Aadimoolam Vettikode Nagaraja Swamy Temple is situated in Vettikode near Kayamkulam of Alleppey district.  It is one amongst the main snake worshipping temples of Kerala. It is a rare temple dedicated to Ananthaswamy. The presiding deities are Anantha and Nagayakshi.  In the months of Kanni and Thulam on Pooyam and Ayilyam days Deeparadhana and Athazhapooja are performed here. Festival is on Ayilyam star day of Kanni month.  Also, Ayilyam in Kumbam, Sivarathri, Balabadra Jayanthi in Medam have special ceremonies.  Kashyapa Prajapathi’s wife Kadru gave birth to eight Nagarajas.  The eldest and the best one is Anantha Bhagwan.  It is said more that Parasuraman threw his axe into the ocean and created Kerala for people to inhabit.  But the place was filled with serpents.  So, he approached Lord Parameswara to solve the problem.  The Lord suggested that only Ananthaswamy could help him.  Accordingly, Parasuraman performed severe Penance and Ananthaswamy appeared before him and solved his problem by controlling the serpents.  So Parasuraman made Mayan, the Asura Sculptor, to create an idol of Anantha swamy.  It is said that he himself installed the idol at Vetticode and this sacred function was attended by Lord Parameswara.  Therefore, the Vetticode Nagaraja has the aura of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the trinity. In the months of Kanni and Thulam during the stars Puyyam and Ayilyam there is Deeparadhana and Athazha pooja.  Importance is given to Sundays.  Every month during Ayilyam the special Pooja known as Noorum Pallum is performed.  From the Ayilyam of Kanni to the Ayilyam of the month of Edavam, every Sunday except on Ekadasi, Noorum Palum pooja is performed.  Many people attend these rituals.  Shivarathri Ayilyam of the month of Kumbha, Balabhadra Jayanthi in the month of Medom are other special events conducted in the temple. The star Ayilyam in the month of Kanni is known as Vettikode Ayilyam.  Seven days before the Ayilyam various poojas and rituals are conducted.  During the star Puyyam the Nagaraja and Nagayakshi are fully decorated with ornaments.  People say that it is a special and rare opportunity to have the Deeparadhana Darshan of the deity during that time.  After the Nada closes at 10 p.m. there will be a display of Kathakali just outside the temple.  On the day of Ayilyam there is a Nirmalya Darshan in the early morning. After that Abishekam Usha Pooja, Noon pooja, Noorum Palum etc.  In the afternoon fully decorated Nagarajan is taken out to the illom in a ground procession with beating of drums and various instrumental music.  Devotees believe that those who witness this will not be harmed by any kind of poison for a year.  From the illom after certain Poojas etc the Naga Raja is taken back to the temple with devotional songs chanted by the Pulluvan tribe.  In the evening there is the most important ritual known as Sarpabali.  By 10 p.m. the ritual is completed and the Nada is closed.  Next morning during the star Makam there is tender coconut Abhishekam with that the Ayilya Pooja ends.  The same rituals are performed during the star Ayilyam in the month of Thulam. People belonging to the Mepallil Illom are in charge of the temple.  Parasuraman had appointed the Brahmins of this illom to perform the poojas of this temple.  The Thevara  Moorthies like Bhadrakali, Durga, Mahvishnu, Mahadevan, Yakshi, Chathan etc are kept here.  Every morning poojas are conducted for these deities.  The devotees who come to the temple also have Darshan of the Moolasthanam and Kalavara in order to remove Sarpa Dosha. This is a place where idols brought from other sarpa temples are kept.  It is situated on the southern side of the main temple, outside the temple walls.  Here pooja is performed once a year after Ayilyam of the month of Thulam. It is said that the sincere prayers of devotees please the deities and all their desires are fulfilled.  The Nagaraja Swamy has healed and blessed many devotees suffering from skin diseases like leprosy, eczema etc.  The oil used for the Abhishekam of the idol removes all skin diseases.  Many devotees visit this temple, stay here to perform Bhajana and poojas in order to bring prosperity to their families and to get rid of various diseases. Sarpabali for prosperity, long life, wealth and having children, Noorum Palum for the blessings of the Nagas, Rahur Dosha Shanti to remove the sufferings of devotees having problems due to planet Rahu, Diseases that occur due to anger of Naga can be reduced by performing Dhara, Uruli Kamizthu for those who do not have children etc. are the most important offerings of this temple. From Kayamkulam, Punaloor road 10 kms east, 18 kms from Adoor to the west, the Vettikode junction is situated.  The temple is ½ km from this junction to the south.