Shiva Linga Pooja by a Snake

As Further Confirmation on the Events considered as Miracle –

Cobra doing Bilwa Archana to Sivalinga

Dear Dr. Bala,
Thanks your mail. I have further confirmation from my house care-taker in that village that the Naga Serpent has been regularly visiting the Siva Idol for the last three Sooriya Grahanams. The priest and some locals had arranged for a photographer a few months back during Sooriya Grahanam. In fact, they had kept milk offering also for the Naga. But the snake did not appear on the day. On this particular Grahanam day when the priest opened the Sanctum Sanctorum he saw the snake on the top of the Siva Linga idol. He immediately called Mr. Thenappan the photographer who lives in Thrunagesvaram a kilo meter from this village. Meantime a dozen or more people including my house caretaker had assembled to witness this miracle. In front of their eyes the Naga went back to the "Vilwa tree" plucked the leaves and came back all the way to drop it on the Siva Linga. All these have been photographed by Mr. Thenappan (photos received directly from the photographer enclosed).

It may be pertinent to note that many of the residents of this Agaraharm are named Nagarajan or Nagalingam for a few generations as I know. In fact my original / Sarman is Nagarajan because of this tradition. Interestingly, the ruling deity of the temple in Thirunagesvaram (Raghu Sthalam - 1 Km from this village) is named Naganatha Swamy and that temple has a separate big Raghu Sanadhi with His two Consorts. Perhaps there is a divine link between all these facts and happenings.
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News seen in Tamil News papers “Dinamalar” and “Dhinakaran”.
Please see Photo below in the next pages.



Dinamalar – Miracle on January 15, 2010 – Solar Eclipse day [Translation]
Kumbakonam: At the Siva Temple in Thepperumanallur, large numbers of devotees witnessed a miracle of a
Cobra doing Archana for Siva Lingam with Vilvam leaves. In Thanjavoor district of Tamil Nadu, near
Thirunageswaram, there is a Siva Temple at Thepperumanallur. Here Vedhanthanayagi [Sakthi] with
Viswanathaswamy [Siva] are the main Deities. In this Temple, it has been customary to do archana with
Rudhraksha only. Yesterday morning, just before Solar Eclipse, at about 10:30 AM Sivachariar Satish, priest of the Temple, noticed a Cobra lying on top of the Siva Linga. The snake slowly descended from there and went towards the Vilvam tree which is the Sthala Viruksham – holy tree of the temple. It climbed the tree and picked a Vilvam leaf and came back and entered the Sannadhi. It hissed at any devotee trying to get near it. It climbed onto the Siva Linga and opened it hood and dropped the Vilvam Leaf. This miracle was witnessed by all devotees who were excited. Then the Cobra went again and again to do the same repeated two or three times. As the news spread all over the village, hundreds of villagers rushed to the Temple to have the Dharshan of this event of Cobra with Siva.
[ Note: Vilvam leaf (Bilva Leaf) is holy and special for Siva Pooja]

News in Dinakaran – dated: January 16, 2010[Translation]

Kumbakonam: People here got excited seeing a Cobra picking Vilva leaves and doing Archana / pooja for Siva Linga. There is a famous Temple for Sri Viswanatha at Thepperumanallur near Kumbakonam. Here, yesterday the priest opened the sanctum doors at about 10:30 AM and went to fetch water. At that time he noticed a Cobra descending from the Temple Vilva (Bilva) tree carrying a Vilva leaf in its mouth. It entered the Sanctum of Sivalinga, went around the Vigraha and dropped the leaf on top of the Linga. Then they saw the same being repeated one more time carrying a Vilva leaf and putting it on the Siva Linga. The Priest explained “It is doing the archana during the Solar Eclipse time to wash off its sins”.