Fwd: || laalkitab || Naag Panchami

July 28, 2006

Naag Panchmi is on 30th july

»--‡§ÜÑÑÝ-» <dhanulagna > wrote:

laalkitab

»--‡§ÜÑÑÝ-» <dhanulagna >

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:22:08 -0000

|| laalkitab || Naag Panchami

Naag Panchami

(Snake Worshipping Festival)

General Introduction

The fifth day of Shravan, in July / August, is dedicated to snake worship.

The Naag culture is quite common in India. Snake charmers start gathering snakes, thereby saving the lives of the young serpents. Live cobras or their images are worshipped. Worshippers search for holes where snakes are likely to be found. When they have found a hole, they make periodic visits, placing before it milk, bananas, and other food that the snake is likely to consume. Snakes are worshiped in many forms may they be made of metal, stone or even in the form of a drawing. Then offerings of milk, ghee and water are made even to the image of a snake. It is believed that in reward for this worship, snakes will never bite any member of the family.

Shiva is also worshipped since he wears snakes as ornaments. Snakes are feed milk and sweets, and released into the forests.

A legend has it that Krishna, one of Vishnu's avatars, killed Kaliya and liberated the people. Naag Panchami has prevailed ever since

Details

'Panchami' comes from the word 'paanch' meaning 'five' and Naag means 'serpent'.'Panchami' comes on the 5th day after the full moon or the new moon.Naag Panchami is celebrated during the bright half of the month (Shrravan)Naag Panchami is a harbinger of Lord Ganesh's Utsav (Celebrations) which occur almost a month later.A Snake offered to be the girdle of Lord Ganesha.The best known serpent is Shesh Naag because Lord Vishnu reclines on him.Laxmana (Sri Rama's brother) and Balrama (Sri Krishna's brother) are considered 'Avtaars' (Incarnations) of Shesh Naag.

Other well-known 'Naags':

Vaasuki: famous for acting as the 'dori' (string) during the 'Samudra Manthan' Churning of the Ocean.

Takshak: the snake that was to sting King Parikshit due to a curse.

Kaaliya: The snake that Lord Krishna banished from the River Yamuna.

It is believed that the world is balanced on Shesh Naag's head.

They are the guardians of various directions.

Mythology mentions Nagas (snakes) as people as well as Snakes.Snakes are believed to be living in their own world 'Nagaloka or 'Patala'There is many an 'old' story which mentions humans as marrying snakes or/and their progeny.Indians (Hindus) worship snakes as their Benefactor Deities.

Snakes help good harvest because they eat pests.

Naag Panchami in Hindu Mythology

Fairly widespread before the Aryan invasion, worshipping of snakes or Naga was later incorporated into Hinduism by the Aryan themselves. Hindu Mythological books are famously filled with stories, fables and pictures of snakes.

Lord Vishnu's couch is the green, thousand-headed snake (Ananta or Sesha) who could hold up the earth. Lord Shiva wears a snake for ornamental purpose. Even Lord Krishna is called "Kaliya Mardan" to commemorate his victory over the giant snake, Kaliya.

A farmer while tilling his land incidentally killed some young serpents. The serpent took revenge by biting all members of the farmer's family except his daughter, who worshipped snakes.This devotional act of the girl resulted in revival of her family. So on the day of Naag Panchami, tilling of land is forbidden. Snake worship is however believed to have originated due to man's natural fear of reptiles.

Celebration of Naag Panchami

One of the oldest and auspicious festivals, women fast on this day. Also, women draw pictures and images of snakes on walls of their houses with a mixture of cowdung, milk and black powder. Offerings of milk, ghee, sweets, water and rice are also made at the sites of snake holes. Devotees consider themselves lucky if snakes drink offered milks. Naag panchami is observed and celebrated in different ways in various parts of India.

The festival is celebrated all over the country, but mainly in the South, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. One can see snake charmers out on the streets on this day, with the snakes being offered milk by devotees.

At Jodhpur in Rajasthan, huge cloth effigies of the mythical serpent are displayed at a colorful fair.

