Nag Panchami 2023

The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated all over India, and it is a famous Hindu festival. Snakes are an essential part of our culture, and on this day, people worship Lord Bholenath. He is also considered an incarnation of Shakti and the Sun. This festival is celebrated on the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month. At the same time, Nag Puja is performed in North India on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month. But in South India, this festival is celebrated on the fifth day of Krishna Paksha. Nag Panchami is considered as one of the important festivals in Hinduism. On this day, snakes are worshipped, and milk is offered to them. Snakes are very dear to Lord Shiva; that is why the festival of Nag Panchami comes in the month of Sawan, on which Bholenath is pleased and showers his blessings if someone does the rituals of Nag Panchami with complete devotion.

इस पेज को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए “नाग पंचमी” पर क्लिक करें।

As per Hinduism, the snake is considered a deity, and there is a proper vidhi (method) to worship them. Actually, the snake is considered to be the necklace of Lord Shiva Shankar and the bed of Vishnu. Apart from this, snakes are also related to people's lives. There is heavy rain in the month of Sawan. Due to rain, the snakes come out of the ground, and it is believed that people offer milk and worship the snake deities; they do not harm anyone. It is believed that if someone worships the snake god on this day with devotion, then they get blessings, and there is no fear from the snake. Those who have Kaal Sarp Dosh in their horoscope, they get rid of this Dosha by worshiping on this day. This Dosha occurs when all the planets come between Rahu and Ketu. Such a person has to struggle a lot for success and face several issues for achieving something. Apart from this, if there is any difficulty in anyone's life due to Rahu-Ketu, then it is said to worship snakes on the day of Nag Panchami to get a solution to your issues.

1. According to Hindu beliefs, snakes have been worshiped as deities since mythological times. Therefore, worshiping a snake on Nag Panchami is considered auspicious.

2. There are also beliefs that on the day of Nag Panchami, a person who worships snakes does not fear snake bite and can live a good life.

3. It is believed that one gets inexhaustible virtue by offering milk to snakes and worshiping them on this day.

4. This festival also holds particular importance for snake charmers. On this day, people usually provide milk and money for snakes.

5. On this day, there is also a tradition of making a picture of a snake at the house entrance. It is believed that with the grace of snakes, this picture protects the house.

History of Nag Panchami Puja

As per Puranas, there are many beliefs behind celebrating Nag Panchami. It is believed that on the fifth day of Shravan Shukla, all the snake clans went to meet Brahmaji to get rid of the curse. Then Brahmaji liberated the serpents from that curse. After that incident, a tradition of worshiping the snakes started. There is another story; Lord Krishna killed Kaliya Nag on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month. This way, he saved the lives of the people living in Gokul. Since then, the festival of Nag Puja started. There is another belief that during the Samudra Manthan when a rope was not available.  Vasuki Nag was used as a rope. The gods had caught the tail of Vasuki Nag, and the demons caught the mouth of Vasuki Nag. During the Manthan, poison came out. Then Lord Shiva kept that poison in his throat and protected everyone. After that, nectar came out from this, and Gods consumed it. Due to the consumption of nectar, the gods become immortal. Vasuki Nag played a crucial role during the Samudra Manthan, so Nag Panchami is celebrated due to this incident, and after that, there is a ritual to worship all the nags/serpents.

The reason for celebrating Nag Panchami

The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated to worship Serpents and pray to them to protect the people from every problem. It rains heavily during Sawan. Due to heavy rain, snakes come out from their burrows. So, at that time, people offer milk and worship them. It is believed that serpents have a sharp memory, and they usually remember the faces of people who harm them. When the snakes take revenge for this, they also harm the family members of that particular person. Therefore, women offer prayers and milk to snakes to seek forgiveness and protect them from any harm to their families. There is an old mythological story when Takshak, the king of snakes, killed King Janamejaya's father Parikshit by biting him. To avenge his death, King Janamejaya organized a yagna to destroy the entire snake dynasty. When this Yagna was under the intervention of the Brahmin Astika Rishi, it was Nag Panchami. Since then, this day is celebrated as Nag Panchami. 

