Naag Panchami is a day of traditional worshipping Naag or snakes in India. Hinduism promotes the concept of loving and caring all the living beings on the Earth.
Namaste!
Welcome to our enthralling blog on Naag Panchami 2024. Have you ever wonder why Indians worship snakes (naag)? Why do Shivlinga always have a snake around it? Let’s find answers to all these queries in following write up.
Introduction
Naag Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of South Asia with great enthusiasm and devotion. It is also known as Bhaiya Panchami, bhaiya pancham or Bhaiya panche, as many women observe fast on this day for the well being of their brothers.
Moreover, this festival is dedicated to the worship of snakes, cobras, other snake species which hold a special place in Hinduism.
As part of the festivities, a Naag or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting is given a reverential bath with milk and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family.
Date of Naag Panchami 2024
Naag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of shukla paksha of Shrawan maas of Hindu Panchang. We are going to celebrate Naag Panchami on August 9, 2024.
Highlights of Naag Panchami
a) Generally, hindu people offer milk, flowers and prayers to snake idols or images, seeking protection from snake bites and to ensure prosperity and well-being.
b) This Indian festival is symbolic of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
c) Also it’s a way to acknowledge and respect the role of snakes in the ecosystem. India has been an agricultural land and to protect grains and food from rodents, they use to adore naag.
d) Some Indian states, such as Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat celebrate Naga Panchami on the Krishna Paksha of the sawaan mas.
Significance of Naag Panchami
Further, Naag Panchami holds cultural and religious significance at a higher level. Snakes, especially the cobra are considered sacred creatures. And these snakes are associated with various deities like Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna during Kalia naag episode.
Snakes play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations. Eventually they are important in maintaining ecological balance.
Story of Naag Panchami
As per Hindu text, Kalia was a venomous serpent who had made the Yamuna River his dwelling place, poisoning its waters and causing harm to the people and animals in Vrindavan.
One day, young Krishna and his friends were playing near river Yamuna with a ball. During their game, their ball fell into the river.
Suddenly, Krishna jumped into the river to retrieve the ball. This angered Kalia. The serpent coiled around Krishna and tried to subdue him. However, Krishna expanded his body, overpowering Kalia. He then danced on the serpent’s multiple hoods, eventually defeating him.
Seeing Kalia’s suffering, his wives pleaded to Lord Krishna to spare him. Shri Krishna agreed on the condition that Kalia and his family would leave the river Yamuna and never harm anyone again.
Hence, Kalia agreed, and Krishna’s victory over the serpent is celebrated on Naag Panchami.
Katha (story) of bhaiya Panchami
In ancient times, thrre was a rich man, having seven sons. All of them were married. The wife of the youngest son was a learned and well behaved woman of good character, but she had no brother.
One day, the eldest daughter-in-law asked all the daughters-in-law to accompany her to bring yellow soil to plaster the house. Apparently, all of them took spades and hoes and started digging the soil. Just then a snake appeared there, which the eldest daughter-in-law started killing with a hoe. Seeing this, the younger daughter-in-law stopped her and said- ‘Don’t kill it. This poor creature is innocent.’
Thus, on hearing this, the elder daughter-in-law did not kill it, so the snake went and sat on one side. Then the younger daughter-in-law said to her- ‘We will be back soon, don’t move from here.’
Meanwhile, she went back home with everyone, carrying soil, being caught up in work, she forgot the promise she had made to the snake. However, next day, she remembered that incident, and reached there with everyone, and seeing the snake sitting at that place, she said- ‘Snake Bhaiya Namaskar!’. On this snake replied- ‘You have called me brother, so I am leaving you, otherwise I would have bitten you for telling me a lie.
Consequently, She realised her mistake and asked for forgiveness from the snake. And, on observing her true remorse, Snake promised her to be her brother for life time.
After some days, the snake came to meet her as a human and said, ‘Send my sister.’ Everyone in the family was surprised to see a smart and handsome boy. They were puzzled to see him, as daughter-in-law never had any brother.
Indeed, snake said-I am her distant relative, I went out in childhood. Now, I want her to come to her mayeka.
On his assurance, the people of the house sent Choti daughter-in-law with him. On the way, he told her the truth and welcomed her to his palace. There was a old lady used to offer cold milk to baby snake’s after ringing the bell.
Likewise, daughter-in-law was staying there and enjoying luxurious life. One day the old lady went to temple and asked daughter-in-law to offer cold nilk to baby snakes. She unintentionally ooyr hot molk in the plate. And, one of the vabg snake got hurt vexause of it.
He wanted to kill her. But, old lady intervened, and asked Daughter-in-law to go back to her home with money, jellery and good clothes. This baby snake goy it’s tongue burnt. Hence, his fellow siblings named him bandda. While growing up, bandda developed hatred for Daughter-in-law and planned to kill her. So, he went to her home and hid behind the wall.
Certainly, daughters-in-law was pleading to her mother in law for not doing the mustake. She was saying- I swear by bandda bhaiya, I have not done this.Then at that very moment the bandda snake appeared and you are my true sister, god bless you.
At the end, whole family became very happy and honoured the snake god greatly. From that day onwards the festival of bhaiya panchami is celebrated and women worship the snake considering it as their brother.
Conclusion
Naag Panchami is a reminder of the power of divine intervention and the importance of respecting all creatures, including snakes.
Overall, Naag Panchami is celebrated all over the country highlighting the intricate connections between human beings and the well-being of ecology.
Have a happy and blessed time ahead.
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