Naga Panchami is a day
of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout India, Nepal,
and other countries where Hindu adherents live.The worship is offered
on the fifth day of bright half of lunar month of Shravana (July/August),
according to the Hindu calendar. Some Indian states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat,
celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.As
part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood,
or a painting of snakes is given a reverential bath with milk and their
blessings are sought for the welfare of the family. Live snakes,
especially cobras, are also worshipped on this day, especially with
offerings of milk and generally with the assistance of a snake charmer.
In the Mahabharata epic,
the sage Astika's quest to stop the sacrifice of serpents (Sarpa
Satra) of King Janamejaya, is well known, as it was during this sacrifice
that the Mahabharata as a whole was first narrated by the sage, Vaisampayana.This yagna sacrifice
was performed by Janamejaya to decimate the race of Nagas through killing every
snake in existence to avenge the death of his father Parikshita due
to the deadly bite of Takshaka, the king of the snakes. The day that the
sacrifice was stopped, due to the intervention of the Astika, was on the Shukla
Paksha Panchami day in the month of Shravana. That day has since been
observed as Naga Panchami.
Panchami is the
fifth day among the fifteen days of the moon's waxing and/or waning. This
special day of the serpent worship always falls on the fifth day of the moon's
waning in the Lunar Hindu month of Shravana July/August. Hence this
is called Naga Panchami.
Indian scriptures such as Agni Purana, Skanda Purana, Narada Purana and the Mahabharata give details of history of snakes extolling worship of snakes.
In some regions of the country milk is offered along with crystallized sugar, rice pudding. A special feature is of offering a lotus flower which is placed in a silver bowl. In front of this bowl, a rangoli (coloured design pattern) of snake is created on the floor with a brush made of wood or clay or silver or gold with sandalwood or turmeric paste as the paint. The design pattern will resemble a five hooded snake. Devotees then offer worship to this image on the floor. In villages, the anthills where the snakes are thought to reside, are searched. Incense is offered to the anthill as prayer along with milk (a myth of folk lore to feed milk to the snakes) to ensnare snakes to come out of the anthill. After this, milk is poured into the hole in the anthill as a libation to the snake god.
On this occasion doorways and walls outside the house are painted with pictures of snakes, auspicious mantras (spells) are also written on them. It is believed that such depictions will ward off poisonous snakes.
Naga Panchami is also the occasion observed as Bhratru Panchami when women with brothers worship snakes and its holes, and offer prayers to propitiate nagas so that their brothers are protected and do not suffer or die due to snake bite.
Naga Panchami is also celebrated as Vishari Puja or Bishari Puja in some parts of the country and Bisha or Visha means "poison".
As in the rest of the country, the Naga Panchmi is celebrated in Western India and is known as the Ketarpal or Kshetrapal, meaning, a protector of his domain.
In this part of the
country, snake is named Bhujang, which is also the Sanskrit name for
snake, in the Kutch region. The name is attributed to the city
of Bhuj which is located below the hill named Bhujiya, after Bhujang,
as it was the abode of snakes. On top of this hill there is a fort known as
the Bhujia Fort where a temple has been built for the snake god and a
second temple is at the foot of the hill known as Nani Devi. Bhujia Fort was
the scene of a major battle between Deshalji I, the ruler of Kutch and
Sher Buland Khan, Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat who had invaded
Kutch. It was the early period of Deshalji's reign. When the army of Kutch was
in a state of losing the battle, a group of Naga Bawas opened the
gate of Bhujia Fort by a clever ploy of visiting Nag temple for worship and
joined the fray against Sher Buland Khan's army. Eventually Deshalji I won the
battle. Since that day Naga Bawa and their leader have a pride of place in the
procession held on Nag Panchami day. Within the fort, at one corner, there is a
small square tower dedicated to Bhujang Nag (snake god), who in folklore is
said to have been the brother of Sheshnag. It is said Bhujang Nag came
from Than of Kathiawar and freed Kutch from the oppression
of demons known as daityas and rakshasas. The Snake Temple was
also built at the time of the fortification of the hill during Deshalji I's
reign and provided with a chhatri. Every year on Nag Panchami day a fair
is held at the temple premises. In the Sindhi community Nag Panchami
is celebrated in honour of Gogro.
