अनंतं वासुकीं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कंबलम्
शंखपालं धृतराष्ट्रं च तक्षकं कालियं तथा
एतानि नव नामानि नागानाम् च महात्मन:
सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रात:काले विशेषत:
तस्य विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् |
Translation:
I reverently invoke the nine principle Nag:
Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala,
Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya.
If prayed to daily in the morning, these illustrious Nags will keep
one protected from all evils and help one become victorious in life.
Being an agrarian economy historically, every festival in Bhaarat has a connection to agriculture. So it is, even with Nag Panchami.
The famers who tills the land automatically disrupts the peace of the serpents who reside under the land. Also during this season, when it rains and all the pits and holes are filled with water, snakes and other rodents come out of their homes. Thus there are numerous cases of snake bites and people and farmers especially and all those living near fields and grounds of dying of snake bites. But the snakes are not equal to rodents. The rodents destroy crops but the snakes eat them, hence making them the friends of the farmer. Besides, there is no farming during rain, so snake bites to farmers are not common. This ritual of worshipping the snakes (which are most seen roaming out of their homes during this time) was created in order to create consciousness of the need for harmony with these creatures of Nature._ It is an essential realization that Nags hold equal rights over the land, as we do. In India, it’s not Man vs Wild but Man with Wild.
#festivalseason
#NagPanchami, #ancientwisdom
