Naga Panchami: Difference between revisions
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'''''Nāg Panchamī''''' ([[Devanagari]]: नाग पंचमी) is a festival during which [[Hindu]]s in some parts of [[India]] worship live [[Nāga]]s (cobras) or images of them. It is celebrated on the fifth day after [[Amavasya]] of the month of [[Shraavana]]. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages, an aspect of the celebration involves women swinging on swings hung on tree branches. |
'''''[http://www.shaligram.com/Auspicious_Shesh_Naag-250.htm Nāg Panchamī]''''' ([[Devanagari]]: नाग पंचमी) is a festival during which [[Hindu]]s in some parts of [[India]] worship live [[Nāga]]s (cobras) or images of them. It is celebrated on the fifth day after [[Amavasya]] of the month of [[Shraavana]]. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages, an aspect of the celebration involves women swinging on swings hung on tree branches. |
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==Nagas== |
==Nagas== |
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 A Statue of Naga being worshiped on Nag Panchami | |
| Also called | Naaga Pujaa |
| Observed by | Hindus |
| Type | Religious, India and Nepal |
| Observances | worshipping images of or a live Cobra. |
| Date | fifth day (Panchami) of the month of Shravan month of the Lunar calendar |
| 2024 date | |
Nāg Panchamī (Devanagari: नाग पंचमी) is a festival during which Hindus in some parts of India worship live Nāgas (cobras) or images of them. It is celebrated on the fifth day after Amavasya of the month of Shraavana. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages, an aspect of the celebration involves women swinging on swings hung on tree branches.
Nagas
According to Puranic scriptures, Brahma's son Kashyapa had four wives. The first wife gave birth to Devas; the second to Garudas; the third to Nāgas; and the fourth to Daityas. Nāgas were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka.
The names of the Nine Great Nāgas are: Ananta, Vāsuki, Shesha, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya:
According to the scriptures, Lord Krishna conquered Naga Kāliya and put an end to the evil deeds on this day (Nāga Panchamī). Tradition says that Kathmandu valley used to be a vast lake. When human beings started to drain the lake to make space for settlements, Nagas became enraged. To protect themselves against the wrath of Nagas, people gave the latter certain areas as pilgrimage destinations, thus restoring harmony in nature.[citation needed]
According to other scriptures[which?], a king used his Tantric powers to force Nagas to return to the land and control the rains. The Nagas complied, but in recognition of their power to control the rains, the king established the Naga Panchami festival.
In Jainism and Buddhism the snake is regarded as sacred and has divine qualities. It is believed that a Cobra snake saved the life of Buddha; another protected Jain Muni Parshwanath.
Celebration, rituals and tradition
During the festival, Nepalese people traditionally place pictures of Nagas above the doors of their homes to ward off evil spirits, offer prayers to Nagas, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nagas. A few men wearing demon masks dance in the streets as a part of a ritual. Hindus in Nepal have their own legends surrounding Nagas, which lead them to celebrate Nāga Panchamī on a large scale.
In South India
Nag Panchami is a festival that brings siblings together to celebrate their family's well-being. This festival is observed on the fifth day of Shravana month of the Hindu lunar calendar after the amavasya of Aashaadha month.
On this day, married women and girls wake up early in the morning to bathe, arrange for puja, and go to the nearest ant hill (snake's home). They perform puja to the snake's home and pray to the Snake God (Indian Cobra - Murugan's incarnation) for the wellness of their families. This day is like Raksha Bandhan for South Indian Hindus. If there is no ant hill nearby, they offer puja to snake statues erected in nearby temples. A portion of milk used for puja is taken back home and offered to everyone as prasad.
Sisters traditionally invite their brothers to their home. They then immerse a flower in the leftover milk and apply it on their brothers' back, perform aarti, and present the men with gifts.
Sweets like Kadubu (Kannada, Kudumulu in Telugu) and Nuchununde (Kanduntalu in Telugu) are prepared, offered to Lord Krishna, and then distributed among guests.
See also
References
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola
