Monday, July 23, 2012

Nag Panchami- Myth and Facts




Nagapanchami festival is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm, respect and dedication. It is believed that by offering prayers on Nag panchami, Nag (Snake) bring prosperity to the family and save the family from unknown negative powers.

It is celebrated on panchami (ie 5th day) of the month of Shravan (a month as per hindu mythological calender). There are several myths and stories are related to this day. The nag panchami story depicts that once the farmer unknowingly destructed the nest of snake living in his fields and killed the little ones. The female snake was very annoyed seeing her family completely destroyed. So in the fit of anger, she killed every member of the farmer's family but the only girl of the family was escaped as she was married in other village.

She was so furious that she went to that village to kill that girl. When she reached there, she found that girl worshiping the snake and offering milk. The female snake felt guilt on her act and she appeared in front of that girl and asked her for this worship. The girl replied, she is doing this for the security and sake of family.

The female snake, narrated the whole story and told that she killed her entire father's family. The girl was very sad and requested female snake to bring life back to the family members. The female snake gave her the Amrit (a liquor which could bring life back). The girl went to her father's home and put Amrit into the mouth of her father's family. All became alive.

Thus the festival of Nag Panchami started celebrating then.

It is suggested on this day, one should not cut any thing, use knife, plough fields, stitch clothes, cut hairs or shave beard. For this reason, Dal Bati, a famous Malwi food is cooked every where.



Beside the mythological reason, there is a scientific reason to celebrate this day, as in Shravan (Rainy season), the snakes, come out for breeding and give birth to young ones (Snakelets). It is believed that human being will not unnecessary harm the species and protect them.



 







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