NAAG PANCHAMI: Worshipping Snakes

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INTRODUCTION:

Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout Nepal.
Nag Panchami is considered highly auspicious and is one of the significant days in the Hindu religion.
Nag Panchami is a festival dedicated to snakes.

HISTORY:

A yagna sacrifice was performed by Janamejaya who was a King according to the Mahabharata epic. He performed a Sarpa Satra( a homage) to decimate the race of Nagas by killing every snake in existence. He was performing this to avenge the death of his father Parikshita due to the deadly bite of Takshaka, the king of the snakes.
But Astika interfered with the homage and stopped the killing of snakes any further. 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 which is being celebrated today.



HOW IS IT CELEBRATED:


The worship is offered on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana.

A serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting of snakes is given a respectful bath with milk and other offerings and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family. Snakes are worshipped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps to mark the day of the importance of snakes.

 It is believed that such worship will ward off poisonous snakes

Fasting is observed on this day and Brahmins are fed.

Live snakes,  cobras. are also worshipped on this day.


MY CLOSING THOUGHTS:


Every creature in nature has its significance and importance. Even snake's which humans consider them as harmful and venomous are worshipped and paid reverence. So the culture of worshipping natures creation is so unique and the whole world needs to know this culture of worshipping snakes rather than consuming and killing them.
This could be one step closer to nature and biodiversity conservation.

BY SANJITA NAPIT

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