KATHMANDU: Today is Nag Panchami. The day is observed by Hindus around the world as the day of worship of snakes and serpents. Celebrated on fifth day in Shukla Paksha in the month of Shravana, it has fallen on August 5 in 2019.
According to myths and legends, the abode of snakes is Patal Loka and on this day they are called upon for their blessings and the welfare of the family. Serpent deities made of silver, wood, stone or even paintings are offered milk on this day.
In Mahabharata, Janamejeya, the son of King Parikshita of the Kuru dynasty was performing snake sacrifice known as Sarpa Satra to avenge the death of his father through snake bite by the snake king Taksaka. The sacrifice was so powerful that not only the snakes of the world, but King of the Gods Indra alongwith Takshak started getting drowned to the fire as well.
This scared the Gods who then started appealing to Goddess Manasa to intervene and resolve the crisis. She requested her son Astika to go to the site of the Yagna and appeal to Janamejeya. Astika impressed the king with his knowledge of all the shastras who granted him a boon. Astika requested the king to stop the Sarpa Satra and since the Nagas were spared that day, it is celebrated as the day of Nagas.
In this day, Nepali traditionally post pictures of Nags above the doors of their homes to keep off evil spirits. They worship the nag by offering a symbol of milk (the white color liquid from the paste of rice). People keep milk for snakes near snake holes.
People make cottons garland, use cow dung and rice flour’s serpent’s from and worship it with cow’s milk, lava, barley, sesame, nuts and with some other religious items. It is believed that if Nag-Panchami is observed properly every year the Nags provide us good health wealth and blessing during our life. If Nags are angry they make us sick and no medicine can heal.
Puran says the earth is lifted by Shesh Nag on his head. Lord Vishnu is sleeping on its coil inside the Ocean. Kali Nag, Bashuki Nag, Astha Nag, Padma Nag; and the Karkot Nags are the very powerful Nags.
Scripture explains that without Nags’ help there will be no rain.So people worship Nags for the cause of water, offer prayers to Nags, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nags.
Few men wearing demon masks dance in the streets as a part of a Nag Panchami ritual. We have our own myths and legends surrounding Nags, which lead us to celebrate Nag Panchami on a large scale.
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