Naga Panchami
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Nagapanchami is a very popular Hindu festival which is dedicated to snake God. Lets understand what is the literal meaning of Naga Panchami.
Naga literally means 'serpent' and panchami is the 'fifth day'. So Nagapanchami is the festival which is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the hindi month also known as
lunar month of Shravan which falls in July - August as per English Calendar. This is the time when most of India is covered with monsoon clouds and is related with the rainy season. Every year on this day of nagapanchami, thousands of devotees visit
temples which are dedicated to snakes, Shiva temples and offer their prayers in the temple.
Naga Panchami is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India.
On this day, the devotees observe fast and offer prayers. There is a custom of offering milk to snakes. The fast on Nagapanchami has got the mention in Bhavishya Purana also. Its mentioned in the Puranas that if the devotee bathes the snake on this day,
he gets the freedom from the dangers associated with snake bites for himself and his family.
Legends about Naga Panchami
There are many legends associated with Naga Panchami or Nag Panchami. It is said that on this day
lord Krishna got victory on kaliya nag so this festival is a very important day for Hindu people in there life.As this is the day of the serpents, devotees pour milk into all the holes in the ground around the house or near the temple to propitiate
them. Sometimes, a small pot of milk with some flowers is placed near the holes so that the snakes may drink it. If a snake actually drinks the milk, it is considered to be extremely lucky for the devotee. All, especially women, celebrates the festival with
much enthusiasm.
There is the description of snake prayers and the importance of this day in Puranas. As per Hindu mythology,
Prithvi (Earth) is believed to be supported by Sesh Nag (the snake on which god Vishnu sleeps). Therefore the worship of snakes is in gratitude to Sesh Nag. According to the BhavishyaPurana, worshippers should make gold, silver or clay images
of snakes and worship them with kaner, jasmine and incense, feed Brahmins with ghee and payasa, and bathe the snake images with milk. This would bestow safety from snakebites on the worshippers. The Bhavishyottara Purana enjoins a person to make figures of
cow dung and place them on both sides of his door. He should then worship them with curds, Durva tendrils, Kusha grass, sandalwood paste, flowers and presents of food.