Nag Panchami Dos and Don’ts
Nag Panchami is a festival that is celebrated by Hindu women in India on the Panchami Tithi (fifth day) of Shukla Paksha (waxing moon phase) in Shravan month.
The festival usually occurs 2 days after Hariyali Teej. Devotees worship snakes, who represent Nag Devta (snake gods) on this day. They also perform Pooja to invoke Nag Devta’s blessings for the welfare of the family. The belief is that Nag Devta will protect the family from evil forces.
Some people observe fast and donate food to the poor. As part of the Pooja, devotees make snake idols at home using clay and offer flowers, sweets, and milk to them.
The Nagas comprise a divine, or semi-divine, race of half-human, half-serpent beings in Hinduism. They dwell in Patala (the netherworld) and take the form of human or part-human at times. Legend says that the Nagas are the offspring of Sage Kashyapa and Kadru. These supernatural beings have been worshipped throughout South Asia for around 2,000 years. In Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, they are usually portrayed in three forms: fully human with a snake’s head, normal serpents, or as half-human, half-snake beings.
It is the Mahabharata that first introduces the Nagas, giving detailed descriptions and narrating their stories. The epic mentions Shesha, the cosmic snake, the Nagarajas (Naga kings) Vasuki, Takshaka, Airavata, and Karkotaka, and also the princess Ulupi.
The Brahma Purana describes Adishesha as the king of the serpents in Patal lok.
As per mythology, when the Nagas became too populous on earth, Brahma relegated them to the nether regions and commanded them to bite only those who were truly evil or those who were destined to die prematurely. The Nagas are also associated with rivers, lakes, seas, and wells. They are believed to guard treasure.
Three of the notable Nagas are Shesha or Ananta, who supports Vishnu as he lies in the cosmic ocean. The created world rests on him. Vasuki was the churning rope used for Samudra Manthan or the churning of the Milky Ocean. Takshaka is the tribal chief of the snakes.
The female Nagas are described as beautiful serpent princesses. Certain Indian dynasties, like Manipur in the northeast, Pallavas in south India, and the Funan ruling family (ancient Indochina), have claimed that their origins were the result of the union of a Nagi (female serpent) and a human being.
Legends behind Naga Panchami
1) Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra
There are mainly two legends related to the festival of Nag Panchami. One talks about King Janamejaya of the Kuru dynasty and Takshaka.
Takshaka bit King Parikshit (father of Janamejaya) and killed him. An irate Janamejaya began a great Yagna – Sarpa Satra – to kill all snakes.
During the Yagna, snakes from all over the world were pulled to the sacrificial fire due to the power of the Mantras chanted by the eminent Brahmin sages, and they fell into the fire and perished. But Takshaka managed to escape and took refuge in Indra’s abode. Hence, the sages raised the tempo of the Mantra recitation. This alarmed the gods so much that they prayed to the goddess of snakes, Manasadevi, for help. She sent her son, Sage Astika, to appeal to Janamejaya to end the Sarpa Satra Yagna. Astika impressed Janamejaya with his knowledge, and the pleased Janamejaya granted him a boon.
Astika asked him to halt the Sarpa Satra, which he agreed to. Thus, Indra and Takshaka were spared. This day was the Panchami or fifth day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight of Shravana month). The day came to be celebrated by the Nagas as Naga Panchami.
Devotees perform Naga Pooja, and worship live cobras on this day. They offer them milk and avoid digging the earth to ensure that snakes are not harmed.
2) Krishna and Kaliya
Another legend says that Krishna killed a poisonous snake with many heads by the name of Kaliya on this day in Shravan month.
Kaliya lived on Ramanaka Dwipa, but it moved to the Yamuna river in Vrindavan as it was afraid of being killed by Garuda, a divine being that had both human and eagle features. Garuda could not enter Vrindavan due to a curse. Kaliya’s poison killed any creature that drank the water of the river in which it lived.
One day, Krishna was playing with his friends when their ball fell into the river. When Krishna jumped in to get the ball, Kaliya attacked him. But Krishna overpowered the snake and jumped on one of its heads. Then he began to dance on its head. Kaliya found it unbearable, as Krishna’s feet carried the weight of the entire universe. However, Krishna took pity on Kaliya’s wife and let the snake go. Krishna told him to return to Ramanaka Dwipa after promising him that Garuda would not attack him, provided he did not harm anyone needlessly.
Nag Panchami is also known as Garuda Panchami. On this day, Garuda, the mount of Vishnu, is also worshipped. Other names for the festival are Naga Chaturthi, Bhratru Panchami, and Vishari Puja.
As with other festivals, there are many dos and don’ts for Nag Panchami. Let us see what they are.
Dos
– Worship the snake gods and offer them milk, milk-based sweets, and flowers.
– Observe a fast on this day, as it can offer protection against snakebites.
– Perform Rudrabhishek on Nag Panchami day, as it pleases Shiva and helps gain his blessings during the auspicious Shravan month.
– Chant Nag Panchami Mantras.
Don’ts
– Do not use iron utensils for cooking.
– Do not cut trees as it can harm/kill serpents that live in tree hollows.
— Do not use needles or any sharp objects on this day.
–Do not plow the earth on this day, as it can harm snakes.
–Do not eat meat or drink alcohol.
–Avoid arguments with others.
