Kukke Subramanya

Kukke Subramanya Temple
The Gopura of the Temple
Name
Proper name	Kukke Sri Subramanya Temple
Geography
Coordinates	12°40′N 75°37′E / 12.66°N 75.61°E / 12.66; 75.61Coordinates: 12°40′N 75°37′E / 12.66°N 75.61°E / 12.66; 75.61
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Dakshina Kannada
Locale	Sullia
Culture
Primary deity	Kartikeya as a Nāga
Important festivals	Shasti, Kiru Shasti, Nagara Panchami. Important Sevas: Made Made Snana and Beedi Madesnana

Shasti, Kiru Shasti, Nagara Panchami.

Kukke Subramanya (Tulu and Kannada Kukke subrahmaṇya) is a Hindu temple located in the village of Subramanya, Karnataka Here Kartikeya is worshipped as Subramanya, lord of all serpents. The epics relate that the divine serpent Vasuki and other serpents found refuge under Subramanya when threatened by the Garuda.

The Kukke Subramanya Temple is located in the beautiful Western Ghats range of Karnataka. Overlooking the temple is the famous mountain of Kumara Parvatha, a popular hiking destination for trekkers from across South India. Kumara Parvatha forms a picture-perfect backdrop to the temple entrance and the Shesha Parvatha (a mountain shaped like a six-headed mythological serpent, adjacent to Kumara Parvatha) looks like a cobra with its open hood, as if protecting the temple shrine of Lord Subramanya. The temple is situated on the western slopes of the Ghats and is covered with dense evergreen forests.

Kukke lapped in the luxurious abundance of the beauty of the nature the village of Subramanya lies in the Sullia Taluk in Dakshina Kannada with a sanctity which very few places can boast of. The temple is situated in the heart of the village. Nature reveals herself in all her unhidden beauty in the rivers, forests and mountains which the temples is surrounded by. It is about a 105 km from Mangalore and can be easily reached by train,buses or taxis. Subramanya used to be called as Kukke Pattana in the past. In the 'Shankara Vijaya' Anandagiri observes that Sri Shankaracharya camped here for a few days during his religious expedition (Digvijaya). Shankaracharya referred to this place as 'Bhaje Kukke Lingam' in his 'Subrahmanya Bhujangaprayata Stotram'. Sri Subrahmanya Kshetra has been brilliantly described in the 'Thirthakshetra Mahimanipurana' chapter of the Sahyadrikhanda comprised in the Sanatkumara Samhita of Skanda Purana. This kshetra is situated in the banks of the river 'Dhara' which originates in the Kumara mountain and proceeds to the western sea.

Pilgrims going to the temple have to cross the Kumaradhara River and take a holy dip in the river before entering the temple for their darshan holy viewing of the Lord.