Nag Panchami 2024:
In Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, Naga Panchami is an auspicious day devoted to the worship of nagas. According to the Hindu calendar, people observe this day on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana, which falls in July or August.In various parts of India, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, Naga Panchami is celebrated on the same Krishna Paksha of the month.. The Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month begins on August 9 at 12:36 am and ends on August 10 at 03:14 am.
During the festivities, people perform elaborate rituals by bathing a deity representing a Naga, crafted from materials such as silver, stone, or wood, or depicted in paintings, with milk to seek blessings for the well-being of their families. They also worship live snakes, especially cobras, often led by a snake charmer and accompanied by milk offerings.
Astrological Significance of Nag Panchami
In astrology, the serpent holds high significance. In Hinduism, a snake coils around Lord Shiva’s neck, while Lord Vishnu sits upon the Sesha Naga, a snake with six heads. Each of the snake’s coils represents a different period of time, including the past, present, and future. Conversely, Hindu customs state that the Seshnaga, a snake with multiple heads, balances the globe on its head. This belief fosters deep respect for snakes. Traditional astrology advises people to worship snakes on this day to help resolve doshas or flaws in their kundali. People offer kheer, a dish made of cooked rice with milk, to appease the serpents and receive their blessings. By praying to the snake deity, performing special pujas, and observing fasts, individuals find relief from the Kaal Sarpa Dosha in their horoscope.
Mantras for Nag Panchami Puja
Reciting the Nag Panchami mantra on this auspicious day, when people worship snakes, provides benefits and protection against snake bites. This prayer fosters peace and kindness between people and snakes, asking for their generosity. Chanting the Nag Panchami mantra protects devotees from snake-related harm and brings wealth and peacefulness into their lives. Mantras enhance mental clarity and attention, elicit positive energy, and relax the mind. Regularly chanting mantras promotes spiritual development, inner peace of mind, and overall well-being.
Nag Panchami Mantra:
सर्वे नागाः प्रीयन्तां मे ये केचित् पृथ्वीतले।
ये च हेलिमरीचिस्था येऽन्तरे दिवि संस्थिताः॥
ये नदीषु महानागा ये सरस्वतिगामिनः।
ये च वापीतडगेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वै नमः॥
Mantra translation: May the snakes that are on Earth bless us all, and may they be blessed by the sun, stars, lakes, wells, ponds, and so on.”
अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्।
शङ्ख पालं धृतराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा॥
एतानि नव नामानि नागानां च महात्मनाम्।
सायङ्काले पठेन्नित्यं प्रातःकाले विशेषतः।
तस्य विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्॥
Mantra Translation: “Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapal, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya are honored as the nine serpent gods.” This mantra can keep you safe from any harm and lead you to victory in life if sung consistently each morning.
Legends about Nag Panchami
Kalia Nag and Lord Krishna
This festival has several stories. According to one story, the ball fell into the Yamuna River when Lord Krishna was playing nearby. Kaliya Nag attacked Krishna as soon as he entered the water. Following Lord Krishna’s defeat of Kaliya Nag, the serpent and his consorts begged for his life, understanding that Krishna was beyond an ordinary child.. Krishna saved his life after he promised that he would never again bother the Gokul citizens. People celebrate Nag Panchami to honor Krishna’s victory over Kaliya Nag.
Peasant’s daughter and Serpent Mother:
Once, a peasant had one daughter and two sons. One day, while the peasant was tilling the field, the plough killed three baby snakes. The mother serpent, devastated by her sons’ deaths, resolved to exact revenge on the peasant. The mother serpent entered the home in the middle of the night while the peasant, his wife, and their two sons were asleep and bit them all. As a result, everyone died except the daughter.
The next morning, the mother serpent entered the house again to kill the peasant’s daughter. Peasant’s daughter is very intelligent; she offered the mother snake a bowl of milk in recompense and begged her for mercy on her father for the demise of her cherished sons. She greeted the serpent with a smile and begged for apologies from her parents. This action delighted Mother Snake, who revived the peasant, his wife, and their two sons. The mother snake also offered blessings and pledged that on Shravan Shukla Panchami, women who worshiped snakes would enjoy protection for seven generations.
Since then, people have worshiped snakes to protect themselves from snake bites. Nag Panchami is also known as Kalki Jayanti. People affected by Rahu and Ketu’s Kaal Sarpa Dosha should worship Ashta Nag along with the Sarpa Sutra and Nag Gayatri on this auspicious day to free themselves from the dosha’s negative effects.
The Importance of Milk on Nag Panchami
The Samudra Manthan is a significant story that continues to be relevant when discussing feeding milk to snakes. A poisonous toxin known as alakatoom emerged from the sea while devas and asuras searched for amrit. It was capable of destroying everything in the universe. To save the universe, Lord Shiva took the poison. Devas and asuras searched for amrit, and snakes ingested the drips that fell to Earth after he finished drinking. To lessen the effects of poison, the Devtas performed the Ganga Abhishek on Neelkantha and snakes. Thus, Nag Panchami represents the whole mythological process.
The Importance of fasting:
A goddess called Satyeshwar existed five ages ago, but she was inferior. She had a brother named Satyeshwar. The day before Nag Panchami, Satyeshwar passed away. She refrained from eating due to her grief at her brother’s passing. Therefore, women follow a fast on that day in honor of their brothers. Other reasons for the fast include their brother’s long life, his acquisition of numerous weapons, and his safe escape from death and gloom. Day before Nag Panchami, if a sister prays to the gods for her brother, the brother receives protection from misfortune.
Read about Nag Panchami 2025
The Rituals of Nag Panchami at different places:
Even though people celebrate Nag Panchami throughout India, some regions give the festival more prominence. The following are some rituals:
Nag Panchami is a well-known festival in Nepal. To ward off evil, people hang naga pictures on doors. They spread foods like milk and honey throughout the naga-infested fields. Some wear masks resembling demons and roam the streets.
In South India, people celebrate Nag Panchami as an important occasion. It’s also a time to honor siblings’ blessings. For the ceremony, married women usually go to their father’s house. They rise early in the morning, take a bath, and perform puja at the ant hills, which serve as the homes of snakes. People worship live cobras or cobra idols. The most important offering is milk, some of which is given back as prasadam. Ladies dip flowers in milk and rub them over their brothers backs.
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