Naga Panchami

   Both the days on 24 Friday and Saturday, the 25th' July 2020 are celebrated as 'Nagara Chouti' and 'Nagara Panchami', respectively. These days are devoted to the worship of serpents and celebrated all over India, It is significant that the serpents are so important in Hindu religion, for the Shaivites as well as the Vaishnavites! It is depicted that Lord Shiva wears a serpent around His neck while Vishnu rests on the serpent in the Ocean (sudha sindhu)! Beautiful songs are there singing in praise of the serpent and mantra to propitiate the Snake God. There is a separate realm of the serpents called the 'nag lok'! In fact, there are poisonous snakes and people are so much afraid of these that the 'serpent and the rope' example is given to explain the 'reality and myth' of the universe. The myth is that the rope appears like a rope! People are afraid of even a rope in the dark since the fear of the snake is already imprinted in the minds! The fear is gone the moment light falls on the rope! Here, light is 'knowledge' of the reality of the world. The 'serpent and the rope (sarpa - rajju) example is given to explain Acharya Shankara's doctrine of 'jagat mythya',  illusory nature of the world, the 'mythyavada,'.  Rope is the object of fear due to ignorance! So also, the world appears real due to our ignorance! There is no snake here, indeed, and it is all in the mind! The most beautiful aspect of this serpent is the 'poison'! The very poison that kills a person also saves the life of people! Vaccines are manufactured with the poison of the serpents to ward of many diseases!

   What exactly is the 'reality and myth' about the serpents? The serpent is symbol of pure consciousness. A person becomes aware the moment the name of the serpent is heard! May be, it is due to the inborn fear or due to the impending danger, Even a snake appearing in dream has significance. It brings luck. It is also the sign of underlying ambitions, aspirations. Thus, snake occupies the central stage in mythology, The reality is that serpents are agile, penetrating, and powerful! It stands a symbol of potency. There are both poisonous and non-poisonous varieties of snakes. People in many countries, particularly in SE Asia, relish snakes.

   Snakes have thus become objects of worship and even an item of food. Snake-skins are a valuable product in market! May be, there are more secrets about the worship of serpents hidden in the mythology! 
    As regards the festivities, the auspicious day of nagara chouti and nagara panchami are days of feast! Since the serpent is a cold-blooded animal, any fried substance is forbidden. Only steam -cooked food are permitted.. Idol of Nag is worshiped offering milk, some jowar-flakes and a red flower. Snake worship is specially meant for invoking good health.
   Now, there is a strange relation between the anthill where the snakes live, the fig tree (alada mara in Kannada) and the newly-wed ladies and ladies who to have children worshiping there, tie a thread around the tree! There are special pilgrimage centers like Vidurashvattha, Kukke or Ghati Subrahmanya, etc. for this purpose, too!