ok, i saw the new and old. are the same old idols used in the new restored kaavu? also i see 2 of them. which is the naga-devata? Also, if they're the old idols itself, how old are they, who made it?

"All the trees were gone and the stones looked afresh."
Hmmm.. I like a sarpakkavu which is bounded by trees n creepers n green grass n moss..

Thanks for the hi-resolution pics. I would like to see a close-up of the naga-devata if possible. any time.

ALos, for a family which is devoted to nagas, how is the relationship with garuda?

Thats a lot of questions asked. :D
1) The idols used are the same except the one you see in the middle. It's called 'Chitrakoodam' and is a new one.
2) Naga-devata (Naga-yakshi) is the one you see in the left. The one in the right is naga-rajavu.
3) I'm not sure how old the idols are. I'm not sure who made them either. Good that you reminded me. I'll enquire about it.
4) When a Sarppakkavu is reconstructed, there is no other go than to clean the whole place to make a new one. But for the next 25 years, no tree would be cut, not even a single plant will be plucked from the premises. This is mandatory.
5) If you need a much better close up photo, Ill get it next time when I'm home.
6) Garuda ??? Where did that come to picture :D. I dont know about it either. Lemme check with my parents.

Thanxalottt :)
1. What is chitrakoodam? I see that it is not an idol? How is it related to sarppakkavu?
2. Who is more prominent, naga-devata or naga-rajavu? How're they related to each other?
3. garuda is 'enemy from birth' to nagas. thatz from the puranas. eg: the mohanlal movie 'sreekrishna-parunth' touches the garuda-naga relationship and its consequences in a family to some extent.
4. Great to know the place would be untouched for next 25 years. But would you plant any tree there? Or should some bird/bats do that :)

Sri Garuda Temple
Near T D Temple
Ernakulam
Cochin 682002

This temple is situated on the outer prakaras of the T.D.temple. The idol of Sri Garuda is about 6 feet in its height.

1) Chitrakoodam is the house for nagams. Every sarppakkavu will have that.
2) How would you campare two gods? :D Anyways, Naga-devatas idol is always bigger than naga-rajavu. I dont know whether that makes one more important than another.
3) Garuda, hmmmm. Google can give you better answers than me :) I dont know any Garuda temples or even the fact of whether he is worshipped or not.
4) In kerala, you dont have to plant any trees to make a forest. Just leave the place untouched for some years. Dense vegetation will soon develop there. And that's what we will do with the sarppakkavu too.

TD temple must be this: as you said, from Google:
Cochin Thirumala Devaswom
Gosripuram
Cochin 682002
This temple is the biggest and greatest socio-religious institution of Gowda Saraswath Brahmin Samaj and is one of the Mahakshetrams of kerala. It is situated in the heart of Mattancherry town in a vast spread area. This temple was established by Saraswat Brahman Community in 1599 AD.

Ya google gives answers cuz people like you give first hand info ;)

Ideally there would be hierarchies in any kingdom, Like wise ther could be for naga-lokam too? May be naga-rajavu and naga-devata is totally diff that we cant give such a comparison? like king and god?

I remember therez some name for naga-rajavu? May be not? Was Thakshakan killed by naga-rajavu? Ohh!

no, Parikshit descendant of Bharata was killed by Thakshaka the snake.

Naga rajavu and naga-devata should be husband and wife I believe. They had several children (snakes!!! obviously) and I believe Thakshaka was one among them.

Naga lokam is also believed to be there and is depicted in a lot of movies. Naga manikyam is also believed to be true by firm believers in traditions and rituals. It would be really difficult to get authentic information about these.

Garudan and nagams are born enemies. So they wont be worshipped together anywhere. I have never been or heard about Garuda temples. Thanks for the information you pasted from google.

Of course, they won't be worshipped together. Was just wondering since they're enemies, how naga worshippers perceive garuda.

Ok now am keeping the bag of questions down. More later :D

Ok got it.. :D

Vasuki is the naga-raja. The guy who churned palazhi. He holds the naga-manikyam. The naga-devata must be his sister Manasa-devi. Manasa is the queen of nagas. Hence not wife of naga-raja.
We forgot that nagas are children of Kashyapa and Kadru.

More at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_%28mythology%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_worship

and Garuda is son of Kashyapa and Vinata. That makes him naga-raja's half brother.

Half brothers always fight ;) Like Mandrake and Luciphor (The Cobra)

Incidently, Garuda is carrier of Vishnu and Anantha (rt?) the naga is on whom Vishnu rests.

Kadru and Vinatha are Kasyapan's wifes.
Kadru's sons are all snakes.
Vinathas sons are Arunan and Garudan
Arunan is the chariot of Sun.
Garudan is the youngest and he is always an enemy to snakes as snakes are Kadru's kids...who put Garuda's mom Vinatha in to miserable life..
So when Garuda wanted to destroy all nagams Mahavishnu made him his carrier thus controlling garuda's power
It is believed that every 'thara' of houses have sarppams inside it and for each family, there is one sarppakkavu where the deity is worshipped..
Sarppasaapam (Curse of snake) can spread across generations.....
So the sarppakkavu should be properly taken care...poojas should be proper...
We should enter that place only with pure mind and body

Courtesy: Manju Mohan (http://360.yahoo.com/mgmrm)

thanks to you and manju for the great discussion we had. It was refreshing :D

so when you go home next you would have a lot of qns.. like why the naga-raja is smaller than his counterpart..like are the windows on the wall for snakes to come in.. like that ;)

"All the trees were gone :( :(( :((and the stones looked afresh."
I like a sarpakkavu which is bounded by trees n creepers n green grass n moss..
I think all those resoration now a days ...we make concrete jungles///dont you think we are destroying the old things.....
Sarppakkavu in my mind (though didnt seen many)is the with in a small jungle with untoucched soil and peace where as a child i will have lil scare to go alone...anyway thank u for the post and please plant many trees as much as u can...hope one day i can see that with lot of green around

Roxy was also saying the same. You guys didn't get the concept of restoration.

I agree that Sarppakkavu by design and concept needs to be untouched, free from human intervention. That's why we see a lot of trees, animals and snakes around the place. The one at my home was also the same. But after years, these trees become huge and due to fallen tree branches and wear and tear, slowly the walls and the Sarppakkavu degrades in condition. It's said that it happens at around 25 years and it's the snake goddess who does this to remind us of the restoration.

At that time we take the idols out, destroy the existing structure and construct it from scratch. And then we place the idols back which is of course a grant ceremony. Slowly the vegetation and habitat will grow back to the old shape. This restoration and destruction once in 25 years in inevitable and lemme assure you, it's good for maintaining the whole place also. This was not our decision to do all these. This is the custom.

The whole ceremony was presided over Pampan Mekkadan from Thrissur who is believed to be the last word with regard to snakes and their worship. Hope the confusion is out now.

open ur other blog @ blogspot for others 2 comment.

thanks for the comment in detail. It was really a new info to me. Mnay Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want to know abt Naga Manikyam & Naga Muthu I hade a Naga Muthu with me