Naga Panchami
| Naga Panchamī | |
|---|---|
Buddhists | |
| Type | Religious, India and Nepal |
| Observances | Worshipping images or live Cobra. |
| Date | Shraavana Shukla Panchami |
Hindu festival dates The Hindu calendar is lunisolar but most festival dates are specified using the lunar portion of the calendar. A lunar day is uniquely identified by three calendar elements: māsa (lunar month), pakṣa (lunar fortnight) and tithi (lunar day). Furthermore, when specifying the masa, one of two traditions are applicable, viz. amānta / pūrṇimānta. If a festival falls in the waning phase of the moon, these two traditions identify the same lunar day as falling in two different (but successive) masa. A lunar year is shorter than a solar year by about eleven days. As a result, most Hindu festivals occur on different days in successive years on the Gregorian calendar. | |
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Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of
In the
Etymology
Panchami is the fifth day among the fifteen days of the moon's waxing and/or waning. This special day of the serpent worship always falls on the fifth day of the moon's waning in the Lunar Hindu month of Shravana July/August.[10] Hence this is called Naga Panchami (Naga: cobra; or simply, serpent).[11]
Legends
There are many legends in
History
Indian scriptures such as
In the A sacrificial fireplace had been specially erected and the fire sacrifice to kill all snakes in the world was started by a galaxy of learned Brahmin sages. The sacrifice performed in the presence of Janamejaya was so powerful that it was causing all snakes to fall into the Yagna kunda (sacrificial fire pit). When the priests found that only Takshaka who had bitten and killed Parisksihita had escaped to the nether world of Indra seeking his protection, the sages increased the tempo of reciting the mantras (spells) to drag Takshaka and also Indra to the sacrificial fire. Takshaka had coiled himself around Indra's cot but the force of the sacrificial yagna was so powerful that even Indra along with Takshaka were dragged towards the fire. [9]
This scared the gods who then appealed to
According to the Garuda Purana, offering prayers to snake on this day is auspicious and will usher good tidings in one's life. This is to be followed by feeding Brahmins.[14]
Worship
On the day of Naga Panchami, Naga, cobras, and snakes are worshipped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps, and even sacrifices. Naga or serpent deities made of silver, stone, wood, or paintings on the wall are first bathed with water and milk and then worshipped with the reciting of the following mantras.[2][15]
| Devanagari | Romanisation (IAST) | Rough translation |
|---|---|---|
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Fasting is observed on this day and Brahmins are fed. The piety observed on this day is considered a sure protection against the fear of snake bite. At many places, real snakes are worshipped and fairs held. On this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which reside in the earth.[2]
In some regions of the country milk is offered along with crystallized sugar,
On this occasion doorways and walls outside the house are painted with pictures of snakes, auspicious mantras (spells) are also written on them. It is believed that such depictions will ward off poisonous snakes.[14]
Naga Panchami is also the occasion observed as
Naga Panchami is also celebrated as Vishari Puja or Bishari Puja in some parts of the country and Bisha or Visha means "poison".[16]
Folktales
Apart from the scriptural mention about snakes and the festival, there are also many folktales. One such tale is of a farmer living in a village. He had two sons and one of whom killed three snakes during
In folklore, snakes also refer to the rainy season - the
Regional traditions
As it is believed that snakes have more powers than humans and on account of its association with
Snake has connotation with the Moon’s nodes known in Hindu astrology. The head of the snake is represented by Rahu ("Dragon's head") and its tail by Ketu ("Dragon's tail"). If in the zodiacal chart of an individual all the seven major planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu in the reverse order (anticlockwise) it is said to denote Kalasarpa dosha (Defect due to black snakes), which forebodes ill luck and hardship in an individual's life and therefore appeased by offering worship to the snakes on Naga Panchami day.[3]
Central India
In Central India, in
Naga Chandreshwar Ujjain
This is a sub temple located in the third floor of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple in Ujjain. The speciality of this shrine is it is open only one day of the year on Naga Panchami day and remains shut on the rest of the year. The murthy of Nagachandreshwar is very unique with Shiva and Parvati seated on ten hooded snake surrounded by Nandhi Ganesha and other murthies. It is believed that the great snake Taksha lives here and praying during Naga Panchami rids the devotee of various afflications and doshas such as Naga Dosha, Sarpa Dosha and any form of Doshas.[20]
North and Northwestern India
Naga Panchami is celebrated all over North India. In Kashmir, from historical times snakes have been worshipped by Hindus, and the places of worship are reported as 700.[21][22]
In north western India, in cities such as
In Narasinghgarh akhara in Varanasi there is special shrine dedicated to Naga Raja (King of Snakes) where a bowl is suspended above the image of the snake and milk is poured into it so that it trickle over the snake god as a form of an offering.[24]
On this day
However, in
Western India
As in the rest of the country, the Naga Panchmi is celebrated in Western India and is known as the Ketarpal or Kshetrapal, meaning, a protector of his domain.[26]
In this part of the country, snake is named Bhujang, which is also the
