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SARPA-KAVU (Groves of Snakes or Snake Shrines) of KERALA
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.
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.
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.