Sarpa Samskara and Ashlesha Bali at Kukke Subramanya

What happens

1. Book the seva on the official portal. The temple tells registered devotees the date the rite begins and reserves a room for the two days, with rent paid separately.
2. Day 1 of sarpa samskara starts with a bath in the Kumaradhara, then reporting at 8:30 am at Adi Subrahmanya. Lunch is at 1 pm and tiffin at 6 pm for up to 4 people per ticket, and night meals are not allowed.
3. On day 2, families bathe, report at the same venue at 5:30 am and have tiffin at 7:30 am. The rite ends with naga prathishta in the outer courtyard after the midday Mahapooja.
4. Ashlesha bali runs in three shifts, at 6:30 am, 8:30 am and 5 pm. Get the receipt before your shift, report for sankalpa in the inner courtyard, then watch the homa and receive prasada.

Sources: itms.kar.nic.in · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

• 

  Kukke Subramanya Temple

  Subrahmanya

  Devotees worship Subramanya here as lord of serpents, and the temple holds sarpa samskara, Ashlesha bali and naga prathishta.

  Timings and guide
• 

  Dharmasthala Manjunatha Temple

  Dharmasthala

  Karnataka Tourism lists Dharmasthala, about 55 km away, as a day trip from Kukke, so families often add it after the rite.

  Timings and guide

Other places families use

• Ghati Subramanya Temple, Doddaballapura (Karnataka): Closer to Bengaluru, it is known for snake worship, and devotees install snake idols near the temple as an offering.

Sources: bangalorerural.nic.in · checked 30 Oct 2026

When to go

The temple holds Ashlesha bali on all days except Ekadashi and fast days. Many families pick the monthly Ashlesha nakshatra day, and Karnataka Tourism says crowds are heaviest then.

Sources: itms.kar.nic.in, drikpanchang.com, drikpanchang.com · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

• BookingBook only through the temple's page on the Karnataka HRI&CE portal (itms.kar.nic.in). The temple's April 2023 notice gives ₹4,200 for sarpa samskara, covering the priests' dakshina and godana, and ₹400 for Ashlesha bali; check the current fee when you book.
• RitualSarpa samskara is not performed on Dashami, Ekadashi, Gokulashtami, Shivaratri, eclipse days or during the 15-day annual festival.
• Good to knowOne ticket covers one family of up to 4 people, who must stay for both days. Devotees who have had upanayana and performed pitru karma may do the rite themselves; for others the temple assigns someone to perform it.
• DressThe temple's portal page asks men to remove shirt and vest for darshan. Other dress rules for the rite are not confirmed; ask at the seva counter.
• Good to knowKarnataka Tourism says Subramanya Road railway station is about 12 km from the temple, Mangaluru airport about 105 km and Bengaluru about 280 km by road.

• OfficialKukke Subramanya temple, official page on the Karnataka HRI&CE portal
• OfficialSarpa samskara e-ticket booking, Karnataka HRI&CE portal (Official)
• OfficialTemple notice on sarpa samskara, naga prathishta and Ashlesha bali (PDF)

Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.

Sources: itms.kar.nic.in, itms.kar.nic.in, karnatakatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026