to remedy it. There are temples in India where Sarpa Dosha can be remedied by performing a puja to rid the individual from the malefic effects of the dosha. One of those temples is the Kukke Subramanya Temple in Karnataka.

 

The Kukke Subramanya Temple is located in the scenic Western Ghats range of Karnataka. Overlooking the temple is the famous mountain of Kumara Parvatha, a popular hiking destination for trekkers from across South India. Kumara Parvatha forms a picture-perfect backdrop to the temple entrance and the Shesha Parvatha (a mountain shaped like a six-headed mythological serpent, adjacent to Kumara Parvatha) looks like a cobra with its open hood, as if protecting the temple shrine of Lord Subramanya.

 

The devotees enter the courtyard from the doorway at the back, and take a round around the deity. Between the sanctorum and the portico entrance, there is the Garuda pillar covered with silver. It is believed that this pillar was enchanted and planted there to shield devotees from the poisonous flames arising from the breath of Vasuki, who resides inside. Beyond the pillar is the outer hall, the inner hall, and then the sanctorum of Sri Subramanya. At the center of sanctorum is a pedestal. On the upper dais stands the deity of Sri Subramanya and the deity of Vasuki and, at a somewhat lower level, the deity of Shesha.

 

Ritual worship is offered to these deities every day. The temple is slowly increasing in popularity, owing to its religious significance and importance. Other than the Sarpa Dosha Puja, the Ashlesha Bali puja is an important puja of significance in the temple. Lord Subramanya is known as the protector from Kalasarpa dosha and Kuja dosha. Hence, the temple is considered to be the most important temple in India when it comes to Sarpa

 

To offer a puja at this enigmatic temple, click here