Naga Chaturthi - Naga Panchami (Significance of Snake Worship)

NAGA-CHATURTHI/NAGA-PANCHAMI - SIGNIFICANCE

Naga Chaturthi falling on the 4th day during the bright fortnight of auspicious Sravana Maasa followed by Naga Panchami on the next day is celebrated as Naga Devatha festival.

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 as 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 get adored by human beings on the Earth.

It was on this day of Naga Panchami, King Janamejaya stopped his Sarpa Yaga and a new lease of life was given to the Serpents.

Generally we find people getting scared at the sight of a snake, but in reality serpents have become a part and parcel of our Hindu religion and culture. They have acquired a prominent place in Hindu Puranas.

Among the snakes, Cobra is considered as Serpent God (Naga Devatha) and Nagaaradhana (Snake worship) is one of the accepted sattsampradaya in Hindu religion since yore. There is a separate world for snakes known as Naaga Loka among the nether worlds.

Among the serpent Gods, Anantha (Aadi Sesha) and Vasuki are in the forefront. We find many pauranic legends associated with Serpents and their worship.

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 nothing but Aadi Sesha (Anantha) the thousand headed Serpent God; "Ananthaaya Namasthubhyam SahasraSirase Namaha"

Lord Shiva’s neck is adored by a serpent.

Lord Ganesha is depicted as wearing Naga Yagnopaveetham.

At Kukukke Subramanya Kshethra Lord Subramanya is worshiped 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 as Seshaachala. From a distance Tirumala hills appears in a serpentine form.

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

aSEshaSayanam SEshaSayanam SEshaSaAyinaAm

SEshaAdriISaMaSEsham SriInivAsam BhajE~nisam

In AadityaPuranaAntargata Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya, DevaSarma eulogizes Lord SriniVasa with the above sloka;

During Ksheera Sagara Madhanam,Vasuki the Serpent God was used as a rope for churning the ocean.

Lord Sri Krishna says in Sri Bhagawad Geeta, Vibhooti Yoga (sloka 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.

Naga Devatha is one of the nine presiding Deities of Yagnopaveetham who is also offered prayer before wearing it.

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

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

As per legend, in the backyard of Sri Appanacharya’s house there was a snake bill where a king Cobra used to reside in it. Sri Raghavendra Swamy during his stay at Bhikshalaya was regularly offering milk to the serpent (Aadi Sesha) after his daily pooja/rituals and the serpent used come and drink the milk.

When Sri Rayaru decided to move to Manchali he had taken a decision to dismantle the snake bill. Accordingly when it was dismantled an idol of snake appeared in its place which is being worshiped currently.

A snake-bill is considered as a temple of Serpent God and in some places snake idols are installed under the shade of 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 are erected by the family members and they conduct annual festival in its honour.

Naga is also a household name among Hindus and we find people calling their children with the name of 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 centers 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 Doddabalapur in Karnataka),

Thirunageswaram (near Kumbhakonam) &

Nagerkoil (in Tamil Nadu),

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

Nageshwar Jyothirlinga Kshetra (near Dwaraka)

are some of the famous Naga Kshethras.

Time and again through its medium of festivals, Hindu philosophy put across the human race to live in tandem and harmony with the 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

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

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

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

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

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

For observing Naga-Chaturthi Vratha, Chaturthi thithi should be MadhyaAnna Vyaapini and

for Naga-Panchami, Panchami should be PoovaViddha, that means Panchami mixed with Chaturthi to be preferred.

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

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 (Kannada)

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:

NaAga Stuthi (Telugu)

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