The Significance of Nag and 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.

On the day of Nag Panchami, the idols of snake god are bathed, worshipped, asking for protection and blessings in return. In India, serpents are treated with reverence instead of dreading.

How Nag Panchami enhances the importance of Shraavan?

All that humans concern themselves with is just their own existence. But in Indian Wisdom there lies the concept of Vyahrti Lok (Realms above Earth) and Patala Lok (Realms below 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 seven different realms where the Naga Lok (Realm of snakes) is the lowest one. This is where the Nags reside. Nags co-habitate our world.  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.

Shravan and Nag Panchami

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 fifth 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 a havoc for people of Brindavan. Sri Krishna, as a child, 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”.  What this truly means is the destruction of our own “Kali” or baser mind and its emotions with the thoughts of the Divine. So the Nag is also within.

Nag Panchami and Harmony within Creatures

Further, 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. The rodents destroy crops but the snakes eat them, hence making them the friends of the farmer. This ritual of worshiping the snakes (which are most seen roaming out of their homes during this time) was created in order to create awareness 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, it is not Man versus 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 12 dimensions of Naga that are worshipped in India. They are – Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvitara, Dhritarashtra, Sankapala, Kaalya, Takshaka, and Pingala. They are all symbols of “Nag” energies in the Universe. It is said that praying to these 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. 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, Tamas (the destructive tendencies), Poisonous speech, Kala (death or cycle of time), Prana (Respiration related) and Apana (expulsion related). While the ignorant mind wastes his creative energy in fulfilment of “Sensual desires”, the wise mind utilizes it for one’s own self- actualization. This also brings about prosperity around.

You might be wondering that while Shivji has the serpent around his neck to signify detachment of all desires; what about Sri Vishnu’s Nag?

Vishnu’s Shesh Nag

The reason why Sri Vishnu is found resting on the Shesh Nag is that he sustains all the 14 realms mentioned earlier (signified by Shesh Nag). These also are realms of consciousness within every being, especially human. With the regulated rise of the Kundalini energy, it is possible to move from the lowest realm to the highest – of Self Realization. So Nag and Nag Panchami show us that while we worship the image of Nag or even the actual serpents outside, we are actually acknowledging the various serpents within us.

Shubh Nag Panchami!