Story Behind Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami is celebrated on Shravan Shuddh Panchami (the fifth day of bright half of Lunar month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar).  Five Nagas / Cobras viz. Anant, Vasuki, Takshak, Karkotaka and Pingala are traditionally worshipped on this day. The snakes occupy a very significant space in Hindu mythology. The Hindu scriptures treat snakes as a community and there is a mention of realm called Nag lok or Bhogwati where snakes reside.

According to Varaha Purana Nagas were born to Sage Kashyapa (Lord Brahma’s son) and his wife Kadru.  Kadru gave birth to thousand Nagas prominent of which are Shesha, Anant, Vasuki, Takshak, Karkotaka, Kalia, Pingala, Shankh, Kulik & Padma. Nagas are also known as Kadrujas.

Nagas reside in Bhogwati a Sub – terrain realm. “Bhog” means pleasure and “Wati” means land. The entrance to the land of pleasure is usually through termite hill. The city Bhogwati is said to be filled with resplendent palaces made from gems, gold & other precious metals giving a rise to folklore that hidden treasures are often guarded by serpents. There is no Sunlight in Bhogwati and the realm is illuminated by the gems and other treasures. It is also said that there is no sweat, disease & old age in Bhogwati.

 The king of serpents is Vasuki who has a Gem called Nagmani on his head. He has various queens collectively known as Padmanagins. There are many folk tales of him falling in love with human women and vice versa. In one of the Bheel folklore it is said that even Draupadi, queen of Pandavas, was infatuated by Vasuki when she saw him. Serpent Princess or Naginis are also said to be striking beauties. Arjuna was mesmerized by one such Nagin Princess called Ulupi whom he married. The Dynasties of Manipur & Nagaland, Pallavas of South & Yadavas of North claim origin in the union of Nagas and Human beings.

When Snakes became powerful they started tormenting human beings which prompted Lord Brahma to curse them with total annihilation. The snakes got terrified and promised to mend their ways so Brahma modified the curse and warned them that during Vaivasat Manavavtar a king called Janmajeya would perform a Yagna with the objective of destroying the wicked snakes but the virtuous among the snakes will survive the yagna.

In Mahabharat Janmajeya performed a Sarpa Satra to decimate the entire race of serpents to avenge his father Parikshit’s death due to snake bite of Takshak. Sage Astik (son of Sage Jaratkaru who had a Naga wife of the same name Jaratkaru) who was half human and half Naga stopped the yagna on Shukla Paksha Panchami in month of Shravan thus giving serpents a new lease of life. Since that day Nag Panchami festival is celebrated to honour the event.

In Modern world worship of snakes on Nag Panchami gains prominence as snakes are considered to be Rahu and Ketu. The head of a snake is “Rahu” and the tail is “Ketu”. In Astrology if all planets in a horoscope are caught between the head and the tail then it is known as kaal sarpa yog and Nag Panchami is the most pious day to perform a kaal sarpa yog puja.

Serpents and Snakes in all the ancient cultures are symbols of health and healing because of their ability to shed their skin and rejuvenate themselves. In ancient times non venomous snakes were allowed to crawl on the floors of hospitals where injured and sick use to sleep with a belief that the movement of snakes will help to heal them.

In Indian tradition the serpents are associated with fertility, wisdom and strong memory. People visit serpent shrines seeking good harvest [fertility of land] and children [fertility of womb]. Many snakes are helpful to farmers. They eat rats and mice, which damage the crops.

In spiritual sense Snakes also represent desires. Just like the person who is bitten by snake is vulnerable to suffering and death people who are bitten by desires suffer from cycles of births and deaths. Only Shiva, who is free from any desires, can hold the deadly poison in his throat without letting it mix with the body or the mind.

Although there are many species of serpents in India the snake that is worshipped particularly is Naga or Cobra. Cobra can be identified easily in its still form or moving form because of its hood. Cobra raises his hood only when he is still and coiled. In Hindu mythology stillness is always represented by a hooded cobra and movement is represented by two copulating serpents. Cobra thus represents two fundamental principles of Hindu Philosophy Stillness & Movement. Stillness represents Shiva or Spirit and divinity. Movement represents Devi or Prakriti (Matter) or our everyday life….