celebration of nag panchami

Kundalini is depicted as a snake placed at the root of the spinal cord and it is said that Kundalini energy exists there. Snake is one of the organisms symbolizing spiritual guidance. Snake could appear as a organism with animating force when we need support to move forward towards unexplored region.Snake has grounded movement therefore when we move upward mentally and physically it reminds us of staying close to where we are at present.The kundalini power rest at the lower end of the spine rolled up like a snake and enters the system through the root center i.e mooladhar. Vamtantra sadhaks perform nag puja for kundalini jagaran so that Muladhara Chakra will be opened and the Kundalini Shakti will start moving upwards travelling one by one across the seven chakras, via root center(mooladhar) to the crown nter(shastrabhram).While kundalini awakening our bodily process of inhalation and exhalation is compared with the respiratory system of snake.

In this respiratory process we control our breath to envoke the power of kundalini.

One can grow spiritually when an awakened kundalini releases the power which flows from mooladhara to shastrabhram controlling our feelings and emotions. With successful awakening of this divine snake energy by vamtantra sadhaks one can become enlightened and controls many divine powers.The spiritual practice of kundalini awakening through vamtantra devine methods balances the glandular system, strengthens the nervous system and enables us to harness the energy of the mind, body and soul.The proper recitation of nag devta mantra given by vamtantra is a guidance in way towards serpentine kundalini awakening. Vamtantra energises the nag devta mantra and gives to the individuals for chanting so that their kundalini can be awakened. Spiritual way of kundalini awakening is for every one who wants to become successful and face the challenges of living in this day and age.

Daandonation is most significant aspect of human life in which even after giving away his most precious possessions he finds blissful solace. Bhandara conducted on nag panchami by vamtantra is more pious and blissful. Giving donations for ann and vastra daan on this day along removes the kaalsarp, rahu, ketu dosha and is carried out for third house shuddhi(For parakarma and wellness of siblings).Nag panchami bhandara will be conducted by us on any one of the holy places for the needy and poor people and also for sadhaks and brahmins. People interested may donate as per their wish as it purifies your yester years sins and also acts as remedy for removal of all doshasgraha shanti.

Naga Panchami is one of the prominent Hindu festivals of India. It falls on the fifth day of the moonlit fortnight in the month of Shravan according to the Hindu calendar, which corresponds to July August as per the Gregorian calendar. Historical records suggest that the worship of snakes was wide spread even before the Aryan civilization, when the Naga culture was incorporated into Hinduism. It is believed that the culture of worshipping a number of snake deities was begun by the Indo Aryans. According to a popular legend, snakes take shelter in gardens and homes, whenever their holes are flooded with rainwater.Since snakes pose a great threat to humankind due to their venom, they are worshipped by the Hindus, on Nag Panchami.
The festival was initially observed to worship the forces of Mother Nature, later on a day to honor Gods ferocious creation snakes. Snakes are worshipped on Nag Panchami, with immense devotion. The devotees visit temples dedicated to snakes, to offer prayers. Since it is celebrated with religious fervor, a number of customs are related to the festivals. Go through the following lines to know more about Naga Panchami rituals.

The temples dedicated snakes (sarpa) are flocked by devotees, who carry milk and turmeric powder as offerings for the deity. In fact, in some part of the country, Nag Panchami is called snake day. In some regions, live cobras are given a ceremonious bath in milk and offered rice, because it is believed that by treating them properly, one could get immunity from their bites. Women also take part in the celebrations. They would get up early in the morning, take bath and head to the nearest Snake temple, carrying pots of milk and flowers to the deity. According to the legends, if a snake drinks milk, then it is a symbol of good luck. In many parts of Bengal, Mansa (the Queen of Snakes) is worshipped during Naga Panchami. The snake Goddess is worshipped to obtain respite from other snakes. Raw milk and five plantains are offered to the Goddess, by her devotees. Generally, women are the followers of Goddess Manasa.

The tradition of worshipping Goddess Manasa is still prevalent in some parts of Bengal. Another tradition associated with the celebration of Nag Panchami is smearing of red sandalwood paste on wooden boards and clay images of snakes. The images would be colored in usually yellow or black. They are personified as idols of snake and worshipped on the festival.The rituals followed in different parts of India, for Naga Panchami, are unique in their own terms. For instance, in Punjab, one can see a large dough snake being created and then paraded around the villages of the state. The parade is often accompanied by singing and dancing. The virtual snake is buried at the end of the parade, to mark the culmination of the ritual. Coming to Maharashtra, women offer milk, flowers, haldi (turmeric powder) and kumkum to the dangerous snakes that are carried by snake charmers. It is interesting, yet fearsome to see that on Naga Panchami, snake charmers carry pots containing cobras to a central temple, where they are released and worshipped.

This so called snake day has several important components. In addition to offerings made to the snakes throughout the country during worship and celebration, men and women celebrate the day in these ways

Cobras are bathed in milk and offered rice as this is thought to offer immunity from their bites.

Women often partake in early baths of milk and wear colourful saris.

