Kukke Subrahmanya is a popular pilgrimage site that lies in the southern part of India. The place is a small village in the Sullya taluk of South Canara (Mangalore). Devotees visit the place to perform rituals concerning the ?sarpa dosha?. The lord of the temple is Subrahmanya. The place is on the banks of Kumatadhara River. It has been a tradition for those who are afflicted by the curse of serpent (Sarpa dosha) to perform sarpa samskara ritual. The ritual can even be done at home. Preferably devotees got o Subrahmanya to get that done because of the place holds great reverence in the Hindu mythology. Devotees will have to make bookings for the various kinds of rituals to be done in advance. Two kinds of rituals are performed mainly: One is the Ashlesha Bali and the other one is the Sarpa samskara. Sarpa dosha (dosha means ?not favorable?) is a kind of flaw caused by hurting the serpent deity. The flaw may cause obstacles in child birth or in the marital life. To get rid of that flaw one will be advised by the readers of the horoscope and thus will be advised to perform this ritual. The rituals are performed in the manner of a funeral ritual and it is said that the serpent deity will be pleased by that. The pujas will be performed in two shifts by the priests of the temple. The temple is surrounded by green forests; and a drive to Kumaraparavata and the Kumardhara River would be very refreshing. You can reach Subramanya by road or by train. You can take a private vehicle from Mangalore to reach Subrahmanya which is 115 km drive from the holy place. Mangalore is the nearest airport. Daily train service is also available from Mangalore (passenger train). The devotees will have to get down at Subrahmanya Road station which is just 15 km away from the holy place. The train from Mangalore to Bangalore will also stop at Subrahmanya Road station.
