Naga Chaturthi - Naga Panchami (Significance)

Significance of Snake Worship

Introduction & Significance

Naga Chaturthi, falling on the 4th day during the bright fortnight of the auspicious Sravana Maasa, followed by Naga Panchami on the next day, is celebrated as the Naga Devatha festival. The Serpent God Aadi Sesha is the presiding Deity for Panchami thithi. It is a festival celebrated every year in honour of snakes. It is considered highly auspicious and sacred to worship the Serpent God on these days. It is said to be the day Lord Brahma gave a boon to serpents that they would be adored by human beings on Earth.

Generally, we find people getting scared at the sight of a snake, but in reality, serpents have become part and parcel of our Hindu religion and culture. They have acquired a prominent place in the Hindu Puranas. Among the snakes, the Cobra is considered the Serpent God (Naga Devatha), and Nagaaradhana (snake worship) has been one of the accepted sattsampradayas in the Hindu religion since yore. There is a separate world for snakes, known as Naaga Loka, among the netherworlds. Among the serpent Gods, Anantha (Aadi Sesha) and Vasuki are at the forefront. We find many pauranic legends associated with serpents and their worship.

Cosmic & Puranic Legends

It was on this day of Naga Panchami that King Janamejaya stopped his Sarpa Yaga, and a new lease of life was given to the serpents. During Ksheera Sagara Madhanam, Vasuki the Serpent God was used as a rope for churning the ocean.

Lord Sri Krishna says in the Sri Bhagawad Geeta, Vibhooti Yoga (slokas 28 & 29), that He is Anantha among the Naga Sect and Vasuki among the serpents.

In Tretha Yuga during Sri Ramaavathara, Aadi Sesha took the form of Lakshmana, Lord Sri Rama’s younger brother, and in Dwapara Yuga during Sri Krishnaavathara, he took the form of Balarama (Nara), the elder brother of Lord Sri Krishna. Arjuna of Mahabharatha fame married a Naga Kanya called Uloochi.

Deity Symbolism

The symbolism of several Deities is associated with serpents. For example...

the seat on which Lord Vishnu rests (Anantha Sayana) in his abode Sri Vaikunta is none other than Aadi Sesha (Anantha), the thousand-headed Serpent God; "Ananthaaya Namasthubhyam SahasraSirase Namaha".

Lord Shiva’s neck is adorned by a serpent.

Lord Ganesha is depicted wearing a Naga Yagnopaveetham.

At Kukke Subramanya Kshethra, Lord Subramanya is worshipped along with Vaasuki.

We find Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala wearing Naagabharana on his shoulders.

Tirumala hills, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is said to be the manifestation of Lord Aadisesha. That is why it is also called Seshaachala. From a distance, the Tirumala hills appear in a serpentine form.

In the Sri Venkatesha Stothram (Brahmanda Purana), we find Lord Venkateswara extolled as "Seshadri patih eva cha," meaning... the one who is the Lord of the Seshadri Hills (Lord of AadiSesha) on the top of which Lord Sriinivaasa is eternally stationed.

aSEshaSayanam SEshaSayanam SEshaSaAyinaAm
SEshaAdriISaMaSEsham SriInivAsam BhajE~nisam

In the AadityaPuranaAntargata Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya, DevaSarma extolls Lord SriniVasa with the above sloka.

Saintly History

Naga Devatha is one of the nine presiding Deities of Yagnopaveetham, who is also offered prayers before one wear it.

Among prominent Madhva Saints, Sri JayaTheertharu (TeekaRayaru) is considered the Aavesha of Aadi Sesha.

In the life history of Saint Sri Raghavendra Swamy, we find him having worshipped Naga Devatha by offering daily milk during his 13 years of stay at the house of Sri Appanacharya at Bichhali near Mantralayam.

As per legend, in the backyard of Sri Appanacharya’s house, there was a snake ant-hill where a king cobra used to reside. Sri Raghavendra Swamy, during his stay at Bhikshalaya, regularly offered milk to the serpent (Aadi Sesha) after his daily pooja/rituals, and the serpent used to come and drink the milk. When Sri Rayaru decided to move to Manchali, he made a decision to dismantle the snake ant-hill. Accordingly, when it was dismantled, an idol of a snake appeared in its place, which is currently being worshipped.

Worship & Household Traditions

A snake ant-hill is considered a temple of the Serpent God, and in some places, snake idols are installed under the shade of a Banyan Tree. At some other places, we find exclusive temples erected for Naga Devatha worship. In some families, especially in South India, we find exclusive private temples of Naga Devatha erected by family members, and they conduct an annual festival in its honour.

