Nag Panchami And Snakes

In Hindu mythology, Snakes have occupied a special place, in the honour of the Snake God, Shesh Nag.

Nag Panchami is one of the most auspicious annual ceremonies that is celebrated in India. The worship is offered on the fifth day of bright half of lunar month of Shravan (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar.

Some Indian states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, celebrate Nag Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.

In the Mahabharata epic, the sage Astika's quest to stop the sacrifice of serpents (Sarpa Satra) of King Janamejaya, is well known, as it was during this sacrifice that the Mahabharata as a whole was first narrated by the sage, Vaisampayana.This yagna sacrifice was performed by Janamejaya to decimate the race of Nagas through killing every snake in existence to avenge the death of his father Parikshita due to the deadly bite of Takshaka, the king of the snakes. The day that the sacrifice was stopped, due to the intervention of the Astika, was on the Shukla Paksha Panchami day in the month of Shravan. That day has since been observed as Nag Panchami.

As part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting of snakes is given a bath with milk seek their blessings for the welfare of the family. Fasting is++o:–:on this day and Brahmins are fed. The piety observed on this day is considered a sure protection against the fear of snake bite. At many places, real snakes are worshipped and fairs held. On this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which reside in the earth.

Naga Panchami is also the occasion observed as Bhratru Panchami when women with brothers worship snakes and offer prayers to propitiate nagas so that their brothers are protected and do not suffer or die due to snake bite.

Anonymous Temple in India

Snakes worship is popular in Himachal Pradesh. The most-worshipped nag devta of Himachal is that of Kamru Nag whose mention can be found in the Mahabharata. Recorded in the history of Mandi state, it is also a god of rains. Snakes come out of hibernation after Shivratri, but their worship begins after Nag Panchami. It is only after Nag Panchami that they become ferocious. 

There are many famous snake temples of Himachal, which are worshipped. But there are also unknown has small snake temples are made of cow dung and whitewashed, draw image of Snake.

Badhera Village, Amb Tehsil of Una district in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Important Fact

Snakes are elongated, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpents.

Reptiles can't digest dairy products and even if they could, it's unlikely cows would stand idly by whilst being milked. 

If dehydrated enough, snakes will drink milk, but if thirsty enough they will drink just about anything. 

Cultural evolution has led to a complete disregard of this very objective and manifested into a violent act of handling live snakes and force feeding them with milk and eggs. 

Every year during Nag Panchami, cobras are tortured and defanged unethically. Snakes are forcefully fed with milk and other fluids which act as potential toxins to their body resulting in severe indigestion and eventual death.

About 60 days before Nag Panchami snakes, they are forced into circular baskets and are kept in dark. They are made to remain in a coiled in those baskets without food, water and sunlight. Though they manage to survive by dissolving their body fat, they suffer from cramps, dehydration and weakness.

Around 3 to 4 days before the festival, the snakes are removed from their baskets, by which time they are too weak to ever stir, their fangs are pulled out in a non-surgical manner [usually pulled out by cutting pliers], their venom sacks are slit open and in some cases their mouths are stitched, due to which they are prone to oral complications like jaw lock, gangerine, T.T and septisemia. Venom is a digestive enzyme with complex protein structure. It helps the snake to immobilize, kill and later digest the prey.

Without its fangs and venom the snake cannot survive. Snake 'charmers' then take the snake around the city to collect money from the public. Any snake which is hungry or thirsty for 60 days will drink anything, which leads their digestive tract is irritated which results in death.

It is illegal to capture, display and kill snakes in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

This Nag Panchami Save The Snakes. A strongly urges everyone not to encourage such acts that end up killing many snakes🙏