
Nagercoil
is 19 kms from Kanyakumari on the way to Padmanabhapuram.
Nagercoil is the capital of Kanyakumari. Until 1956, it was a part of
Kerala, but now it is in Tamil Nadu. Nagercoil is famous for Nagaraja Temple
and the name derived from this Temple. It is situated at the Southern part
of Tamil Nadu. The Nagaraja temple situated here is unique in many respects.
Though Nagaraja (Serpent God) is the presiding deity, the images of Lord
Siva and Anathakrishna (Vishnu) are also enshrined. The Nagaraja is
installed on the ground where it was originally found.
The prasadam distribution to the devotees is wet sand scooped out from the
ground where the image of the Nagaraja deity is enshrined. The images of the
Jain Theerthakaras, Mahavira and Parswanathar are found in the pillars of
the temple. The entrance to the temple is reminiscent of the Chinese
architecture of Budha Vihara. The Nagalinga flower found here is also
symbolic of Nagaraja.