Naga is also a household name among Hindus, and we find people naming their children after the Nagadevatha. People perform Nagaaradhana and worship Naga Devatha for the welfare and well-being of their family and children, and for taking forward their family lineage. It is strongly believed and said that for those who are childless, Naga Devatha Pratishta and Nagaaradhana with proper Anusandhana bestows them with progeny.

Famous Naga Kshethras

There are several pilgrim centres considered as Naga Kshethras; some of the famous and ancient Naga Kshethras associated with pouranic legends are...

Sri Kukke Subramanya (Karnataka State),

Sri Kshethra Kudupu (near Mangalore),

Ghaati Subramanya (near Doddaballapur in Karnataka),

Thirunageswaram (near Kumbhakonam) & Nagerkoil (in Tamil Nadu),

Manasa Devi temple (in Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh), and

Nageshwar Jyothirlinga Kshetra (near Dwaraka)

are some of the famous Naga Kshethras.

Ritual Rules, Sampradaya…

There could be sampradaya bhedha, but in general, Naga Devatha should be worshipped on this day with Shodasa Upachaara Pooja, with Sankarshana Roopi ParamaAtma (Lord Vishnu) as Antharyaami.

Depending on availability and sampradaya, a Naga Shila, a Silver Naga Pratima, or a Snake ant-hill will be used. We also find people symbolically drawing the picture of a snake (naAga) on both sides of the outer walls of their houses.

There is also a custom to observe a fast on the day of Naga Chaturthi and break it on the next day (Panchami) after offering prayers to Naga Devatha once again.

On the day of Naga Chaturthi/Panchami, digging soil, ploughing fields, cutting trees, and eating fried/roasted foods are forbidden.

Preparations made with Thila, Jaggery, and Rice (Thambittu, ChigiLi) are offered as Naivedya.

For observing the Naga-Chaturthi Vratha, Chaturthi thithi should be MadhyaAnna Vyaapini, and for Naga-Panchami, Panchami should be PoovaViddha, which means Panchami mixed with Chaturthi is preferred.

On the day of Garuda Panchami, Lord Garuda is also to be worshipped along with Sesha Devaru/Naaga Devatha.

Conclusion

Time and again through the medium of its festivals, Hindu philosophy urges the human race to live in tandem and harmony with nature and its species. Perhaps this is the message the festival of Naga Panchami conveys.

ಅನಂತಶಯನಂ ದೇವಂ ಸರ್ವಶೋಕವಿನಾಶನಮ್ ।
ಲೋಕಾಧಾರಂ ವಾರುಣೀಶಂ ನಾಗೇಂದ್ರಂ ಸನ್ನಮಾಮ್ಯಹಮ್ ।।
ಶೇಷ ದೇವಾ ವಾರುಣಿ ಪತಿ ಪಾಹಿ || ಪ ||
ಶೇಷದೇವ ತ್ರಯಿಘೋಷನ ಮುಖಪರಿ |
ಪೋಷಿಸು ಎಮ್ಮಭಿಲಾಷೆಯ ಸಲಿಸಿ
... ಶ್ರೀ ಜಗನ್ನಾಥ ದಾಸರು

अनंतं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मकंबलकौ तथा ।
तथा कार्कोटकं नागं भुजंगश्वतरौ तथा ॥
धृतराष्ट्रं शंखपालं कालीयं तक्षकं तथा ।
पिंगलं च महानागं सपत्नीकान् प्रपूजयेत् ॥

ಅನಂತಂ ವಾಸುಕಿಂ ಶೇಷಂ ಪದ್ಮಕಂಬಲಕೌ ತಥಾ |
ತಥಾ ಕಾರ್ಕೋಟಕಂ ನಾಗಂ ಭುಜಂಗಶ್ವತರೌ ತಥಾ ||
ಧೃತರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಂ ಶಂಖಪಾಲಂ ಕಾಲೀಯಂ ತಕ್ಷಕಂ ತಥಾ |
ಪಿಂಗಲಂ ಚ ಮಹಾನಾಗಂ ಸಪತ್ನೀಕಾನ್ ಪ್ರಪೂಜಯೇತ್ ||

anantam vaasukim shESham padmakambalakou tathaa |
tathaa kaarkOTakam naagam bhujamgashvatarou tathaa ||
dhRutaraaShTram shanKapaalam kaalIyam takShakam tathaa |
pingalam cha mahaanaagam sapatnIkaan prapoojayEt ||

NaAga Stuthi...

