The mysteries and wonders of the world are never-ending and are too perplexing and surprising. From the human mind to many objects in the universe is a hidden world of mystery. Several places in the world have zillions of mysteries buried deep inside them that still remain unsolved and unexplained.
Some unusual, weird, and strange Kerala temples are also on the list of places in the world with mysterious secrets. Unconventional deities, weird rituals, the rite of exorcism, and the strange and supernatural mysteries surrounding these temples are what make them rare and bizarre. Many have often tried to unravel the mysteries behind them, but all the efforts were in vain and till today no human and not even science could solve them.
If you are a person who loves exploring mysterious temples, then join us on this virtual tour to take a look at the fascinating mysteries of the unusual, weird, and strange temples in Kerala that have baffled people throughout the ages.
Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple – Where a Brahmin Lady Gave Birth to a Five-Headed Snake Child.
There is a temple in Kerala whose legend has it that a Brahmin lady at this temple gave birth to a five-headed snake child. Can you believe this? As per the legends, centuries back, an unexpected and huge fire broke out in the forest around the dwelling place of Nagaraja which burnt down the forest and the serpents in the forest were injured and burnt. A childless couple, Vasudeva and Sreedevi who were the inhabitants of Mannarasala Illam at the time nursed the serpents back to health with utmost care and devotion. Nagaraja who was gratified by this act of the couple made an appearance before them and said that he himself would incarnate as their son and stay here permanently in the form of a serpent. Thus, Sreedevi gave birth to two sons: a five-headed snake child and a human child.
Of all the places of serpent worship in the world, none is more legendary and awe-inspiring than Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple in Kerala, as it is blessed and envisaged by the creator of Kerala, Lord Parasurama. Nestled in a forest glade and filled with images of snakes of various sizes and shapes, the famous Nagaraja Temple of Mannarasala is dedicated to the serpent god, Nagaraja. The legends and unique rituals associated with this temple are beyond expectations. This is the only temple in the world where the pooja and other rituals are carried out by a woman whom the devotees fondly call Mannarasala Amma. This unique temple is situated in Haripad, Alleppey district.
Chengannur Mahadeva Temple – Which Celebrates Menstruating Goddess
Though sounds strange, there is a temple in Kerala that celebrates its menstruating Goddess. What makes Chengannur Mahadeva Temple unique and unusual from other temples in Kerala is that it ascribes a human trait to the divine deity – Goddess Parvati menstruates here. The temple of this bleeding Goddess is situated in Chengannur, in the Alleppey district of Kerala and Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are the presiding deities here.
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The unique festival of this temple connected to the menstruation of Goddess Parvathy Devi is known as ‘THRIPUTHARATTU’ and is regarded as a symbol of fertility. The four-day festival is celebrated when the sign of menstruation is seen on the vesture of Devi. The senior woman of a Brahmin family, Thazhamon Madom where the tantris of Sabarimala reside is called upon to confirm if the Devi is menstruating. Once it is confirmed, soon Devi’s idol will be shifted into a small room (thriputhu room) off the sanctum sanctorum and the temple remains closed for four days, marking the beginning of the Thriputharattu Festival. ‘Bleeding Goddess’ and menstruation signs on her clothing? This is quite bizarre and absolutely beyond one’s imagination.
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple – Where Verbally Abusing the Goddess is a Ritual
Imagine thousands of devotees verbally abusing and shouting lewd, crude, offensive, and abusive cries at their goddess as a form of worship! Weird… isn’t it? Dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, who is a form of Goddess Kali, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple in the Thrissur district of Kerala is one of the rarest temples in the world where devotees abuse the deity during the annual Bharani Festival of the temple. And this ritual is believed to please the goddess.
The bizarre seven-day Bharani Festival begins with the ritual known as ‘Kozhikkallu Moodal’ that involves the sacrifice of cocks and the shedding of their blood to appease the Goddess Kali and her demons who take delight in blood offerings. During the festival, the temple oracles (Velichappad) dress like the goddess and are said to be possessed by her, wearing red apparel, and carrying swords, running around the temple in a confused trance state. They hit their heads with the sickle-shaped sword and blood pours freely. They enter the temple and yell out lewd, bawdy, abusive cries at the goddess. This is followed by the ritual of purification the next day.
Thiruvarpu Sree Krishna Temple – Where the Deity Lord Krishna is Always Hungry.
Did you know the deity Lord Krishna of Thiruvarpu Sree Krishna Temple is always hungry? This is quite interesting! It is believed that if nivedyam (offering to the deity) is not offered to the Lord immediately after Abhishekam (pouring pure milk or water on the head of the deity) Lord Krishna would feel hungry as a result of which the waist belt of the Lord would fall away from His body. So ‘strong’ is Lord Krishna’s ‘hunger pang’ that the Thiruvarpu Temple stays open even during eclipse times when all the temples across the country close as it is considered inauspicious; so that Lord Krishna doesn’t go hungry.