Nag Panchami worship and relationship with snake dosha

According to the Hindu beliefs, fasting is also observed on the day of Nag Panchami in Krishna Paksha and Shukla Paksha. Everything is written in the Garuda Purana. The person who fasts should make snakes from clay or flour and decorate them with different colors. After decorating, people should worship them with flowers, kheer, milk, lamps, etc. After worship, distribute roasted gram and barley as prasad. Astrologers believe that those people who have Kaal Sarp Dosha in their horoscope should worship Nag Devta on this day. Worshiping on this day ends this Dosha in their horoscope.

Nag Panchami – Fasting and worship method (Vidhi)

1. Anantha, Vasuki, Padma, Mahapadma, Takshak, Kulir, Karkotak, and Shankha are the gods of this fast, which are eight snakes. On this day, the Ashtnagas are worshipped.

2. Eat once on the day of Chaturthi and do fasting on Panchami. You should eat in the evening.

3. For worshiping, a snake image or a clay idol is placed on a wooden post.

4. Then offer turmeric, roli (red vermilion), rice, and flowers to the snake deity.

5. After that, sit on a wooden plank and offer a mixture of raw milk, ghee and sugar to the snake deity.

6. After worshiping, the aarti of the snake deity is performed.

7. For convenience, you can give some Dakshina to a snake charmer so that he can give milk to the snake.

8. In the end, the story of Nag Panchami must be heard by the person who has fasted.

Note: According to tradition, in many states, Nag Panchami is also celebrated on the day of Chaitra and Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami. This festival is also celebrated in Krishna-Paksha due to ethos or country discrimination.

Beliefs related to Nag Panchami

1. According to Hindu Puranas, Sage Kashyap, son of Brahma Ji, had four wives. It is believed that the gods were born from his first wife, Garuda from the second wife, and demons from the fourth wife, but his third wife, Kadru, who belonged to the Naga dynasty. It means his third wife gave birth to the serpent.

2. According to the Puranas, two types of snakes have been mentioned - Divya and Baum. The divine serpents are Vasuki and Takshaka etc. Sheshnaag is said to bear the burden of the earth and his gaze is just as a blazing fire. If he becomes angry, he has the power to put the whole world to ash. If he bites someone, then there is no medicine for that. But the number of snakes born on the ground, whose molars are poisoned, and those who bite humans, are eighty in number.

3. Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Padma, Mahapadam, Shankhapala and Kulik are these eight serpents who are said to be the best among all the serpents. Two of these Nagas are Brahmins, two Kshatriyas, two Vaishyas and two Shudras. Ananta and Kulik are Brahmins; Vasuki and Shankhpala are Kshatriyas; Takshaka and Mahapadam are Vaishyas; And Padam and Karkotaka are said to be Shudras.

4. According to Janamjeya, who was the grandson of Arjuna and the son of Parikshit, he performed a serpent yajna to take revenge on the snakes and to destroy the snake dynasty because his father, King Parikshit, had died due to the bite of a snake named Takshak. In order to protect the serpents, this Yagya was stopped by the sage Jaratkaru's son Aastik Muni. When this Yagna thwarted, it was the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month, and Takshak Nag and his remaining descendants were saved from destruction. It is believed that from here, the tradition of celebrating the Nag Panchami festival became prevalent.

The oldest story of Nag Panchami

In ancient times there was a Seth Ji, who had seven sons. All seven were married. The youngest son's wife was intelligent and well-mannered of noble character, but his brother's wife was not. One day when the elder daughter-in-law asked all the daughters-in-law to come along to bring yellow soil for the decoration of their home, they started digging the soil with their scabbard. Then a snake came out from the soil, and the elder daughter-in-law tried to kill  him with a sheath. Seeing this, the younger daughter-in-law stopped him and said- 'Don't kill him? The serpent is innocent. Hearing this, the elder daughter-in-law did not kill him.

After that the snake sat on one side. Then the younger daughter-in-law said to him - 'We will come back soon, don't you go from here. After saying this, she went home with everyone. After reaching home, she was stuck at work there and forgot the promise she had made to the snake. When she remembered that thing the next day, she took everyone along and reached there and seeing the snake sitting at that place. She said - Namaskar, snake brother! The snake said- 'You have said brother, that's why; otherwise, I would have bitten you for telling a lie. She said - Brother, I have made a mistake, I ask for his forgiveness, then the snake said - well, you have become my sister from today, and I have become your brother. Ask whatever you want. She said - Brother, I have no one; it is good to have you as my brother. After a few days, the snake came to her house in the form of a human and said, 'Send my sister.' Everyone said that she did not have any brother, so he said - I am her distant brother . I had gone out in childhood, so she doesn't recognize me. On convincing them, they sent the younger daughter-in-law with him. On the way, he told her that 'he is that snake, so don't be afraid and grab his tail where she faces any kind of difficulty in walking. She did as told and she reached his house. She was astonished to see the wealth and opulence there. One day the snake's mother said to him- 'I am going out for work, you should give cold milk to your brother. She did not notice this and gave him hot milk, in which his face was severely burnt. Seeing this, the snake's mother became furious. But on the explanation of the snake, she calmed down. Then the snake said that his sister should now be sent to her house. Then the snake (brother of Younger sister-in-law) and his father gave him a lot of gold, silver, jewels, clothes, and ornaments, etc., and brought them to her house. Seeing so much wealth, the eldest daughter-in-law said with jealousy that if your Brother is wealthy, you should get more money from him. When the serpent heard these words, he brought all the things of gold and gave them to her sister.

Seeing this, the elder daughter-in-law said- 'The broom to sweep them should also be of gold.' After hearing this, the snake also brought the gold broom for his sister. The snake had given a fabulous necklace of diamonds and gems to the younger daughter-in-law. The queen of that country also listened to the praise of that necklace, and she said to the king that the necklace of Seth's younger daughter-in-law should be brought here. The king ordered his minister to be present soon after taking the necklace from her; the minister went to Seth Ji and said that 'Maharaniji will wear the necklace of your younger daughter-in-law, take it from her and give it to me. Due to fear, Seth Ji asked for a necklace from the younger daughter-in-law and passed it. The younger daughter-in-law felt very bad about this; she remembered her snake brother and on coming prayed - Brother! The queen has snatched the necklace; you should do something. She requested her brother that when the queen wears that necklace around her neck, it becomes a snake, and when she returns it to me, then it becomes of diamonds and gems. The snake did exactly what she said. As soon as the queen put on the necklace, the necklace became a snake. Seeing this, the queen cried and started crying. Seeing this, the king sent the news to Seth Ji to send the younger daughter-in-law immediately. Seth Ji was scared that what would that king do with her daughter-in-law? He himself appeared with the younger daughter-in-law. The king asked the younger daughter-in-law - what magic have you done? I will punish you. The younger daughter-in-law said – Almighty! Forgive my arrogance; when I put up this necklace around my neck, it will be diamond and gems, and when anyone else wears it around her neck, that necklace becomes a snake.

After hearing this, the king gave him the necklace, which was changed into a snake, and said – show it by wearing it now. When the younger daughter-in-law wore it, the snake became a necklace of diamonds and gems. After seeing this, the king was convinced of her words, and he was pleased and gave him many coins as a reward. They both returned home with her necklace and those coins. Seeing her wealth, the elder daughter-in-law, out of jealousy, taught her husband that the younger daughter-in-law had money from somewhere. After hearing this, her husband called his wife and said- Tell me exactly who gives you this money? Then she started remembering her brother. Then at the same time, the snake appeared and said - If anyone doubts my sister's character, then I will eat them. Hearing this, the younger daughter-in-law's husband was scared, and he gave great hospitality to the snake god. From that day, the festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated, and women worship the snake as a brother.

Do not do these works on the day of Nag Panchami.

• Farmers should not work on their fields even by mistake on the day of Nag Panchami. It can cause heavy damage to them and their family.

• The needle thread is not used on the day of Nag Panchami. So avoid using needles and thread on this day.

• On the day of Nag Panchami, the pan should not be kept on the stove. If someone does this, then the snakes get hurt.

• One should not fight with anyone. Do not say any harsh words to family members on this day.

• Iron utensils should not be used on the day of Nag Panchami. On this day, one should neither cook nor eat food in iron utensils.