ಸರ್ಪಾಪಸರ್ಪ ಭದ್ರಂ ತೇ ದೂರಂ ಗಚ್ಚ ಮಹವಿಷ
ಜನಮೇಜಯ ಯಾಗಾಂತೇ ಆಸ್ತೀಕ ವಚನಂ ಸ್ಮರ
ಅನಂತಾಯ ನಮಸ್ತುಭ್ಯಂ ಸಹಸ್ರಶಿರಸೇ ನಮಃ
ನಮೋಸ್ತು ಪದ್ಮನಾಭಾಯ ನಾಗಾನಾಂ ಪತಯೇ ನಮಃ
ಅನಂತೋ ವಾಸುಕಿಃ ಶೇಷಃ ಪದ್ಮನಾಭಶ್ಚ ಕಂಬಳಃ
ಶಂಖಪಾಲೋ ಧಾರ್ತರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಃ ತಕ್ಷಕಃ ಕಾಳಿಯ ಸ್ತಥಾ
ಏತೇಷಾಂ ನವ ನಾಮಾನಿ ನಾಗಾನಾಂಚ ಮಹತ್ಮನಾಮ್
ಸಾಯಂಕಾಲೇ ಪಠೇ ನ್ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಪ್ರಾತಃಕಾಲೇ ವಿಶೇಷತಃ
ವಿಷಾತ್ತಸ್ಯ ಭಯಂ ನಾಸ್ತಿ ಸರ್ವತ್ರ ವಿಜಯೀ ಭವೇತ್
ಅನಂತಾನಂತದೇವೇಶ ಅನಂತಫಲದಾಯಕ
ಅನಂತರೂಪಿ ವಿశ్వాತ್ಮಾನ್ ಅನಂತಾಯ ನಮೋನಮ:

सर्पापसर्प भद्रं ते दूरं गच्च महविष
जनमेजय यागांते आस्तीक वचनं स्मर
अनंताय नमस्तुभ्यं सहस्रशिरसे नमः
नमोस्तु पद्मनाभाय नागानां पतये नमः
अनंतो वासुकिः शेषः पद्मनाभश्च कंबळः
शंखपालो धार्तराष्ट्रः तक्षकः काळिय स्तथा
एतेषां नव नामानि नागानांच महत्मनाम्
सायंकाले पठे न्नित्यं प्रातःकाले विशेषतः
विषात्तस्य भयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्
अनंतानंतदेवेश अनंतफलदायक
अनंतरूपि विश्वात्मान् अनंताय नमोनम:

సర్పాపసర్ప భద్రం తే దూరం గచ్చ మహవిష
జనమేజయ యాగాంతే ఆస్తీక వచనం స్మర
అనంతాయ నమస్తుభ్యం సహస్రశిరసే నమః
నమోస్తు పద్మనాభాయ నాగానాం పతయే నమః
అనంతో వాసుకిః శేషః పద్మనాభశ్చ కంబళః
శంఖపాలో ధార్తరాష్ట్రః తక్షకః కాళియ స్తథా
ఏతేషాం నవ నామాని నాగానాంచ మహత్మనామ్
సాయంకాలే పఠే న్నిత్యం ప్రాతఃకాలే విశేషతః
విషాత్తస్య భయం నాస్తి సర్వత్ర విజయీ భవేత్
అనంతానంతదేవేశ అనంతఫలదాయక
అనంతరూపి విశ్వాత్మాన్ అనంతాయ నమోనమ:

sarpāpasarpa bhadraṃ te dūraṃ gacca mahaviṣa
janamejaya yāgāṃte āstīka vacanaṃ smara
anaṃtāya namastubhyaṃ sahasraśirase namaḥ
namostu padmanābhāya nāgānāṃ pataye namaḥ
anaṃto vāsukiḥ śeṣaḥ padmanābhaśca kaṃbaḷaḥ
śaṃkhapālo dhārtarāṣṭraḥ takṣakaḥ kāḷiya stathā
eteṣāṃ nava nāmāni nāgānāṃca mahatmanām
sāyaṃkāle paṭhe nnityaṃ prātaḥkāle viśeṣataḥ
viṣāttasya bhayaṃ nāsti sarvatra vijayī bhavet
anaṃtānaṃtadeveśa anaṃtaphaladāyaka
anaṃtarūpi viśvātmān anaṃtāya namonama:

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
naham karta harih karta
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
Sri Gururaajo Vijayate