Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Hindu temple in Nagercoil, India
The Nagaraja Temple is a southern Indian sanctuary in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to a five-headed serpent deity. The main hall features a sand floor that forms the base of prayer ceremonies.
The sanctuary arose before the 12th century and served local rulers as a site for religious donations. Stone inscriptions from the 16th century document gifts from Travancore king Bhutaalvira Udayamarttandavarman.
The town's name Nagercoil derives from this temple, called Nagarkoyil in Tamil. During the Tamil month of Aavani, devotees pour milk over the many snake statues surrounding the shrine. The annual Shashti festival for Balamurugan features a performance of Suran Padum.
The temple lies in the Kanyakumari district town of Nagercoil, which takes its name from the shrine. The sanctum is topped with thatch and has a sand floor, so visitors remove footwear before approaching. The site is busiest during the Aavani month, when devotees pour milk over the many snake images around the complex.
The sanctum has a thatched roof, a feature not found in other temples. Its sand floor is said to appear black for six months and white for six months, and this sand is given to devotees as prasadam.
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