Nagaradhane
Serpent worship tradition of the Tuluva community in Tulu Nadu.
Nagaradhane is a form of serpent worship practiced by the Tuluva community in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod, collectively known as Tulu Nadu. Along with Bhuta Kola, it is one of the unique traditions of the region. Cobras are revered not only as deities but also as a species to be respected, appeased, and protected for social, religious, and ecological reasons.
Quick Facts
- Region
- Tulu Nadu (coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasaragod)
- Practitioners
- Tuluva community members
- Related traditions
- Bhuta Kola
- Main rituals
- Nagamandala and Aashleshabali
- Ritual instruments
- Dakke (hourglass-shaped instrument)
Facts from the source article.
Origin of Nagaradhane
Cobras have long been associated with power, awe, and respect in India. In Hindu culture, Lord Vishnu rests under the shade of the giant snake Adishesha, and Lord Shiva wears the cobra Vasuki around his neck. The precise origin of Nagaradhane is difficult to trace, though some clans among the Tulu people claim Nagavanshi descent, suggesting that snake worship may have been popularized by them. Although most snake worship rituals are performed by Brahmins, every Tuluva family maintains a Nagabana, where Nagadevatha is worshipped according to the Aliyasantana lineage. Various types of rituals, such as Nagamandala, Ashlesha Bali, and Dakke Bali, are performed to appease snakes. All Tuluva families—including Bunts, Kulala, Moolya, Mogaveera, Billava, Malayali Billava, Tuluva Brahmins, Sapaliga/Sapalya, Madivala, Devadiga, Ganiga, Aachari, Parava/Nalkedaye, Koraga-Harijan, and Tulu and Arebhashe Gowdas—have worshipped Naga from ancient times in their respective Nagabanas and Moolastanas. The cobra worship rituals of Tulu Nadu are unique and differ from other practices. Cobras have their own snake shrines in sacred groves called Nagabana, which feature images of cobras carved on stones. Cutting trees near a Nagabana is forbidden, and harming or killing a cobra is believed to require a cleansing ritual; refusal to perform it is thought to bring a curse from the Cobra for eternity. The concept of Moolastana among communities focuses on worshipping Naga according to Aliyasantana lineage. These Moolastanas are located along the seafront, and communities organized themselves into Grama Sabhas based on Bali/Bari, the Tuluva equivalent of the Gotra system. Each Bari has a dedicated Moolastana, and some have multiple Moolastanas across Tulunadu. Agriculture, particularly paddy cultivation, is predominant in Tulu Nadu, and snakes help protect crops from rodents, which may be a plausible reason for snake worship.
The ritual
In the Tulu Nadu region, snake reverence takes two main forms: Nagamandala and Aashleshabali. Nagamandala is the more elaborate and lengthy of the two, celebrating the sacred union of a male and female serpent. Two priests lead the ritual. The first, called the patri, becomes the male snake by inhaling an areca flower. The second priest, known as the Nagakannika or female snake, dances and circles a large serpent design drawn on the ground with natural pigments. These five colors are white from white mud, red from lime and turmeric, green from powdered leaves, yellow from turmeric, and black from roasted paddy husk. An hourglass-shaped drum called the dakke provides the music. The rite continues until dawn. Aashleshabali is performed on the Ashlesha Nakshatra day. It involves invoking serpent deities, or Sarpa Devatas, through a mix of puja, homa, and food offerings called bali. Each deity receives an offering, and the Sarpa Sooktha is chanted. This ritual seeks the blessings of the serpent gods. A similar practice in Kerala is called Sarpam Thullal or Sarpam Kali. All communities of Tulu Nadu hold snakes in high regard.
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