Humans have been worshipping nature and the resources it provided since a very ancient time. After they understand that it’s nature that helps them survive, they become grateful for it. This was also when they built a belief system and started believing in several deities.
Humans also understood the importance of the Sun, Moon, Earth, Water, and Snakes. They realized that all these things were there from the beginning and grew along with them. Hence worshipping snakes became a ritual and part of their belief system. The same belief still follows, and people celebrate Nag Panchami.
The festival symbolizes snakes’ importance, contributing to the ecosystem in many ways. Every year the occasion falls on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight. This is the month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar and July/August as per the Gregorian calendar.
Today the celebration happens all over India, but the major fervor can be seen in South Indian states and Maharashtra.
There are many legends about snakes and how they often protected the human race. There is a belief that the whole Earth stands on the head of Shesh Naag. Many legends are related to snakes and their deities. Let’s get to know a few of them here.
Legends & Story Behind Nag Panchami
There was a time when Aryans arrived in India; their clan’s name was Nagas. Among this clan, it was very common to worship snakes or Nagas. The proof of the same is derived from the Indus Valley civilization of 3000 B.C.
With time, Nagas got combined with Hinduism, and they started accepting many Hindu deities and snake deities as well. There are many snakes mentioned in the Puranas that are worshipped, such as Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kalia, and more. However, as per history, the historians claim that these were not the snakes but the kings of the Indo-Aryan kingdoms.
It is also a belief in Hindusim that the whole Earth exists on the thousand-headed Shesh Naag. This is the same snake that is also the resting bed of Lord Vishnu. In Buddhism and Jainism, snakes are considered significant because once a cobra snake saved the life of Buddha and a Jain Muni Parshwanath.
Another belief says that the elder brother of Krishna, Balram was the incarnation of Sheshnah, the snake that holds the Earth. Snake is also given importance as it is the necklace of Lord Shiva, which he keeps as an ornament. That is how in Hinduism, snakes always have some significance.
There is a legend about a farmer and his family. One day while plowing the field, the farmer’s son killed three snakes. The mother snake came behind for revenge and killed the family except for the daughter. The daughter then offered milk to the mother snake and requested to forgive the doing of his family and revive their life.
The snake mother then accepted the apology and revived the whole family. Since that day, people have worshiped snakes to get their blessings, so no snake would bite their family.
Even in ancient architecture, the significance of snakes is prominent. For example, in the caves of Ajanta, the rituals of snake worship have been carved on the walls. People also believe that by worshipping snakes and by not harming them, you receive their grace on your family. Doing so also saves people from snakebites and unwanted snake encounters.
Hence on Nag Panchami, worshipping snakes has always been a practice.
Some people visit snake temples and worship the snake deities. People in rural areas visit the snake pits and offer them milk. They also worship the place with Diya, offering them flowers, sweets, and milk. In the end, they encircle the pit a few times and pray to the snakes.