At Battis Shirala village in south Maharashtra, almost all the residents know the art of controlling snakes. On Naag Panchami, they go to houses in the other villages with dormant cobras and ask for alms and cloth. There, this festival also signifies the beginning of the preparations for the arrival of Lord Ganesh, a month later.

In Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Anant or Sesh are worshipped. Altars in many Kerala homes have silver or copper cobra idols that are worshipped and offered milk and sweets as families pray for the welfare of their children and for prosperity.

In Punjab, the festival is celebrated in September-October and is called Guga Naumi. A snake made of dough is taken around the village in a basket and an offering of flour and butter is made from each house. The 'snake' is then buried.

In West Bengal and parts of Assam and Orissa, the snake deity worshipped on Naga Panchami is the goddess Manasa.

NAAG PANCHAMI: PLACES TO VISIT The places to visit and witness this festival are the states of Maharasthra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa. The celebrations and festivities differ in every place, as do the rituals and related customs. However, one can definitely have a good idea of the importance the Hindus give to their festivals whether it is related to people, animals or God.

Lord Krishna and the Kaliya Snake:(Mythological Story)

Nag Panchami is also connected with the following legend of Krishna. Young Krishna was playing with the other cowboys, when suddenly the ball got entangled in the high branch of a tree. Krishna volunteered to climb the tree and fetch the ball. But below the tree there was a deep part of the river Yamuna, in which the terrible snake Kaliya was living. Everybody was afraid of that part of the river.

Suddenly Krishna fell from the tree into the water. Then that terrible snake came up. But Krishna was ready and jumping on the snake's head he caught it by the neck. Kaliya understood that Krishna was not an ordinary boy, and that it would not be easy to overcome him. So Kaliya pleaded with Krishna: "Please, do not kill me." Krishna full of compassion asked the snake to promise that henceforth he would not harass anybody. Then he let the snake go free into the river again.

On Nag Panchami day the victory of Krishna over the Kaliya snake is commemorated. For this reason Krishna is known as "Kaliya Mardan". Snakes are believed to like milk. 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. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm by all, especially women.

As most rivers in India are in spate during the month of Shriven, poisonous snakes come out of their subterranean abodes and creep about in plenty all over the place. Many also float on flooded rivers running through the countryside. Mortality from snakebites must have been considerable to prompt people to worship the nagas to seek protection from them. Because of the fear, nagas were elevated to a divine status by the Hindus. The serpents are believed to have the capability to change their shape at will. When in human form, they are depicted as beautiful women and handsome men.

Naga Panchami is observed indifferent ways in different parts of India. It is one of the most ancient fasts, and finds mention in the Puranas. It is believed to be one of the most auspicious days of the entire year. According to the Bhavishya Purana, when men bathe the snakes called Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadra, Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka and Dhananjaya with milk on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shriven, they ensure freedom from danger for their families.

In some parts of southern India, figures of snakes are drawn with red sandalwood paste on wooden boards, or clay images of snakes coloured yellow or black are purchased. These are then worshipped and offered milk. Snake charmers wander about with all sorts of snakes, to which people offer milk. The snake charmers are paid some money for allowing this Serpent worship developed gradually from the fear of serpents that must have taken a heavy toll on life, particularly at the beginning of the rainy season. In the Ashvalayana Grihyasutra, the Paraskara Grihyasutra and other Grihyasutras, a rite called Sarpabali or 'offerings to serpents' was performed on the full moon night of Shriven. However the reason that it was moved from the full moon night to that of the fifth night of the bright fortnight is not apparent. It may be due to the slight change in the time of the onset of the rains.

Pt. Rohit Sharma

(»--‡§ÜÑÑÝ-»)

099888079834

R = Rosary, O = OM, H = Help, I = Immortal, T= Temple

Means: Breaths are regarded as beads of Rosary (Swason ki mala), Who always recite OM (Mantra) on Rosary of breaths gets help of GOD, become Immortal (Moksha) & lives in temple (heart of God).

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.