Snake Worship in Kerala

by Santosh

Mythology says that Kerala was created from the Arabian Sea and given to the brahmins (namboothiris) as a "donation" by Parasuraman (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) to save himself from the sins of killing numerous kshathriya kings. The land was full of forests and poisonous snakes were found in plenty. To live in the land without destroying  nature someone found a method of Snake worship in Sarpa Kavu (Snake forests).

These sarpa kavu were there in all the agricultural plots throughout Kerala. Once in six months or once in a year there used to be puja (offerings) to the snakes in these Sarpa Kavu. None of the items offered to the snakes formed a part of the snakes’ food. But, it attracted the rats and in turn rat-snakes. These rat-snakes were the food for the poisonous snakes (King Cobra etc.).

Even now, there are some sarpa kavu in Kerala were people are worshiping snakes. To these "preserved forests" none are allowed to enter even for collecting firewood or anything else. Another interesting fact is that these forests are filled with trees and plants which are herbs for the treatment of snake bites.

So, tell me, are we too much superstitious or logically religious?