🐍

Nag Panchami नाग पंचमी

Dedicated to Nagas

About Nag Panchami

Nag Panchami is dedicated to the worship of serpent deities (Nagas) on Shravana Shukla Panchami. Snakes hold deep significance in Hindu mythology — Lord Vishnu rests on the cosmic serpent Shesha, Lord Shiva wears the Naga Vasuki around his neck, and snake deities guard the underworld and treasures. On this day, devotees offer milk, turmeric, flowers, and rice to live snakes or their images at temples. Women draw snake figures on walls and doorsteps with turmeric paste. Digging the earth and plowing fields is traditionally avoided to protect snakes in their burrows. The festival reflects the ancient Hindu principle of coexistence with nature and respect for all living beings. In agricultural communities, snake worship is linked to protecting crops and praying for good monsoon rains.

नाग पंचमी श्रावण शुक्ल पंचमी को सर्प देवताओं (नागों) की पूजा को समर्पित है। हिंदू पौराणिक कथाओं में सर्पों का गहरा महत्व है — भगवान विष्णु ब्रह्मांडीय सर्प शेष पर विश्राम करते हैं, भगवान शिव नाग वासुकि को गले में धारण करते हैं, और सर्प देवता पाताल लोक और खजानों की रक्षा करते हैं। इस दिन भक्त जीवित सर्पों या मंदिरों में उनकी प्रतिमाओं को दूध, हल्दी, फूल और चावल अर्पित करते हैं। महिलाएँ हल्दी के लेप से दीवारों और दरवाजों पर सर्प चित्र बनाती हैं। बिलों में सर्पों की रक्षा के लिए परंपरागत रूप से भूमि खोदने और खेत जोतने से बचा जाता है। यह त्योहार प्रकृति के साथ सह-अस्तित्व और सभी जीवों के प्रति सम्मान के प्राचीन हिंदू सिद्धांत को दर्शाता है।

Spiritual Significance

Nag Panchami reflects the Hindu reverence for serpents as divine protectors and symbols of kundalini energy. It honors the ecological role of snakes in maintaining the balance of nature, particularly in agricultural ecosystems where they control pests.

नाग पंचमी दिव्य रक्षकों और कुंडलिनी ऊर्जा के प्रतीक के रूप में सर्पों के प्रति हिंदू श्रद्धा को दर्शाती है। यह प्रकृति के संतुलन बनाए रखने में सर्पों की पारिस्थितिक भूमिका का सम्मान करती है, विशेषकर कृषि पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र में जहाँ वे कीटों को नियंत्रित करते हैं।

Key Rituals & Practices

  1. Offer milk, turmeric, and flowers at snake temples or anthills
  2. Draw serpent figures on walls with turmeric or sandalwood paste
  3. Avoid digging the earth or plowing fields on this day
  4. Recite Nag Stotra or serpent prayers for protection
  5. Visit famous Nag temples like Nageshwar or Mannarasala

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are snakes worshipped in Hinduism?

Snakes (Nagas) hold multiple sacred roles in Hinduism. Shesha Naga is the cosmic serpent on whom Lord Vishnu reclines. Vasuki is worn by Lord Shiva and was used as a rope during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). Nagas are believed to guard treasures and sacred waters in the underworld (Patala Loka). In yoga, the coiled serpent represents Kundalini energy at the base of the spine. Their ecological role in controlling pests also earned them reverence in agricultural societies.

Should we offer real milk to snakes?

While offering milk to snakes is a traditional practice, modern animal welfare experts advise against it because snakes are reptiles that cannot digest milk — it can actually harm them. Many temples now encourage offering milk to snake idols or images instead. The spiritual intent of the offering — showing reverence and gratitude to the serpent deities — can be fulfilled through symbolic worship without causing harm to live snakes.

What is the connection between Nag Panchami and Kundalini?

In yogic philosophy, the Kundalini is described as a coiled serpent (naga) residing at the base of the spine (Muladhara chakra). When awakened through spiritual practice, it rises through the seven chakras to the crown, bringing enlightenment. Nag Panchami's serpent worship is seen by many yogic practitioners as an external representation of this internal energy. The festival can be observed as a day to honor both the external Naga deities and the internal Kundalini Shakti.

Festival Details

Deity
Nagas
Category
Nature & Earth
Regions
Pan-India
Calendar Basis
Hindu Lunar (Panchang)
Hindu Month
Shravana — Shukla Paksha, Panchami
Importance
normal