Nagpanchami

NAME OF FESTIVAL : NAGPANCHAMI

DURATION: CELEBRATED ON LUNAR DAY (TITHI) SHRAVAN SHUDHA PANCHAMI

श्रावणेपञ्चमी शुक्ला संप्रोक्ता नागपञ्चमी |
चतुर्थीसहितां त्यत्क्वा ग्राह्या षष्ठीसमन्विता ||

ANCIENT REFERENCES OF WORSHIP OF NAGDEVTA

• There is a reference of worshiping snake named “Lohitahi” and “Wayas” in Taittiriy Samhita (Ashvamedh Varnanam Chapter 5.5.13.1).
• Snake mother Kadru was considered as the symbol of mother earth and worshipped in Shatapath Brahman. (3.6.2.2)
• Lord Shiva is called “Nagakulabhushan” in religious scriptures while Lord Vishnu is called as “Anant Shayanam” or “Sheshashayee”

DIETY OF FESTIVAL : “SNAKE GOD”

PROCEDURE OF WORSHIP

• Take oil massage and clean bath early in the morning.
• Draw the picture of five hooded snake on the sheet of paper or wall with the help of turmeric or red sandalawood (Raktachandan).
• At some places the picture of nine snakes with their wives is drawn for worshiping on this ospicious day.
• Recite this “Navanag Stotra” while praying to God snake at the starting of this worship.

अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कंबलम् |
धार्तराष्ट्रं शङ्खपालं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ||
एतानि नव नामानि नागानां च महात्मनाम् |
सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रातःकाले विशेषतः
तस्य विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् ||

• Worship God snake by offering flowers, lighting lamps, essence sticks and offering Naivedyam by uttering this mantra, अनन्तादि नागेभ्यो नमः|
• Many times Milk and lahi are also offered as Naivedyam with Flowers and Durva(sacred grass).
• Some fried and Boiled food items such as “Karanji-Pati” are also offered as per our traditions.

INDICATIONS

According to some mythologies and stories some rituals and indications are followed by the people on this day. Such as to cook boiled food items like “Puran Dind”, use of pan(Tava), avoid cutting vegetables and other things and following Non-violence etc.

PRAYER OF GOD SNAKE

श्रावणे शुक्ल पञ्चम्यां यत्कृतं नागपूजनम् |
तेन तृप्यन्तु मे नागा भवन्तु सुखदाःसदा ||
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापी यन्मया पूजनं कृतम् |
न्यूनातिरिक्तं तत्सर्वं भो नागाः क्षन्तुमर्हथ ||
युष्मत् प्रसादात् सफलां मम सन्तु मनोरथाः |
सर्वदा मत्कुले माsस्तु भयं सप्रविषोद्भवं ||

IMPORTANCE

• There are about seven hundred snake incarnations along with temples only in Kashmir Region.
• A special pilgrim center named “Safidon” is very famous in Punjab.
• This God is also worshipped in Utter Pradesh, specialy at “naagkuva” in Varanasi.
• Nagamata Manasadevi is worshipped in all over Bengal Region  on this day.
• Lord Shrikrishna worshipped “Kaliya Nag”, on the banks of river Yamuna on this day.
• At some regions women and girls worship the God at Anthill or Temple outside the village.
• According to historical information Aryan and Non-Aryan people integrated and they worshipped Nagas on this day.
• It proves God Snake as Deity of our Tradition and Culture in all over India since an ancient time.