Pots of milk and flowers are placed next to holes that are believed to contain snakes as an offering of devotion. If a snake actually drinks the milk it is thought to be the ultimate sign of good luck.

Mansa, the Queen of Snakes, is worshiped in most parts of Bengal during Nag Panchami.

In the Punjabi region, a large dough snake is created and then paraded around the village. The parade is colourful with plenty of singing and dancing at the end of the parade the snake is buried. Nag Panchami is referred to as Guga Navami in Punjab.

Snake charmers sit alongside the roads of Maharashtra and encourage women to offer milk, flowers and haldi kumkum (a powdered offering of tumeric and vermillion) to the dangerous snakes the snake charmers carry.

In many villages, snake charmers carry pots containing cobras to a central temple where they are released and then worshiped with offerings of milk and rice.

Mainly in the south of India, people worship figures of snakes made of clay or sandalwood as alternatives to the real life versions.

No Hindu home may fry anything on the day of Nag Panchami.

Girls who are hoping to marry believe that the cobra offers good luck in their quest for eternal happiness.

While celebrating Nag Panchami in 2014, it is a good idea to know about the legend behind this festival. The association and role of snakes in the Hindu religion can not be denied or ignored. With the prayers offered to the snakes, people also take a step forward in promising that they will face their inner fears.The Story of Nag Panchami is very interesting and is related to the Lord Krishna. The Nag Panchami story signifies the victory of good in a very simple manner. Once, there was a nag named Kalia during the era of Lord Krishna. His evil deeds were increasing day by day. His terror was not allowing people to have a life of their choice.

To end this tyranny Lord Krishna came up and killed the Nag with his brave actions. The day on which nag was killed is celebrated as Nag Panchami. Nag Panchami is an ancient hindu festival and its glory will keep on glowing in the coming time too.There are many beliefs related to Nag Panchami. People also believe that worshipping a Nag on this day will keep them and their family safe from all the snakes forever.Keep the faith alive in your hearth and perform the Nag Panchmi puja in 2014. It will bring immense happiness and will also ensure the safety of your loved ones.

We find references in History regarding the sarpyadnya (sacrificial fire of snakes) performed by king Janmejay, who was requested to stop the ritual by the sage Astik. It was the day of Shravan Shukla Panchami and hence the celebration of Nag Panchami. It has the implied meaning that in this universe, all the living beings have their assigned functions of God and He performs those functions through the living beings. Actually speaking, during monsoon, it is natural for the serpents and other rodents come out of their holes due to rain and thereby they are seen in the surroundings. They should not hurt the human beings that such prayers are offered to propitiate them for human safety.

It is said that long before Aryans arrived in India, a clan named Nagaas lived in India. It was a highly developed clan. It is said that the snake worship amongst the Nagas, was extremely popular and it can be proved according to the evidences derived from the Indus Valley civilization of 3000 B.C. After the Naga culture gradually got incorporated into Hinduism, the Indo Aryans also gradually accepted many of the snake deities as their God too. The prominent Cobra snakes mentioned in the Puranas that are to be worshipped are Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kanwal, Karkotak, Kalia, Aswatar, Takshak, Sankhpal, Dhritarashtra and Pingal. However, some of the historians claim that they were not snakes but Naaga Kings of various kingdoms which were worshipped as Gods.

It is also a popular belief amongst people in Hindu religion that thousand headed Shesh Nag who symbolizes Eternity holds the entire spherical earth on it head. Also, that it is the resting couch of Lord Vishnu, one of three most important gods of Hindu religion. In Jainism and Buddhism snake is regarded as sacred creature with divine qualities. It is because some ancient texts say that a Cobra snake saved the life of Buddha and the Jain Muni Parshwanath. Stories of snakes association with Hindu gods also enhance the stature of these reptiles in Hindu culture. A popular legend says that the elder brother of Lord Krishna, Balram was the incarnation of Seshnag on earth. Snake is also given due importance because it is considered to be the ornament of Lord Shiva around his neck. The celebration of Nag Panchami in the month of Shrawan (considered as the month of Lord Shiva in Hindu religion) also explains the deep association of Shiva and commemoration of snake as his companion.It is believed that even the ancient architecture exhibit the evidence of the importance of snakes in the Indian culture. On the caves of Ajanta, the images of the rituals of snake worship have been found. Even Indian literature is full of stories of the virtue of snake. The famous author Kautilya, in his Arthashastra has given detailed description of the cobra snakes. It is said that it was also the wide belief of people in ancient India that if they worship snake, they wont cause harm to them and their family. So, there is no one specific legend to why the Naga Panchami started in India, it is being for too long due to the religious significance and social importance of this unique reptile.

Mauna Panchami vrata is one of the main rituals performed on Nagpanchami at Baba Bhaidyanath Temple at Deoghar. It is widely observed during Shravani Mela. In West Bengal, Orissa and Assam, on Nagapanchami Manasa Devi Ashtanag puja is observed. Manasa Devi is the Goddess of snakes. A similar festival known as Guga Naumi is observed in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.