True significance of Nagpanchami

I was thinking to write a 2 liners post on this but then could not resist converting this into a full blog post.

Our Indian heritage and culture are rich and our every such celebrations have some connection with nature and gratitude. For some people, this is just a celebration and events. They are not.

I remember, in my childhood, my parents and family members used to make a hand sketch of snakes and used to put st sn entrance of our home with pooja, akshaya etc during Nagpanchami. 

The significance of this in a smile term is, to recognize contribution of other animals in our surrounding, respecting the diversity and inclusion. 

Today morning when I woke up, I found my mother is also doing the pooja and I thought to write this article.

Above snake made by my niece Sanskruti using wheat flour

My mother doing Nagpanchami Pooja 

Snakes are farmers friend. They kill days and rodents destroying the crop. Nagpanchami in a way, is a way to show gratitude to snakes and also recognizing their contribution. 

While writing this post, I got an article from my friends Rajesh Kamath. He always writes an article on true significance of various Indian practices and that really enlightens and educates us. 

Here is the article 

The True Significance of Nag and Nag Panchami

                                                                   Being an agrarian economy historically, every festival in Bhaarat has a connection to agriculture. So it is, even with Nag Panchami. Nag Panchami is observed on the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) Panchami during the Indian calendar month of Shravan. Some of the regional names of Nag Panchami Festival are Bhratru Panchami, Bishari Puja, Naga Vardhini Panchami. 

                                         

 Chaaturmaas, the period of four months is the period of break from agricultural activities. Within Chaaturmaas,  Shravana is one of the most auspicious months. Why?                    

 The month of Shravana is regarded as important as it marks the arrival of the southwest monsoon in India and critical to the farmer’s fortunes, and by extension, to that of its citizens’. We celebrate the auspiciousness of Shravan by way of various festivals during the month, Nag Panchami being the first of these.On the day of Nag Panchami, the idols of snake god are bathed, and serpents are offered milk, worshipped, asking for protection and blessings in return, through the country? Instead of dreading serpents, in India they are treated with reverence. But why? 

                                                  

The Legend

In Indian Wisdom, there lies the concept of Vyahrti Lok (Realms above Earth) and Patala Lok (Realms Below the Earth) – a total of 14 Realms or worlds. Bhur Lok, is where we live and is the first of the Realms above the ground. Patala Lok is considered to be comprised of 7 different realms where the Naga Lok (Realm of snakes) is the lowest one. This is where the Nagas preside. Nagas are considered as one of the most powerful symbols in Indian wisdom, who co-habitate our world. This is also why Lord Vishnu is found resting on the Shesh Nag, as he sustains all the realms. They also are realms of consciousness.

Legend has it that Prince Janamejaya, son of Parikshit was enraged at his father’s death caused by the King of Snakes, Takshak. In his rage, he decided to hold a ‘Sarpa Satra’ Yagna to kill Takshak, a Yagna that went on for 12 years. However Astika Muni, who pleased Janamajeya with his great oratory skills and his knowledge, managed to get a boon from the Prince, which he finally used to stop the Yagna. This was how Takshaka was saved on the 5th day of the month of Shravana, which then began to be celebrated as Nag Panchami.

                                                        

  In another well known story, a deadly snake Kalia had invaded and poisoned Yamuna river and wrecked havoc for people of Brindavan. Krishna, as a child Avatar of Lord Vishnu, one day on the pretext of a ball falling down in the river ended up wrestling with Kalia and eventually defeating him and emerged dancing on the hood of the ferocious naga. The Snake thus acquired the feet impressions of the Lord. The story is called as the "Kaliya Mardan". It is also believed that seeing the footprints of Lord Krishna - the Avatar of Lord Vishnu, Garuda(the eagle) who is the natural enemy of the serpent, does not harm it. Kalia then took away all the poison from the river and Lord Krishna in return blesses him that on this day of Panchami whosoever will offer prayers to the snakes, will get expiated of any hardships in times to come.

What do the two stories signify? 

The famer who tills the land automatically disrupts the peace of the serpents who reside under the land. Also during this season, when it rains and all the pits and holes are filled with water, snakes and other rodents come out of their homes. Thus there are numerous  cases of snake bites and people and farmers especially and all those living near fields and grounds of dying of snake bites. _But the snakes are not equal to the rodents. The rodents destroy crops but the snakes eat them, hence making them the friends of the farmer. Besides there is no farming during rain, so snake bites to farmers are not common.  This ritual of worshiping the snakes (which are most seen roaming out of their homes during this time) was created in order to create consciousness of the need for harmony with these creatures of Nature. It is an essential realization that Nags hold equal right over the land, as we do. In India, its not Man vs Wild but Man with Wild

Rituals of Nag Panchami

The Yajur Ved, Atharva Ved, Puran, Shatpath Brahman, Mahabharat. The Bhagvat Puran carries much information. There are varied rituals observed throughout India to celebrate Nag Panchami. However, the usual scene on this day is the worship of the idols or pictures of the snake god.

 There are 12 that are worshipped the most during Nag Panchami-ananta, Vasuki, Padma, Shesha, Karkotaka, Kambala, Pingala, Takshaka, Kaliya, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, and Ashvatara. Each has its own significance for the 12 months of the year. 

For farmers, digging the earth is prohibited on this day, so they don’t disturb the snakes. They instead use the day of Nag Panchami to pray to the serpent god for protection, during the course of their work. Fasts are observed by many for auspiciousness, followed by feeding the Brahmins. A reason why this fast is observed is that it releases a person from the ill effects of Sarpa Dosha (which can otherwise bring in a horde of bad vibes in a person’s life from an earlier birth). This is just the outcome of indiscriminate or inadvertent killing of snakes in an earlier life.

What are the benefits of worshipping the snakes? It is said that praying the snakes removes fears in life, and brings good health, wealth, peace, and prosperity in life. Let’s understand the true meaning of this. There is a latent energy lying at the base of the spine, called Kundalini. This Kundalini is said to be in the shape of a coiled up snake, it has tremendous power in spiritual development of the human. It is an auspicious day to meditate on the mooladhar chakra, the Chakra at the base of the spine, so as to value and venerate the Kundalini energy. Just as the womb of the mother creates the basic requirement for the growth of the embryo, the Mūlādhāra Chakra forms the basis and the starting point for our overall development. It is the foundation from which we climb the ladder of the Chakras; the root from which we receive the nourishment for our spiritual development. When this energy is harnessed in the appropriate way, it helps to achieve peace and happiness in life. Nag Panchami is also the worship of this “serpent”. So Nag Panchami, is not just about physical safety but also about promoting health. 

                                                       

The Nag or serpent has a wide variety of implications in Indian wisdom – some of them are Infinity, Desire (Kama), Intuitive abilities,  Kundalini energy, Tamas (the destructive tendencies), Poisonous speech, Kala (death or cycle of time), Prana and Apana (the inspiration and expiration breaths).

Shubh Nag Panchami to you and your family!*🎉🎉🎉🙏🏼🙏🏼