Fwd: NAGULA CHAVITHI AND KUMARA SWAMY

December 8, 2003

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Nagula Chavathi

The festival of Nagula Chavithi falls after the five days of Deepavali. It is specially observed by the women folk. In the forest of Naimisha, Sootha Maharishi was teaching the value of uprightness and conformity to moral law to Shounaka and other Rishis. One day Shounaka told Sootha Maharishi that in the eyes of God all women are equal and, if so, he requested the latter to explain why certain women are barren without any children, some bear only few while some get more children. Sootha Maharishi then, explained to Shounaka that some women knowingly or unknowingly commits sins like killing the birds and insects etc. According to the magnitude of their sins some are childless and some other beget children. He further added that some women carelessly throw the cloths used by them during their menstrual period which are carried away by the crows to keep in their nests which result in the decomposition of their eggs and foiling procreation. Without their knowledge they also kill ants and other insects during the course of cleaning their houses and while cooking. All these acts done unknowingly construed and add to the number of sins. It is explained in Naga Prastishta Kalpam that snakes like "Chavithi Day" and on that day if the women soulfully pray and perform Naga Pratishta and feed them with milk they will get rid off the above sins and barren women beget children. Therefore, the women folk who give credence to the above festival especially observe fast on Nagula Chavithi and after performing poojas to the anthills pour milk in them. Sri Subramanya Swamy, Sri Laxmana and Adisheshudu are the descendants of snakes and hence prayers and poojas are also offered to them. Cobra is a poisonous snake. Death is certain when it bites. In the month of Aswijam (corresponding to English month of October) the male members go to their fields in the nights to keep a watch and protect the harvest from larency and theft where these reptiles move freely. Therefore the female members offer prayers to the cobras on the festival of Nagula Chavithi not to do any harm to their husbands, sons, sons-in-law etc. During the festival days of Deepavali, no snake ventures out of their hiding places for fear of colorful lights and fire works. At the end of Deepavali they come out ferociously in search of food. In order to save from any eventuality to their family members women pour milk in the anthills so that no snake comes out of their hiding places and fatally bite.

Nagula Chavithi

Nagula Chavithi is celebrated twice a year during the months of Karthik and Sravan. 'Nagula' means snakes and 'Chavithi' is the fourth day after every New Moon or Full Moon day. The one in the month of Karthik is celebrated on the fourth day after Deepavali, which falls on a New Moon day. Serpents are worshipped with great devotion and religious fervor and women and children observe fast and worship the Snake God. Dressed in their festive best, they offer milk at snake hills or complete the ritual at home by placing a picture or idol of a snake. If possible the seven-hooded cobras are worshipped on this day with oleanders and special sweets called "chimmili" (sweet made with sesame seeds and jaggery) and "chalimidi" (sweet made with rice and jaggery) are offered to the deity. It is interesting to note that snakes are accorded a place of worship in Hindu religion and are given a prime place by the Hindu gods. Of the "saptha lokas" (seven worlds) of the

universe referred to in the Hindu mythology, 'sarpa lokam' (world of snakes) is one. Even today, many orthodox Hindus do not kill snakes. When they come across one, particularly a cobra, they pay obeisance and step aside. Some name their children snakes if they appear in their dreams. While snakes adorn Lord Siva's neck, Lord Vishnu made it his bed in his heavenly abode, on the celestial ocean of milk. The most common pictures of Vishni are ones where he reclines majestically on coils of the cobra, with the open hood as a cover for his head. Legend has it that Lord Siva swallowed the poison that emerged during "Samudra manthan" - the churning of the ocean by gods and demons in search of 'Amrutham' - the nectar of immortality. A snake was used as a rope in the process and a terrible poison (garalam) was one of the many things that emerged from it. It threatened to engulf the whole world, but for Lord Siva, who retained it in his throat, but did not swallow it, lest it killed

him. With the effect of this poison his throat turned blue and he came to be known as "Neelakantha" or the 'blue-throated one'. However, a few drops fell out and to ward off the evil effects of these drops people worship the Cobra, the king of snakes, to pacify the breed and protect themselves from their deadly poison.

Naga PanchamiNag Panchami is observed on the 5th day of the bright half of Shravan (July-August). On this day nag, cobras and snakes are worshipped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps and even sacrifice. The image of Nag deities made of silver; stone, wood are first bathed with water and milk, and then worshipped with the reciting of the mantras.

