Naga Panchami 2020: Worship of Naga Devata

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Naga Panchami is an auspicious Indian festival dedicated to the snake-God or Naga Devata. This festival is celebrated on Shukla Paksha Panchami of the holiest Shravan Maas, which usually falls around July –August every year and thus this festival got its name. This Naga Panchami is more auspicious as it falls on Shravan som var (Saturday, 25 July 2020). It is usually celebrated two days after Haryali Teej. On this day the snake God or Naga Devata is worshiped and milk is offered to him. You were surprised to know that on Nag Panchami we worship 5 headed snakes on this day is actually five daughters of Lord Shiva as written in Shiv Puran. Very few people know about these facts.

Origin and History of Naga Panchami

No one has specific information regarding the exact origin of the Naga Panchami festival. On this day, people who followed Hindu rituals and customs worship snakes God but we are uncertain about the fact that from where all these actually began.

Worshipping of reptiles may appear strange to people and they may feel creepy, but it completely normal when looked from Hindus' prospective. The snake has been associated with many gods in Hindu mythology. The Sheshnag all the snake with six head was the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. the world according to Hindu mythology rest on the head of Sheshnag, and it is believed that when he shakes his head we have an earthquake.

Not only Hindu but also ancient Egyptians worshipped a number of snake gods. In Australia also the aboriginal people worship huge python.

According to historians, the Indus Valley civilization of 3000 B.C. gives ample proof of the tradition of snake-worship amongst the Nagas.

The custom of snake-worship is believed to have come from the Naga clan.

 The Theurveda provides a very specific origin of snake-worship; the Samhita of this Veda contains prayers to the Sarpas or snakes, who are referred to as the denizens of heaven, the skies, the rays of the sun, the waters, and the likes.


According to the Brahmanas which is a part of the Samhita part of the ancient text of Yajurveda, invocations are referred to serpents, and sacrifices are offered for their acceptance. Carved figures of snakes can also be found on the walls of many

Hindu temples from the medieval era. Some images of snake worship rituals can also be spotted in the world-famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora.

The mention of the Nagas and Sarpas is also found in the Mahabharata. In the sacred Hindu text of Bhagavad Gita, one may witness how Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that Vasuki and Ananta represent him amongst the Sarpas and Nagas.

Naga Panchami Importance

The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated because there is tremendous rainfall during the month of Shravan. Because of this, during this time, snakes often come out of their bill because of rain that fills their bill with water. They can kill humans to save themselves.

To prevent this, the festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated. On this day, snakes are fed with milk. It is believed that snakes have a sharp memory and remember the faces of people who harm them. When the snakes avenge it, they also harm the family members of that person. So to please them, serpents were worshipped on this day.

It is believed that any Puja offered to snakes would reach the Snake God. Thus, people worship live snakes on this auspicious day as a representative of the Snake God.
There are several Snake Gods, the following twelve are the following:-

12 Names of Snake Gods for Naga Panchami

1. Ananta
2. Vasuki
3. Shesha
4. Padma
5. Kambala
6. Karkotaka
7. Ashvatara
8. Dhritarashtra
9. Shankhapala
10. Kaliya
11. Takshaka
12. Pingala

Naga Panchami Mantra

Before the beginning of the puja on Naga Panchami day, reciting this mantra as many times as possible is considered very beneficial and will set the right tone for performing this vrat.
Naga Panchami Mantra before beginning Puja


Anantham Vasukim Sesham Padmanabham Cha Kambalam;

Shankapalam Dhartharashtram Thakshakam Kaliyam Thatha;
Ethani Nava Namani Naganaam Cha Mahatmanam;
Sayamkale Pathennithyam Pratahkale Viseshata;
Thasmai Vishabhyam Naasthi Sarvatra Vijayee Bhavet.

After chanting this mantra, sankalpam for the vratha is done, followed by the fast and the puja. Naga Devata idol is bathed and milk is offered as Naivedya. The Ksheerabhishek is followed by the Jalabhishek, and puja is performed with sandal, flowers, incense, deepa, dhupa, sweest, fruits, etc. the following mantra should be chanted during puja;


Sarva Naagam Preeyatham May Ye Kechith Pruthwithale;
Ye Cha Helimarichistha Yenarthe Divi Samsthitha.
Ye Nadeeshu Mahnaaga Ye Saraswati Gaamina;
Ye Cha Vaapee Thadaageshu Theshu Sarveshu Vai Namah.

This mantra is usually followed by the Gayatri Mantra, which should be chanted as much as one possibly can.

In Ujjain, at the famous Mahakaleshwar Mandir, there is the Nagchandreshwar Mahadev on the third floor of this temple. On Naga Panchami day, the doors to this deity are opened which is followed by a huge celebration throughout the city.

Snakes also occupy a very significant space in Hindu Mythology as they are also considered to be the resident of the Pataal Loka or the Naga Loka. The ancient scriptures treat Snakes as a community; Mansa Devi also known as the Snake Goddess is specially offered prayers on this holy day. Her temple is on a hilltop in the Haridwar area.

Significance of Naga Panchami

Since, the word Naga means snakes and the word Panchami means the fifth day, on this day, Snakes who have a lot of holy importance are offered milk, rice and are prayed to for protection to the family and the clan.
This day is devoted to Lord Shiva and Vishnu

In Southern India, Naga Panchami is celebrated and puja is performed in order to strengthen the bond between a brother and a sister.

On the day of nag Panchami plowing and digging are prohibited on earth.

It is said that on the day of Nag Panchami, do not put an iron pan on fire or cook food on the iron pan on this day or there may be great harm

Snakes were considered holy in Hindu mythology and scripture held holy references in Hindu mythology and scriptures. It is a symbol of wisdom, death resurrection, fertility, etc.

Snakes are associated with most of the Hindu god.it is believed that praying to them on this day protects a person from unnecessary fears in life and brings good health, wealth, prosperity, and peace in life. Spiritually as well, this is considered to be an extremely auspicious day.

Legend of Samudra Manthan

Another myth that goes with the festivity is that of the Samudra Manthan or the churning of the sea. During the Samudra Manthan, Lord Shiva drank all the poison that came out from the churning of the sea. But during this whole process, few drops fell on the ground and were drunk by snakes. The people, therefore, pray to the snakes so that their families and they themselves are protected from their wrath

Lord Shiva’s Snake

There is also a snake who adorns the neck of Lord Shiva and has a lot of spiritual significance attached to it too. It clings on to Lord Shiva’s neck in three coils which is an indication of the past, the present, and the future. It also signifies that the Shakti (power) or the kundalini energy that finally dances around Lord Shiva, while he is omnipresent and static. A five hooded Snake also surrounds the Shiva lingam again as an indication of the culmination and the protection of the yin and yang energies; also a depiction of the materialistic and the spiritual aspect combination.