WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

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Date: 26 SEPTEMBER 2019

British Summer Time uploaded in London – 15-28

Post No. 7020

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The last stop in my Karnataka tour in September 2019 was Kukke Subrahmanya Temple in Karnataka. After visiting Sringeri, Kollur, Agumbe, Udupi we came to Kukke. It is a small village surrounded by the Western Ghats. Kumara Parvatha Hills and River Dhara added beauty to Kukke. The temple attracts thousands of devotees from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Astrologers advise people who are affected by certain Doshas, particulary Naga Dosha (Dosha= defect, drawback) to do certain Parikaras or Prayachittas (atonement) in some temples. Kukke Subrahmnya was one of such temples.

My driver Narasimha told us that people come stay there for two to five days and finish the rituals. If you do online bookings the temple itself would make arrangements for the Pujas and food. Cheaper accommodation is available in the nearby places. The temple has lot of Naga Prathistas (installation of Snake idols). We were there for short time and had to buy Rs.100 instant Darshan ticket so as to reach Bengaluru by 8 pm.

When the curtain was raised at 12-30 pm we had good darshan in the temple. Another crowd was waiting for the Naga Prathista ceremonies.

Where is Kukke?

It is situated 100 kilometres from Mangaluru and 164 kms from Udupi. The original name was Kukke or basket with which the priest of the temple covered the Kukkelinga ( Lord Shiva). Snake worship is popular in this temple and hundreds of Naga idols are seen.

The legend is that Vasuki, the snake, sought refuge from Lord Subrahmanya to escape from Garuda, the eagle. So snake and Subrahmanya shower grace on the devotees. Other names of Subrahmanya are Skanda, Kartikeya, Kumara and Muruga.

People can bathe in River Dhara and climb or trek Kumara Parvatha Hills if they want to. But one can reach the gate of the temple straight in a car or bus. Along the route people can see small waterfalls, fog topped and cloud capped hills.

See the pictures taken by me.