SRI MUKTHI NAGA KSHETHRA
Dear friends,
After seeing the Mukthi Naga Kshethra in KENGERY, Bangalore in Divya Darsanam, Sun TV on last Saturday, I was prompted to visit the temple on the same day itself being in Bangalore.
An instinct came to my mind to write about the temple immediately after the visit which is fulfilled now.
Sincerely,
Gopala Krishnan 28-5-2012
Reposted on 21-8-2020 after editing and updating R. Gopala Krishnan
1.. Naga worship
Naga worship varies in different states in different forms. In Tamilnadu there are a number of puttu [termite mounds]koils. In the idol form it is worshipped at Nagerkovil, Tirunageswaram etc.
At Nagerkovil it is the sand collected from the bottom of the idol is given as prasadam. At Thirunageswaram, it is abishekam with milk is very important where the idol changes to blue during abhishekam.
In Kerala instead of puttu it is medium forest is seen at Mannarsala, very small forest and muddy lake area at Ameda etc.
In Kerala temple use of turmeric paste and powder is common with worshiping of Naga idols. Even prasadam is combined with turmeric.
While worshipping in Naga temples very much purity in body and mind is important. It is known to all. Purity of body for at least 7 days is very much specific for sarpabali at Ameda
In all Naga temples, the worships on day with Ayilyam as star are important in all months. Worship is done for sarpa dosha in Naga temples. Some temples like Ameda in Kerala conduct Sarpa Bali. (Sraadha to sarpa). Normally people conduct sarpabali on advice by divine people, astrologers etc.
2.. Naga temple at Kengery
It was the first time I worshipped in a Naga temple in Karnataka. So combined with divine thoughts after seeing the TV Program, I was thinking how a Naga temple would appear in Karnataka. We cannot compare one Naga temple with other. Each has its own uniqueness. One CANNOT EXCEL the other. Each has its own merits.
2a Swarna Ganapathi
This Mukthi Naga temple is at 18thKilometer in the MYSORE ROUTE from Bangalore City Railway Station. Just about half a kilometer before a VERY BIG SWARNA GANAPATHI gives darsan and blesses us. It is a separate temple on the left side while coming from Bangalore. One can see the glittering from about 300 meters away from the gold plated idol.
2b. How to reach the temple
There is a right turn at the Junction of Rajarajeswari Dental College point. We have to take drive for 5 KMs to right and again a signboard indicates the way to temple again taking a 2nd right turn. We are given two times direction to THE RIGHT POINT.
The travel along somewhat grassy up, a preferable area of snakes to live is about one Kilometer to reach the temple premises. The temple is in a somewhat plane open area. There are no compound walls, no borders for the Nagaraja here.
The temple has completed renovation recently. now for the convenience of devotees. Address and phone number of the temple I have given in the end.
2c. Darsan timings
Somewhat similar to Kadampuzha temple in Kerala, the temple closes early evening. Worshipping time is from 7.30 AM to 7.30 PM only. It is continuous.
3.. Other deities enshrined nearby.
In the complex three more deities are enshrined with separate sanctum. One is Mahaganapathi, another is lord Muruga and third is Vana Durga.
The order of worship told is to start with is Maha Ganapathi. The idol of Ganapathi is big. After worshipping Mahaganapathi we are asked to worship FIVE HEADED NAGA VERY BIG IN SIZE. This Naga is to be worshipped before worshiping another Naga smaller and five headed and called MOOLA STHANAM. This Moola Mthana Naga is the main deity of the temple.
4.. Worship of Moola Sthana deity.
The emphasis told in the temple to circumambulate the small sanctum 9 times after performing sankalpa by the priest.
From the administrative office we can purchase a silver naga idol for Rs 50-00 and it has to be held in the right hand. The priest in the temple issue a samkalpa ticket and recites the samkalpa taking our name, star, gothra for wellbeing while we worship the Mukthi Naga and direct us to perform 9 circumambulations around the sanctum keeping Nagaraja in hand and then place in a hundi in the front with prayers.
It is affirmed we would get blessing of Nagaraja. Yes. Nagaraja is Rahu and Kshipra prasadi to tell in one sentence.
The priest leisurely collects Rs 11-00 for the samkapla ticket, and includes all the names told by us. There is no restriction about the number of persons. Even without naga samkalpam can be done and prayers offered.
I am not sure either due to early evening, I could not find any person distributing prasadam either as flowers or as eatable items etc. Probably it could be a peculiarity of the temple.
5.. Vana Durga
Somewhat in an angle of 30' is the Vana Durga shrine. About 15 feet from it somewhat middle between the temples is the manputtu which attracted me very much. There is only one puttu[ termite mound] in the premises.
6.. Manputtu[ termite-mound]
It is very surprising in the greenish grass area a medium manputtu appearing as SPRANG UP. Prayers are offered to this manputtu.
7.. Nagaraja and Naga yakshies
As in the Kerala temples there is a separate idol of Nagaraja with two Nagayakshis close to Vanadurga and prayers are offered here also. There is no sanctum for them.
8.. Arrangements of Naga idols
There is an exiting Nagraja and Nagarani placement in a vertical triangular form near it in steps which attracts every person. Hundreds of Naga idols are systematically arranged in steps in triangular from. All idols are in black granite and oiled and giving a shiny appearance.
9.. Tall muruga
Finally we complete the worship with big Muruga in a separate platform.
10. Beliefs with the temple
In the Sun TV Divya Darshanam, many people have told their experiences of accomplishing and solving different problems by worshipping in the temple.
All Naga temples are unique and sincere prayers with belief are ALWAYS FULFILLED. Astrologers suggest in many occasions for Naga worship to the devotees
11. Temple address
I visited the temple on a Saturday evening. At that time itself 10 qualis type vehicles waiting after bringing devotees. It is best to go by car or taxi to temple though I found persons arriving by autorickshaws from nearby places.
I am told general worship by the devotees is after purchasing the Naga, offer samkalpa with prayer, make nine circumambulation, with prayer holding Naga, and put the naga idol in the hundi.
While coming out of the temple I said my daughter, her child and my wife accompanied me, it was a unique divine darsan something peculiar to Karnataka and gave me much mental satisfaction. I am giving below the address and phone number for the convenience of members desiring to visit the temple. A sincere prayer will always be fulfilled in the temple by aspiring devotees. The name of the temple itself is Mukthi Naga Kshethra. SRI MUKTHI NAGA KSHETHRA- RAMO HALLIBIG BANIAN TREE ROAD ,KENGERY BANGALORE- 60 Phone 080-26713583
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