Thread by @LevinaNeythiri

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Let me introduce u to SARPA-KAVU (groves of snakes or snake shrines) of KERALA.

Almost every temple and every house in Kerala has a space dedicated to NAGA (serpent) Devta.

Like other Hindu practises this too has a SCIENTIFIC reason behind it.

2/n
A Sarpa-Kavu usually has tiny snake idols smeared with turmeric, where a diya(lamp) is lit everyday.

But there are some STRICT rules to be followed, and one of them is —to NOT visit the Sarpa-Kavu often.

This is why Sarpa-kavu has lush green vegetation.

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It’s believed—PARSHURAMA in an effort to let people inhabit Kerala, a densely forested place, promised lord SHIVA to worship snakes and not kill them.
He established 2 Nagaraja temples—Vettikottu & Mannarassala. Latter hs abt 30,000 snake idols & images. Frm the temple 👇

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The science behind establishing these snake groves is— since flora of Sarpa-Kavu is undisturbed, many exotic and MEDICINAL plants are found here.
It has been proven that such “snake-zones”, help in stabilising ECOSYSTEM of land, and that it helps in conserving SOIL & WATER

5/6 There’s an annual ritual called Sarpa-thullal(snake-dance) done at KAVU, performed by people called Pulluvan. It’s done under strict supervision like—Kalam(rangoli) for the occasion should be prepared with 5 colours using NATURAL ingredients. It’s an enthralling experience!

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Sarpa-Kavu is associated with mystical rituals, stories and also with the PAMBATTI SIDHHAR (spiritually evolved sages who could cure with snake venom).
ECO-ZONE is not a new concept for SANATANIS, we have been practising it since ancient times.😊🙏🕉

I hd been dying to write a thread on SNAKEs, or I dont have the right to call myself a SHAIVIST(Shiva-Bhakta).👆 I’m adding a MOHINIYATTAM performance by @MethilDevika on SARPA-TATVAM here. Through dance she explains about SARPA-KAVU. Worth watching! 👍

In the link is another one of my threads on snake.👇 One reason I avoided creating thread on snakes is bcoz of few Pak-trolls who used to call me VISHKANYA (ancient honey traps 🤦‍♀️). That’s a diff story which needs another thread. Lol Some day!!! x.com/levinaneythiri… x.com/LevinaNeythiri…

Pic credit: Pinterest, abodes of Kerala.

#LevThread

Snake temples of KERALA! #Hinduism The tiny snake grooves hidden in lush green vegetation contribute to our ecosystem. This pic is from my maternal ancestral house, sent to me by a relative. 👇Adding this here.

The above snake groove at our ancestral house is atleast a century old or prolly older. Nobody knows! But it has been there forever now.

Grove* and not groove. Sorry!

AYILLIYAM pooja

Update:
Pulluvan pattu. Its associated with Naag-pooja.