Nag Panchami today: Devotees of Lord Shiva have been tweeting wishes and prayers
Nag Panchami today: The day is significant for devotees of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. On this day, in the month of Sawan, devotees pray to the Naga Devta or the snake god. Idols and pictures of Lord Shiva are incomplete without a snake around his neck. Shiva is is also known as Nageshwar and the snake that coils around his neck, just like an ornament, is called Vasuki.
Snakes have long been linked with many Gods in Hindu mythology. The 'snake with six heads' or 'Sheshnag' was the vehicle of Lord Vishnu and according to some scriptures, the world rests on the head of the Sheshnag
Nag Panchami is one of the oldest festivals celebrated across India, during the rainy season. Nag Panchami is also known as Nag Chaturthi or Nagul Chavithi. In Gujarat, Nag Panchami is observed few days after most states and this year it will be observed on August 8. In Andhra Pradesh, the puja is done just after Diwali.
Nag Panchami 2020 date and timings
Nag Panchami Date: Saturday, 25 July 2020
Puja Muhurat: 05:39 AM to 08:22 AM
Duration: 2 Hours 44 minutes
Panchami Tithi begins at 02:34 PM on Jul 24, 2020
Panchami Tithi ends at-12:02 PM on Jul 25, 2020
(Source: drikpanchang.com)
Nag Panchami puja
The main ritual is offering milk to the Nag Devta or the snake god. Offering milk to snakes is an old tradition in India on panchami tithi and it is said that the ritual keeps evil away. Many also observe fast on that day. Food made with milk as a key ingredient is also offered as prashad to the god.
People are known to make snake idols with clay at home for puja. Milk, turmeric, kumkum and flowers are used for puja. Flowers and milk are also kept near the burrows and holes where snakes may be found.
Nag Panchami and mythology
According to Hindu scriptures Lord Shiva's snake Vasuki took part in the Samudra Manthan, that explains the origin of amrita or the nectar of immortality. Vasuki helped both the devas and the asuras to bind him to Mount Mandara or Mandar Parvat so that they could use him as their churning rope to get the amrita from the ocean. Vasuki is mentioned extensively in Hindu scriptures and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
In the Buddhist mythology, Vasuki and the other snake gods appear in the audience when Gautama Buddha gave his sermons. In India, devotees pray to several snake gods on Nag Panchami. Some among them are Ananta, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Kaliya and Vasuki.