Nag Panchami is an auspicious Hindu Festival, also known as Nagula Panchami. This festival is celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan’s bright fortnight, typically in July or August.
According to Hindu scriptures, sacred serpents possess divine powers and are worshiped during this ancient festival.
On this auspicious day, Hindu devotees perform Nag Puja hoping to receive serpents’ blessing and protection. This festival indicates that snakes have been given a sacred place in Hindu mythology that helps people keep up with nature’s balance.
It is an occasion to be thankful towards snakes who significantly contribute to ecological contributions and strive to achieve peace in the natural world.
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Panchami Tithi Begins – August 9, 2024 – 12:36 AM
Panchami Tithi Ends – August 10, 2024 – 03:14 AM
Puja Muhurat – August 9, 2024 – From 05:25 A.M. 08:00 AM
Many Indian scriptures share details about snakes’ history and praise worshiping them. These books are Agni Purana, Skanda Purana, Narada Purana and the Mahabharata.
Even in the Mahabharata epic, the son of the Kuru dynasty King Parikshita, Janamejaya, performs a snake sacrifice called Sarpa Satra to avenge his father’s demise due to a snake bite by the king of a snake called Takshaka.
Janamejaya has erected the sacrificial fireplace to kill all snakes in the world which was started by some knowledgeable Brahmin sages. Janamjeya was available at the place of sacrifice and it was so powerful that it was causing all the snakes to fall into the Yagna Kunda (sacrificial fire pit).
Priests later found that Takshaka who had bitten King Parisksihita escaped and reached Lord Indra to seek protection. Knowing this, the priests increased the power of their mantras to drag Takshaka and even Indra to the sacrificial fire.
Takshaka twirled himself around Indra’s cot, however, the intensity of Yagna was so high that Takshaka was dragged toward the fire along with Indra.
This situation created fear among the gods and hence they appealed to Manasadevi to intervene and resolve this crisis.
Shen sent her son Asitka to the yagna place and told him to appeal to Janamaejaya to stop this Sarpa Satra yagna. He then reached the Yagna place and impressed Janamejaya with his Sastra knowledge, resultantly, he granted him to seek a boon.
The Yagna was then stopped and this is how the life of Takshaka and Indra was saved. This is the Nadivardhini Panchami as per the Hindu calendar which is the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravan during the monsoon season.
This day is a festival day of the Naga as their life was spared on this day. Indra also went to Manasadevi and worshiped her.
Astika requested Janamejaya to stop this Yagna as the King is known for not refusing a boon given to Brahmin. Hence, he relented and asked Rishis to stop the yagna.
According to the Garuda Purana, offering prayers to the snake on this auspicious day will usher good things in one’s life. This is to be followed by feeding Brahmins.
The worship of serpents at the Nag Panchami festival holds a special ancient tradition and mythology. India considers serpents powerful and divine creatures in Hinduism. This auspicious festival is often associated with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and they are believed to protect devotees against evil and bring good fortune.
It is an event to honor and honor nature and some of its creatures. It is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all living beings and shows the importance of coexisting harmoniously.
Twelve serpent gods are worshiped on this day including Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvatara, Dhritarashtra, Shankhapal, Kaliya, Takshaka, and Pingala.
Each of these deities holds special significance for all the Hindu devotees across the world.
The festival is observed on different dates in different states as it will be celebrated on August 24, 2024, in Gujarat. Although the rituals and worship remain almost the same across the country.
It is an occasion to seek blessing from serpent gods for protection, prosperity, and well-being. The festival underscores the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the country.
The Nagara Panchami will be celebrated on August 9, 2024.
Garuda Purana mentions that offering prayers to snakes on this day brings good things to life.
It is believed that rice dishes and laddus are liked by Naaga Devatas. However, people offer a variety of dishes such as halbai, kadubu, ladoo (unde), arishina ele kadubu, ellu panchakajjaya etc. The dishes or recipes prepared on Nag Panchami vary from region to region.
It is important to avoid leafy vegetables during Nag Panchami.
Some reports claim that snakes do not drink milk.
Along with Nag Devatas, Lord Shiva is also worshiped on this day.
Siddharth Rawat
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