Bhujia Fort was the scene of a major battle between Deshalji I, the ruler of Kutch and Sher Buland Khan, Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat who had invaded Kutch. It was the early period of Deshalji's reign. When the army of Kutch was in a state of losing the battle, a group of Naga Bawas opened the gate of Bhujia Fort by a clever ploy of visiting Naga temple for worship and joined the fray against Sher Buland Khan's army. Eventually Deshalji I won the battle. Since that day Naga Bawa and their leader have a pride of place in the procession held on Naga Panchami day.[26]
Within the fort, at one corner, there is a small square tower dedicated to Bhujang Naga (snake god), who in folklore is said to have been the brother of
Eastern and Northeastern India
In eastern and north eastern States of India such as
South India
In South India, snake is identified with Subramanya (Commander of the celestial army) and also with Shiva and Vishnu.[16]
In
In South India, both sculpted and live snakes are worshipped. Every village has a serpent deity. It is worshipped as a single snake or nine snakes called Nava Naga but the popular form is of two snakes in the form of an “Aesculapian rod”. Every worshipper in South India worships the anthill where the snakes are reported to reside. Women decorate the anthill with turmeric paste and vermillion and sugar mixed with wheat flour. They bedeck it with flowers with the help of threads tied to wooden frames. In Maharashtra, they go round the anthill in a worship mode five times singing songs in praise of snake gods.[21]
Another form of worship practiced by women, who have no children for various reasons, install stone statues of snakes below the
In
In
Observance in Nepal
The ritual is widely observed in Nepal, particularly for the fight between Garuda and a great serpent.[28] [29]
In the Changu Narayan Temple in Kathmandu, there is statue of Garuda which is said to have been established by Garuda himself and on the Naga Panchami day the image is said to sweat reminiscing his great fight with a giant snake; people collect the sweat and use it for curing leprosy.[29]
Observance in Pakistan
See also
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References
- ^ a b "Nag Panchami in 2022 | Calendar Labs". CalendarLabs.
- ^ a b c d e f Verma 2000, pp. 37–38.
- ^ a b c d "Nag Panchami: A mix of faith and superstition". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ^ "Nag Panchami 2017 Wishes With Images – QuintDaily". 26 July 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-8239-3180-4.
- ^ "2019 Nag Pancham Puja Date and Time for New Delhi, NCT, India". Drikpanchang. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ a b "The Wrestler's Body". publishing.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Adivansavatarana Parva: Section LX". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ a b c Garg 1992, p. 743.
- ^ "Nag Panchami 2021 India: Date, History, Significance, Snake God". S A NEWS. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
- ^ "What is the significance of milk in Nag Panchami - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Astika Parva: Section XVI". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ "Naag Panchami: A festival of serpents". Steemit. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
- ^ a b c Alter 1992, pp. 137–138.
- ^ "The NAG and the Nav Nag Stotra". maré hieronimus | Dance Art | The Sacred Body. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sharma 2008, pp. 68–70.
- ^ "Nag Panchami celebrated with customary worship of snakes". The Times of India. August 2, 2014. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- ^ a b Alter 1992, p. 138.
- ^ Alter 1992, p. 143.
- ^ "Nag Panchami 2019: सिर्फ नाग पंचमी को खुलता है यह मंदिर, पूजा के समय स्वयं उपस्थित रहते हैं नागराज तक्षक". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2020-07-13.
- ^ a b Balfour 1885, p. 577.
- ^ "Worshipping Snakes- The Nag Panchami Festival". Zee News. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ Alter 1992, p. 136.
- ^ Alter 1992, pp. 139–140.
- ^ Alter 1992, p. 137.
- ^ a b c d Dilipsinh 2004, p. 38.
- ^ Jagannathan 2005, p. 91.
- ^ Claus, Diamond & Mills 2003, p. 689.
- ^ a b Brockman 2011, p. 93.
- ^ "Gurmandir Sindhi temple, Hindu temple in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sindhis of Toronto". Gurmandir.com. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
- ^ "Important Days". Jhulelal.com. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
- Bibliography
- Alter, Joseph S. (1992). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-91217-5.
- Balfour, Edward (1885). The Cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia, Commercial Industrial, and Scientific: Products of the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms, Useful Arts and Manufactures. Bernard Quaritch. p. 577.
- Brockman, Norbert (13 September 2011). Encyclopedia of Sacred Places. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-655-3.
- Claus, Peter J.; Diamond, Sarah; Mills, Margaret Ann (2003). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia : Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-93919-5.
- Dallapiccola, A. L. (November 2003). Hindu Myths. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-70233-2.
- Dilipsinh, K. S. (1 January 2004). Kutch in Festival and Custom. Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 978-81-241-0998-4.
- Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-376-4. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- Jagannathan, Maithily (1 January 2005). South Indian Hindu Festivals and Traditions. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-415-8.
- Sharma, Usha (1 January 2008). Festivals In Indian Society (2 Vols. Set). Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-8324-113-7.
- Verma, Manish (2000). Fasts & Festivals Of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. ISBN 978-81-7182-076-4.
Further reading
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola
External links
