Nagas in Hinduism

[Guest guest]

ormuzd

ormuzd12

Nagas (cobras) are NOT one of the primary, or even secondary objects

of deification in Hinduism.

 

Snakes were once revered in all mighty ancient civilisations (cobras

in Egypt, dragon-serpents in Mesopotamia, nagas in India). As latter

faiths uprooted them, their position either became vilified (Tiamat

destroyed by Marduk in Shumer, Kaliya destroyed by Krishna), or

relegated (guardian-protectress in Egypt, snakes subjugated by Siva

in India).

 

Snake-reverence survived in India amongst tribals, primarily in areas

infested with snakes, to gain divine benediction against snakes. The

closest parallel in non-tribal societies is Manasa, the goddess of

snakes, who PROTECTS AGAINST SNAKES, and is invoked during Naga

Panchami.

 

The snake around Vishnu is a metaphor. The snake does not have ten

heads, but INFINITE heads. Thus he is called ANANTA (infinity). He

symbolises the residual matter that remains after destruction of the

universe. Energy concentrates within Vishnu, matter resides within

Ananta, who is thus also called Shesha (RESIDUAL, or REMAINDER).

Vishnu sleeps on him unitl the next creation cycle(energy resting on

matter). Such symbolism is CLEARLY evident from the names of the

entities.

 

The snake around Siva represents lust. Siva is shown, through various

adventures, temptations, losses and final victories, as the ultimate

conqueror of lust. Thus he has draped it over his shoulder, as a

spoil of conquest.

 

Incidentally, Siva is a very ancient God, going back to the hunter-

gatherer phase of evolution. His clothing is derived from the forest

(tiger-hide), his enemies are the tiger and snake, his antidote

against cold & snake-bites is classical tribal medicine (ash), he has

controlled the river (fishing), but not the sea (Ganges locked in

hair), and his chief weapon is the trident (trishul), the implement

of hunter-gatherers.