Sri Swayambhu Nagaraja Bala Subramanya Swamy temple is near the Bangalore-Mysore Railway track, which is situated in the Padarayanapura layout in Jagajeevaramnagar. It came to light on 1969 Thursday, i, e (Sri Soumyanama Samvatsara Karthika Krishna Dashami) afternoon at about noon. The owners of this land are B. Veeranagoudru and Mandi Rudrappa.
There was a papaya tree a pumpkin plant with leaves resembling a snake, and a coconut tree with leaves shaped like a snake’s hood, which still stands today.
In 1969, a piece of land was overgrown with rocks, trees, and thorny plants, making it unsellable. To improve it, the owners hired a worker to level the land. While clearing, the worker encountered a large rock with a smaller rock attached to it. As he tried breaking the smaller rock, he suddenly lost consciousness. A passerby helped him recover, and the worker recounted the incident, which spread rumors of mystical powers.
The next day, on Karthika Bhaula Ekadashi, an 18-year-old silk factory worker named Veerabhadrappa visited the site. While standing on a rock, he felt a snake strike his face, fell down, and began acting like a snake. In a trance, he revealed himself as a nine-headed snake spirit that had lived there for 145 years. He promised to inscribe a nine-headed snake on the rock as a blessing and instructed Smt. Munilakshmamma, the wife of a landowner, to perform regular poojas.
He also prophesied that in three years, a person from the east would take charge of the temple duties. The spirit mentioned that hidden deities—Maha Ganapati, Karthavirya, Basavanna, Dattatreya, Sri Valli, Veerabhadra, Sri Rajarajeshwari Devi, and Navadhwara Sangam—would manifest on the land. Over time, these rocks were transformed into sacred idols, fulfilling the prophecy.
During special festivals and rituals (Utsavas and Sevas), it is believed that the deities Nagappa Swami and Goddess Rajarajeshwari manifest through a devotee named Nagaraju. When possessed by Nagappa Swami, Nagaraju crawls like a snake. When possessed by Goddess Rajarajeshwari, he dances with a lamp (Jyothi) and trident (Trishul) in hand and crawls through the flames of the sacred Homakunda fire.
Under divine guidance, a well was dug in the shape of a Kalyani (sacred pond). Bathing in its holy water for 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks, or 24 to 48 days, with devotion and offerings, is believed to cure Nagadosha (serpent-related afflictions) and Nagarapade (skin diseases). The deity is also said to bless devotees with solutions for marriage, childbirth, and other challenges. These practices and rituals are faithfully followed even today, and no task is undertaken without seeking divine guidance.
