Naga Panchami Puja Manthra - Nag Panchami
Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindu adherents live.
The worship is offered on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar.
Some Indian states, such as Rajasthan and Gujarat, celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.
As part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting of snakes is given a reverential bath with milk and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family.
Live snakes, especially cobras, are also worshipped on this day, especially with offerings of milk and generally with the assistance of a snake charmer.
In the Mahabharata epic, the sage Astika's quest to stop the sacrifice of serpents (Sarpa Satra) of King Janamejaya, is well known, as it was during this sacrifice that the Mahabharata as a whole was first narrated by the sage, Vaisampayana.
This yajna sacrifice was performed by Janamejaya to decimate the race of Nagas through killing every snake in existence to avenging the death of his father Parikshita due to the deadly bite of Takshaka, the king of the snakes.
The day that the sacrifice was stopped, due to the intervention of the Astika, was on the Shukla Paksha Panchami day in the month of Shravana. That day has since been observed as Naga Panchami.
It is believed that any Puja offered to snakes would reach the serpent Gods. Hence people worship live snakes on the day as representative of serpents Gods who are revered and worshipped in Hinduism. Although there are several serpent Gods, the following twelve are worshipped during Nag Panchami Puja -
- Ananta
- Vasuki
- Shesha
- Padma
- Kambala
- Karkotaka
- Ashvatara
- Dhritarashtra
- Shankhapala
- Kaliya
- Takshaka
- Pingala
Nag Panchami Puja Mantra
सर्वे नागाः प्रीयन्तां मे ये केचित् पृथ्वीतले।
ये च हेलिमरीचिस्था येऽन्तरे दिवि संस्थिताः॥
ये नदीषु महानागा ये सरस्वतिगामिनः।
ये च वापीतडगेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वै नमः॥
Mantra Translation - May the snakes who are staying in this world, sky, heaven, sun-rays, lakes, wells, ponds etc. bless us and we all salute them.
अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्।
शङ्ख पालं धृतराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा॥
एतानि नव नामानि नागानां च महात्मनाम्।
सायङ्काले पठेन्नित्यं प्रातःकाले विशेषतः।
तस्य विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत्॥
Mantra Translation - The names of nine Nag Devtas are Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya. If chanted regularly every day in the morning, will keep you protected from all evils and make you victorious in life.
Nag Chaturthi
Some people keep fast one day before Nag Panchami and the fasting day before Nag Panchami is known as Nag Chaturthi or Nagul Chavithi.
In Andhra Pradesh Nag Chaturthi or Nagul Chavithi is observed just after Diwali and coincides with six days long festivity of Soora Samharam in Tamil Nadu.
Nag Pancham
In Gujarat, Nag Panchami is observed 15 days later than that of most other states. According to the new moon to new moon lunar calendar followed in Gujarat, Nag Panchami falls during Krishna Paksha Panchami of Shravana month. Nag Panchami is more popularly known as Nag Pancham in Gujarat and usually observed three days before Krishna Janmashtami festivities.
Bola Choth or Bol Choth in Gujarat
In Gujarat, Bola Choth is celebrated one day before Nag Pancham day. Bola Choth is also known as Bahula Chauth and falls one day before Nag Pancham day. Cattles especially cows are worshipped on Bol Choth day.
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