Nag Panchami is a famous festival of Hinduism which is specially dedicated to the worship of Nagdevta. This festival is celebrated on the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. The festival of Nag Panchami is organized in various North Indian states of India like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. On this day people worship the snake god and offer them offerings like milk, fruits and sweets. This festival is celebrated as the worship of Nagraj and Nagins who are considered as deities in Hinduism. On this day people visit Nagmani temples to see Nagmani and Nagkanya and offer them arghya. Worshiping with devotion on the day of Nag Panchami frees one from the difficulties of snakes and gets the full blessings of Nagdevta. In this way, this festival of Nag Panchami is a symbol of worship and dedication of Nagraj and Nagins which is considered very important in Indian society.
Religious and Spiritual Significance of Nag Panchami:-
From a religious point of view, the worship of Nag Panchami awakens the ideals and powers of snakes. This worship is a symbol of devotion towards the snake deity. People offer offerings like milk, fruits, and sweets to snakes on this day and seek their blessings. Spiritually, the significance of Nag Panchami is considered to be an opportunity to awaken spiritual powers and achieve balance. The celebration of Nag Panchami also symbolizes meditation and dedication towards humanity. Through this festival we also get the education to respect natural resources. It fills us with a sense of brotherhood and cooperation with the world.
Mythological Story of Nag Panchami:-
According to the story of Nag Panchami, in ancient times, a Sethji had seven sons. All were married. The youngest son’s wife Vidya was characterful and social worker but she had no brother. One day, the eldest daughter-in-law of the house asked all the daughters-in-law to take everyone along to bring soil. All the daughters-in-law took a hoe and basket and started digging the soil. Just then a snake appeared there, which the elder daughter-in-law started killing with the hoe. The younger daughter-in-law stopped her and said, please don’t kill it, it is innocent. On the request of the younger daughter-in-law, the elder daughter-in-law did not kill it and then the snake went and sat on one side. The younger daughter-in-law said, we will be back soon, you do not go anywhere from here. Saying this, all the daughters-in-law took the soil and went home. After that, the younger daughter-in-law forgot the promise she had made to the snake. But after a few days, as soon as she remembered, she saw the snake at the same place and said, brother snake, namaste, please forgive me, I have forgotten the promise I made to you because I was busy in some work! The snake said, you called me brother, so I forgive you. The snake said, now you are my sister and I am your brother, ask me whatever you want. The younger daughter-in-law said, I do not have any brother, but thank you that you have become my brother. After a few days, the snake came to her house in the form of a human and said, send my sister. People said you don’t have any brother. The snake replied that I am his distant brother, I went away in childhood. After listening to the words spoken by the snake, the younger daughter-in-law was sent with him. When she reached the snake’s house, she was surprised because she did not understand the real form of the snake. One day the snake’s mother said I am going out, please give cold milk to your brother. But she did not remember this and the younger daughter-in-law fed hot milk to the snake due to which his mouth got burnt. Seeing all this, the snake’s mother became very angry but the snake explained to her.
When the snake and his father gave a lot of gold, silver, jewels, and clothes to the younger daughter-in-law, the elder daughter-in-law became jealous. The snake gave the younger daughter-in-law a unique diamond-gem necklace whose praise reached the queen of the country and she told the king that she should also see the necklace of the Seth’s younger daughter-in-law. The king sent the minister and said to him to tell the younger daughter-in-law to bring the necklace. The Seth ji got scared and asked the younger daughter-in-law for the necklace and gave it to her.
The younger daughter-in-law felt very sad and she remembered her snake brother and called him brother! The queen has snatched my necklace, please do something. Become a snake as long as that necklace is around my neck and when I return, become made of diamonds and gems. The snake obeyed her and did the same. As soon as the queen wore the necklace, the necklace turned into a snake. Seeing this, the queen screamed and started crying.
After this incident, the king called the Seth and ordered him to bring his younger daughter-in-law in front of the queen. When the younger daughter-in-law came to the king and queen, she told that this necklace of diamonds and gems turns into a necklace around her neck and a snake around the other’s neck. The king asked the younger daughter-in-law to wear the necklace. As soon as the younger daughter-in-law put the necklace around her neck, the snake turned into a necklace. Seeing this miracle, the king was very happy and gave the younger daughter-in-law wealth and sent her off with respect.
Nag Panchami Puja Vidhi:-
- On the day of Nag Panchami, take a bath in the morning and wear clean clothes.
- Keep the place clean and organized for worship.
- For the worship of Nag Panchami, prepare the materials of Bel Patra, milk, incense, lamp, rice, Akshat, fruits, sweets, and flowers etc.
- Start the worship with the worship of Ganesha.
- To worship the snake god on Nag Panchami, offer prayers to the idol of the snake with incense, lamp, fruits, sweets, and flowers.
- Make a snake on the ground and worship it by offering milk, rice, and ginger.
- Chant snake mantras or shlokas like Om Nag Devataye Namah or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasukiyaay Namah.
- Perform the aarti of the snake deity after the puja.
- After performing the aarti, offer rice, milk, sweets, and furl as prasad to the snake deity.
- Observe the fast of Nag Panchami on this day and wear white clothes after the puja.
- Donate rice, milk, clothes, and other necessary items to Nagraj on this day.
- On this day, even if you see the snake deity in person, you will receive his special blessings.
Nag Panchami Shubh Muhurta:-
Nag Panchami will be celebrated on 9 August 2024, Friday.
Panchami Tithi starts – 09 August 2024 at 12:36 pm.
Panchami Tithi ends on – 10 August 2024 at 03:14 am.