Thiruvarpu Sree Krishna Temple is beautifully placed on the banks of the Meenachil River in the Kottayam district of Kerala.One strange belief among devotees is that Lord Krishna, the deity of this Temple, after enjoying the Ushapayasam would proceed to Ambalapuzha Temple by noon to enjoy the Payasam there and then proceeds to Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Trivandrum to enjoy the dinner (Athazham). Finally, the Lord returns to Thiruvarpu the next day early morning 2-00 AM for Ushapayasam. Hence, it is the only Temple which Opens as early as 2-00 AM every day.
Another interesting feature of this temple is that the temple priest is given the keys along with an AXE to open the door in the early hours. The aim is to break open the door with an axe if there is any delay in opening the door with the key as the people believe that the deity cannot tolerate hunger.
Chottanikara Bhagavathy Temple – Exorcise Demons & Evil Spirits.
Kerala’s Chottanikara Bhagavathy Temple is not just a Hindu shrine of worship but a unique place of ‘exorcism’ and healing. The temple is famed for curing devotees with mental disorders and troubles caused to them by demons and evil spirits. As you walk around the temple, you will come across a huge Pala tree full of thick and long nails. And you know, these nails are said to be hammered by the patients themselves with their foreheads.
The mentally disturbed and afflicted are brought to the priest who interacts with them and asks them to surrender themselves to the goddess and they are also asked to drive iron nails into the trunk of the Pala tree until it has pierced deep into the trunk. The practice of hammering the nail into the tree indicates that the demon has been cast away and trapped within the tree and the person is free from their illness. Is this true? Well, this remained a mystery unsolved till date.
Sri Anandapadmanabha Swami Temple or Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod – Guarded by a vegetarian crocodile, Babiya.
A temple in Kerala guarded by a crocodile, strange but true! This crocodile who is named Babiya was not a surprise visitor at Sri Anandapadmanabha Swami Temple but has been the official resident of the temple pond for the past 75 years.
But sad to say, the crocodile Babiya of Ananthapura Lake Temple which attracted several devotees and visitors for over seven decades was found dead in the lake few weeks back.
Can we ever imagine a fiercely hardcore carnivorous animal embracing only vegan food??? We cannot! But this mystic crocodile of Kerala was a ‘Vegetarian’ who ate only the prasadam (temple offerings) that are fed to her by the temple priest twice a day. Yes, seriously!! Though there are a lot of fish and turtles in the temple pond, Babiya had never consumed them. Also, had never attacked any human. Hence, the temple authorities considered Babiya as a ‘divine crocodile’.
How the crocodile came to the temple pond and who named it is still a hidden mystery. The devotees believed it was a godly miracle and also believed that Babiya was a messenger of Lord Padmanabhan himself.
The 9th-century-old Sri Anandapadmanabha Swami Temple or the Ananthapura Lake Temple is situated in the Kasaragod district of Kerala. It is the only lake temple in Kerala and is considered the moolasthanam, the original abode of Lord Anandapadmanabha, the deity of Sri Padmanabha Swami Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.
Recently, for the first time in recorded history Babiya, the crocodile entered the temple premises and spend some time there and went back after the chief priest asked her to go to its permanent habitat – the temple pond. The photographs of the crocodile at the temple premise went viral on social media and were shared by many people and they believe that it was a miracle by God.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum – The Mother of All Mysteries
Here comes the most mysterious temple in the world! The famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram can get as mysterious as possible. This is the world’s richest temple which shot to fame in 2011 when five secret cellars among the six huge secret cellars (namely Vault A, B, C, D, E, F) of the temple were opened after being sealed for decades. What was revealed from these secrets cellars would render anyone speechless – sacks full of antique gold coins, diamonds, antique gold ornaments, a gold idol of Lord Maha Vishnu, golden crowns, golden utensils, golden elephants, weapons, idols, and gemstones which are supposed to estimate a total over 1 trillion dollars.
Vault B which is not yet opened is where all the mysteries and secrets are hidden. According to the Trust members and other learned Astrologers of India, the secret Vault B is considered highly mysterious, dangerous, and too risky to unveil. The secret Vault has steel doors with no latches or bolts and is believed to be guided by two enormous cobras.
Many myths and superstitions surround Vault B that ancient saints have sealed the door by chanting the powerful Naga Pasam Mantra. Hence, it is believed that only a highly erudite ‘sadhu’ who is familiar with the knowledge of extricating ‘Naga Pasam’ by chanting a ‘Garuda Mantra‘ can open the secret Vault and no human effort is needed. But what’s so perplexing is that you could find no one in the world who knows the ‘Garuda Mantra’. It is also believed that if any attempts are made with man-made technology to open the mysterious Vault B other than chanting the sacred ‘Garuda Mantra’, it may lead to major catastrophes or even the world might be in danger. Till today, no one knows what lies behind the closed doors of Vault B and is for sure one of the unsolvable mysteries of the world.
Kerala Temples are much more than a place of worship; full of unexplained secrets and unsolved mysteries, it creates an extraordinary world far beyond our imaginations! Visit the mysterious temples in Kerala and discover the breathtaking secrets behind them.
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