Kerala: The Kollam temple offers unique cure for snakebites

Bhadrapad Krushnapaksha 7,Kaliyug Varsha 5116

The Achankovil Ayyappa Temple

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): Faith heals and Kollam residents will testify that there has never been a death in the area due to snakebites or any other poisoning thanks to the blessings of Lord Ayyappan at Achankovil temple that is tucked away in the middle of a forest near Punalur.

The belief is that any kind of poisoning — especially snakebites — will be cured if the sandalwood paste of the deity is consumed. Elder generations, residing near the temple, attest this claim. "I have never witnessed a death due to snakebite in our locality. I have also heard the same thing from my father and grandfather," said T K Ramachandran Nair, who stays in the vicinity of the temple.

The Achankovil Ayyappa temple, under the Travancore Devaswom, is one of the five temples where Lord Ayyappa is worshiped in various stages of life from balya (child) to sanyasa (hermit stage).

The temple is an exception in yet another way. Anyone, irrespective of religious beliefs, who seeks a cure for snakebite is allowed to enter the temple premises. He/she will have to stay in the 'padippura' for a couple of days after consuming the sandalwood paste and applying it on the forehead to be cured.

The Ayyappa idol at this temple is in such a posture that his right hand is held like a cup where the sandalwood paste is poured. Along with a pinch of the paste, some teertham (holy water) is given to the victim. Nair said that there are months where 10 to 15 cases of snakebites are cured at the temple. "I have not come across a single death due to snakebite over the past 13 years. The Achankovil forest is infested with snakes, including king cobra. The nearest hospital is an hour away," said MLA K B Ganesh Kumar, who has been representing the area in the assembly for the past 10 years. Ganesh said the phenomenon is an unsolved puzzle as snakebite deaths have been reported in the neighbouring villages of the same forest.

Forest ranger Baburaj Prasad narrated his personal experience when he was bitten by a wild spider a few weeks ago. He was in pain after his right hand swelled up and it was completely cured in a day after consuming the 'divine medicine'.

But rationalists rubbish away such claims. "Among the various varieties of snakes in the state, only 10% are poisonous enough to kill a human. In poisonous snakebite cases, only 5% are injected with a fatal dose. We had inquired about the temple and we believe that there is no miracle happening. These claims are incorrect," said Anil Kumar, president of the Rationalists Organization of Kerala.

Source : The Times of India