NAGA PANCHAMI
The Festival of the Snakes This popular Hindu festival, which falls on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Shravana, is observed to minimise the danger of snake bites in the monsoon months. It is marked by offering milk to the snakes and is most popular in south India. Naga literally means `serpent` and panchami is the `fifth day`. Naga Panchami is the festival of snakes celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Shravana. The festival falls during the rainy months and is believed to counter the increased possibility of a snake bite during this time. People visit temples specially dedicated to snakes and worship them. Shiva temples are also favoured places for veneration as snakes are considered dear to him. In South India, people craft images of snakes using cowdung on either side of the entrance to the house to welcome the snake god. Snakes are believed to like milk. As this is the day of the serpents, devotees pour milk into all the holes in the ground around the house or near the temple to propitiate them. Sometimes, a small pot of milk with some flowers is placed near the holes so that the snakes may drink it. If a snake actually drinks the milk, it is considered to be extremely lucky for the devotee. The festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm by all, especially women. As most rivers in India are in spate during the month of Shravana, poisonous snakes come out of their subterranean abodes and creep about in plenty all over the place. Many also float on flooded rivers running through the countryside. Mortality from snake bites must have been considerable to prompt people to worship the nagas to seek protection from them. Because of the fear, nagas were elevated to a divine status by the Hindus. The serpents are believed to have the capability to change their shape at will. When in human form, they are depicted as beautiful women and handsome men. According to a legend, Kadru, the mother of the nagas, once bet with her sister Vinata about the colour of the tail of Indra`s horse. She asserted that the tail was black even though the horse was absolutely white. According to Vinata however, the tail of the horse was as white as the rest of it. Kadru then asked her sons the nagas to coil around the white tail of the horse so that it appeared black. When they refused to participate in deceit, Kadru cursed them to be consumed by fire for disobeying her. Brahma however softened the curse and sent them to live in the netherworld. This happened on the fifth day in the month of Shravana and because the lives of the nagas was spared on this day, it is considered to be auspicious for snake worship. Naga Panchami is observed in different ways in different parts of India. It is one of the most ancient fasts, and finds mention in the Puranas. It is believed to be one of the most auspicious days of the entire year. According to the Bhavishya Purana, when men bathe the snake scalled Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadra, Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka and Dhananjaya with milk on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravana, they ensure freedom from danger for their families. Again, according to the Bhavishya Purana, worshippers should make gold, silver or clay images of snakes and worship them with kaner, jasmine and incense, feed Brahmins with ghee and payasa, and bathe the snake images with milk. This would bestow safety from snake bites on the worshippers. The Bhavishyottara Purana enjoins a person to make figures of cowdung and place them on both sides of his door. He should then worship them with curds, Durva tendrils, Kusha grass, sandalwood paste, flowers and presents of food. In some parts of southern India, figures of snakes are drawn with red sandalwood paste on wooden boards, or clay images of snakes coloured yellow or black are purchased. These are then worshipped and offered milk. Snake charmers wander about with all sorts of snakes, to which people offer milk. The snake charmers are paid some money for allowing this. Serpent worship developed gradually from the fear of serpents that must have taken a heavy toll on life, particularly at the beginning of the rainy season. In the Ashvalayana Grihyasutra, the Paraskara Grihyasutra and other Grihyasutras, a rite called Sarpabali or `offerings to serpents` was performed on the full moon night of Shravana. However the reason that it was moved from the full moon night to that of the fifth night of the bright fortnight is not apparent. It may be due to the slight change in the time of the onset of the rains.