Nag Panchami on Tuesday, July 29, 2025

 

There are many legends about the origin of Nag Panchami which means worshiping snakes, as these snakes had been subdued by Lord Krishna and Lord Siva to be friendly with their devotees.

Hence Nagas or Snakes are being worshiped by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.

Kaliya was a venomous serpent who was poisoning the Yamuna River and Sri Krishna as a child subdued the serpent Kaliya by mounting on its hoods and dancing to the delights of his devotees and thereby, Yamuna River was saved from poison.  

Kaliya on his complete surrender to Lord Krishna, the serpent was granted a boon whereby the serpents will be worshiped and it will be celebrated as Nag Panchami.

Therefore Sri Krishna was worshiped as ‘Kaliya Rathana’ meaning Lord Krishna overpowered snake Kaliya by dancing on its hoods to the delight of his devotees and relieving them from the snakes’ troubles.

During the churning of the ocean, Vasuku, the King of Snakes, was used as ropes and Shiva had honoured her by wearing Vasuki around his neck as an ornament.

In the Mahabharata epic, Janamejaya, the son of King Parikshita was performing a snake sacrifice known as Sarpa Satra, to avenge for the death of his father from a snake bite by the snake king called Takshaka.

 

In the sacrificial fire, all snakes in the world except Taksha were perished. Though Takshaka was protected by Indra,  the power of mantras had dragged them both to yagna.

 

At this time, Goddess Manas, the queen of the snakes, sent his son Astika who was well versed in all sastras, could convince Janameyajaya to stop the Sarpa Satra Yagna.

 

That Day was being celebrated as Naga Panchami where snakes are being worshiped through out India.

In Hindu mythology, there are twelve main Nagas (serpent deities) that are often worshipped. These include Ananta (also known as Shesha), Vasuki, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvitara, Dhritarashtra, Sankapala, Kaliya, Takshaka, and Pingala. These Nagas are associated with different aspects of nature and spirituality, and their worship is often linked to the calendar and astrological beliefs. 

Nag Panchami is being observed by Hindu women by visiting snakes’ burrows and worshiping snakes by offering milk, flowers and fruits.

LET NAG PANCHAMI BRING COURAGE, PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO US ALL ALWAYS.