What is Nag Panchami
Nag Pachami is the day of snakes. Nags are worshiped this day in by every hindu. Nags are snakes and Panchami means the fifth day after no-moon day. This year it is on 16th of August 2018
Nags are worshiped on the fifth day following the no-moon (aushi). Hence, the day is called Nag Panchami. Aushi means no-moon day in Nepali.
What is Nag
Nags are deity snakes or special snakes. Those snakes have especial roles in Hindu Mythologies.
There are various mythological beliefs about Nagpanchami and its celebration.
Mahabharata tells that Lord Krishna conquered Nag Kalia and put an end to his evil deeds on the day of Shrawan Panchami. People believe that is the reason why people started celebrating this panchami as Nag Panchami.
Lord Bhrama’s son Kashyap rishi had thirteen wives namely Aditi, Dit, Kadru, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Sauravi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasa, Ida, Khasa, and Muni. Aditi gave birth to Devta, Diti to Garud, Kadroo to Nags, Danu to Daitya.
Those Nags were the rulers of Patal lok.The great eight nags are Ananta, Vashuki, Padhmanavha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhartarashtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya. These Nags were very powerful and worshiped.
What is Nag Panchami Mantra
अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्।
शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ।।
एतानि नवनामानी नगनां च महत्मनाम् ।
सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रात:काले विशेषत:।।
तस्मै विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवत् ।।
Nag Panchami matra is written on the footer Nags posters to stick on the door. The mantra is enchanting the names of those eight nags.
How is Nag Panchami celebrated by Hindu
In this day, the hindu Bhramin traditionally post pictures of Nags above the doors of their home and goes door to door of each houses to keep off evil spirits. The hindu devotee worship the nag by offering a symbol of milk (the white color liquid from the paste of rice). People keep milk for snakes near snake holes.
Puran says the earth is lifted by Shesh Nag on his head. Lord Vishnu is sleeping on its coil inside the Ocean. Kali Nag, Bashuki Nag, Astha Nag, Padma Nag; and the Karkot Nags are the very powerful Nags.
Scripture explains that without Nags’ help there will be no rain.So people worship Nags for the cause of water, offer prayers to Nags, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nags.
Source: internet
