Trees Tanks & Ponds

This is a continuation of the previous post. After Tirupathisaram Temple we headed back to Nagercoil and enroute saw a large beautiful pond. Couldn't resist stopping and taking snaps from the road side. We then proceeded to the Nagarajar Swamy Temple in Nagercoil.  

Nagaraja Temple (Naga=Serpent;Raja=King) is a Hindu temple temple dedicated to the god Nagaraja situated at the heart of Nagercoil. The name for the town Nagercoil originated from this temple. The temple is full of images of snakes. In addition, the gatekeepers of the sanctums are two snakes. 

Legend: One day when a girl was cutting grass, blood began to spurt from below. She discovered that the sickle had cut into the head of a five-headed serpent. Dazed with fear, the girl fled to the nearest village and reported what she had seen. People in large numbers flocked to the spot and witnessed the miracle with their own eyes. By the joint effort of the villagers, the place was cleared and preserved for the purpose of worship.They built a small shrine in the locality and worshiped the five-headed serpent. Hearing that the miracle happened at this place, people from other places visited the temple and offered poojas.

A beautiful Konrai tree in bloom outside the sanctum of Nagaraja Temple (Above & below)

The Konnrai  also known as Indian Laburnum is associated with Lord Shiva.The leaf extract is used to treat ringworm and other skin infections. The flower decoction is used to destroy intestinal worms and to cure leprosy. The pulp from the fruit "cassia pulpâ" is a well known laxative. It also has digestive, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and blood purifying properties

Nagarajaswamy Temple water tank - above and below

Our next stop was Suchindram Temple. The Thanumalayan Temple (Sthanumalayan Temple ) is of importance to both Saivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism. The name Stanumalaya denotes trimurtis or three Gods; "Stanu" means Siva; "Mal" means Vishnu; and the "Aya" means Brahma.  There is an Anjaneya, (or the monkey God Hanuman), statue which stands at 22 feet (6.7 m) and is carved of a single granite block. It is one of the tallest statues of its type in India. It is also of historical interest that this statue was buried in the temple in 1740, fearing an attack by the Tipu Sultan and was subsequently forgotten. It was rediscovered in 1930, and subsequently restored for viewing. There is also a Nandi statue, made of mortar and lime, which is 13 feet (4.0 m) tall and 21 feet (6.4 m) long, it is one of the biggest Nandi statues in India.  

The massive water tank at Suchindram Temple - above and below

A beautiful pond  substantially covered by water hyacinth - above & below

A coconut plantation