NAGARCOIL, a small town in the State of Travancore, near Cape Comorin, in lat. 8° 11' N., and long. 77° 28' 41" E. Its name means snake temple, and it is one of the centres of this worship. The principal image of Naga Amman or the Snake Mother, of copper-gilt, and in the form of a serpent, is, like other idols, carried in procession in a car once a year. the temple and with out are numerous stone images of snakes. People assemble on Sundays and other special days from many quarters, bringing milk, sugar, and cocoa nuts to worship the serpent-goddess, and for the living cobras. The priests keep up the report that within a circuit of a mile from the temple no snake-bite will he mortal ; and daily some sand from the seashore is distributed from the temple as a charm. The principal seat of the serpent- worship in Travancore is at Manarehala in Kartigapalli district. The Rev. Mr. Mateer mentions that a family in the Cochin country made a household god of a cobra. It dwelt
on their. premises, and was served with daily offerings of food by each member of the family. A girl about ten. years of age was bitten by it, and Dr. Doran approached the house just as she had breathed her last, and ho asked them if they had killed the snake, but the child's mother replied, Sir, if we were to kill the cobra all the other members of the family would die likewise.' At Warkkala several members of a family of Havars having been attacked one after another with leprosy, a sorcerer told them that they had failed to pay due homage to Naga Raja, and should erect a domicile for him to reside in, and make special offerings to pacify his wrath. A large quantity of rice, cocoanuts, and other pro visions was accordingly off ered.—Mateer's Tra van core, p. 326.