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| Kukke Subramanya temple, rathas (chariots) in front. Karnataka. gotirupati.com |
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| , Prakara, Kukke Subramanya temple. Karnataka, wikimapia.org |
Kukke Subramanya temple located in the village of Subramanya in Sullia Taluq, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka is a well known one dedicated to Karthikeya or Subramanya, who is supposedly the lord of all serpents and the son of Lord Shiva. He is the Deva Senapathi - commander of the army of the Devas. This place is about 16 kms from Dharmasthala and 105 kms from Mangaluru. Shri Sringeri Saradha Mutt, Uttaradi Mutt and Sri Subramanya Mutt are located in the surrounding areas.
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| Kukke Subramanya temple located in the village of Subramanya Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka. www.templedetails.com |
Though the entrance to the temple is through the east, the main entrance is at the back of the sanctum and devotees normally enter through the west entrance and get into the inner quadrangle The silver plated Garuda Kamba (Garuda: eagle; Kamba: pillar) is located between the sanctum and the entrance and the belief here is that this pillar protects the devotees from the poisonous breath of Vasuki, the serpent who resides inside the sanctum or srikovil.
There are two halls and the inner one leads to the sanctum where on the pedestal you can see the images of Shri Subrahmanya and Vasuki and below them Aadi Shesha, the latter two being serpents.
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| Kukke Subramanya temple, Karnataka,Images of Lord Subramanya (top) with serpents Vasuki and Aadishesha (bottom). www.sssbalvikas.org |
Lord Subramanya came to this place and washed his primary war weapon Sakthi in the nearby river, upon defeating the forces of Asura (demons) and their chiefs Tharakasura and Soorapadman on orders from Lord Shiva. The Asuras gave serious, unbearable troubles to the celestial beings - Devas. Indra, king of the Devas, approached the lord and prayed to him to take his daughter Devasena as his wife and Subramanya consented. It is believed the celestial wedding took place here. The waters from all the holy rivers were brought here for the wedding ceremony and that these waters fell down, coalesced and became a river, now known as Kumaradhara. Lord Subramanya stayed here upon the request of
Vasuki, the King of serpents to give continuous protection to them from Garuda. This is the reason why this Kshetra has become popular Parikara sthala for getting rid of Sarpa Dosha,
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| Kukke Subrahmanyatemple, Karnataka, en.wikipedia.org |
The temple is decorated with lot of Bells mainly offered by worshipers who have special wishes. Ashlesa Puja and Sarpa Dosha Pujas are the special ones conducted here. Inside the temple, there is a cluster of Lingas known as Kukke Lingas.There are shrines here for Kala Bhairava and Uma Maheshwara.
Just like temples of Kerala, devotees entering the temple must remove the upper garment - undershirt (banions), shirt, etc. Lungi or Kaili is a taboo. As for women, they should not wear short skirts, etc. Salwar-Kamiz is allowable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kukke_Subramanya_Temple