NAGULA CHAVITHI

UP Nagula Chavithi is celebrated on the fourth day after Deepavali, which falls on a New Moon day. On this day serpents are worshipped with great devotion and religious fervor. On this day women and children observe fast and worship snake god. Dressed in their festive best, they offer milk at the snake hills. On this day there is a great demand for snake hills. Some complete the ritual at home placing a picture or idol of a snake. Nagula Chavithi is celebrated twice a year during the months of Karthika and Sravanam. 'Nagula' means of the snakes and 'Chavithi' is the fourth day after every New Moon or Full Moon day. It is interesting to note that snakes are accorded a place of worship in Hindu religion and are given a prime place by the Hindu gods. While it adorns Lord Siva's neck, Lord Vishnu made it his bed in His heavenly abode, the

celestial ocean of milk. He reclines majestically on its coils, with the open hood as cover over His head. Legend has it that Lord Siva swallowed the poison that emerged during the churning of the ocean by gods and demons in search of Amrutham (the nectar of immortality). A snake was used as rope in the process and a terrible poison (garalam) was one of the many things that emerged from it. It would have engulfed the whole world, but for Lord Siva, who swallowed it and retained it in His throat, lest it kill Him. His throat turned blue - hence He is called "Neelakantha". However, a few drops fell out and to ward off the evil effects people worship the Cobra, the king of snakes, to pacify the brood and protect themselves from their deadly poison. Of the "saptha lokas" (seven worlds) of the universe referred to in the Hindu mythology, 'sarpa lokam' (world of snakes) is one. Even today, many orthodox Hindus do not kill snakes. When they come across one, particularly a Cobra, they pay

obeisance and step aside. Some name their children after it, if it appears in their dream. Seven-hooded Cobra is worshipped on this day, if available, with oleanders. "Chimmili" (sweet made with sesame seeds and jaggery) and "Chalimidi" (sweet made with rice and jaggery) are offered to the deity. Women observe fast on this day.

Subramanya Swamy Temple

Murugan

Idols :

Subramanya Swamy

Description :

Sri Subramanyeshwara Swamy temple is in the village of Mopidevi, Machalipatnam Mandal of Krishna District. The Lingam of Lord Subramanya Swamy is a Swayambhu (self manifested). The presiding deity of this Temple is Sri Subramanya Swamy. While renovating the temple some time back the idols of great Rishis, and the heads of cock and peacock were broken which were kept aside while retaining the other attractive idols. The numerous mystical powers displayed by Lord Subramanya Swamy in the temple are attracting large number of devotees to offer prayers. The Lingam of Lord Subramanya Swamy is very powerful fulfilling the desires and wishes of the devotees who worship him whole heartedly. Lord Subramanyam is considered to be the chief and principal deity of the royal family of Challapalle. With the help of the villagers the family members of Challapalle are running the day to day affairs of the temple efficiently for the last 200

years. Thousands of devotees visit the temple on Sunday to perform pooja.

Festivals :

Special poojas are performed on Nagula Chavithi (in the month of October) Maha Sivarathri (in the month of February) Subramanyeswara Sashti (in the month of December) and Kalyamostavam every year on a grand scale.

Legends & Myths :

The legends say that, the Lingam is a self manifested (Swayambhu) one. Veerarapu Parvathalu was a potter, who was a great devotee of Swamynath. Pleased with his devotion the Lord once came in his dream and asked him to dig up the anthill to find his Lingam in the village of Mopidevi. Parvathalu told about his dream to the villagers and dug up the anthill at the place indicated in his dream. Surprisingly, they found the Lingam which was placed on the anthill and they began to worship. Though the potter was deeply immersed in the worship of God, he never delayed his day to day work of making pottery articles. Once he decided to dedicate the work at the feet of the Lord. He therefore, prepared the idols of Horse, Nandi, Cock and Garutmanthudu which are very dear to Subramanya Swamy with clay. He also prepared the idols of great Rishis with clay. He prepared the idols and fired them in the Bhatti in such a fashion that they

never lost their original forms.

Location :

Mopidevi,AndhraPradesh

Transportation :

The temple is about 80 km from Vijayawada bus stand via Pamarruand and 30 km from Machalipatnam via Challapalle. Machalipatnam Railway Station is 30 km from the temple. The Gannavaram Airport is about 100 km from the temple.