look news india
In Hindu religion, Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month has special spiritual and religious significance, which is celebrated with great devotion as Nag Panchami. This year, this holy festival of Nag Panchami has brought a very special coincidence, because this day is also the Monday of Sawan. According to religious beliefs, snake deity is considered to be the ultimate ornament of Lord Shiva, hence on this day, by worshiping Lord Mahadev and snake deities together, many types of troubles and defects of life are removed. However, it is very important to keep certain rules and small things in mind during the puja, otherwise mistakes made due to ignorance do not yield the desired results. If you are also thinking of fasting and worshiping on the day of Nag Panchami to get relief from Kalsarp Dosh or Pitra Dosh, then it will be very beneficial for you to know in detail about the important rules, correct worship sequence and precautions related to it.
Whom to worship first: Lord Shiva or the serpent god?
On the day of Nag Panchami, this question often comes in the minds of the devotees that while starting the puja, who should be worshiped first – Lord Shiva or the snake god? In this regard, the clear instruction of the Sanatan scriptures and astrological traditions is that the worship should always be started with Lord Shiva, the controller of the world and the lord of the serpents. Since the snake god adorns the neck of Lord Bholenath and without him the worship of Shiva is considered incomplete, hence first of all the Shivalinga should be anointed with water, Ganga water, milk and Belpatra. Only after pleasing Mahadev, his favorite ornament, Nag Devta (idol, picture or symbol) should be worshipped. By doing this, one gets the joint blessings of both Lord Shiva and the snake god, which brings permanent happiness, peace and prosperity in the family.
Rule 1: Avoid feeding live snakes
There is an ancient tradition of offering milk to the snake god during the worship of Nag Panchami. But in modern times and keeping in mind the rules of wildlife conservation, it is very important to understand that forcibly feeding milk to live snakes brought by snake charmers can prove to be extremely dangerous and fatal for their health. Snake is a reptile and it cannot digest lactose, which can also lead to its death. Therefore, as per the scriptures, worship should always be done of an idol, picture or idol made of silver or copper. You can go to the temple and offer milk and water symbolically or on the picture itself, so that both the environment and living beings can be respected.
Rule 2: Why is digging of land prohibited on the day of Nag Panchami?
According to traditional beliefs and folk culture, one should strictly avoid digging the land or using sharp tools in the fields on the holy day of Nag Panchami. The main reason behind this is that the natural habitat of snakes is underground i.e. in holes. Digging the ground on this day can cause physical injury to the snakes living underground or their young children, which is considered very inauspicious. Apart from this, the month of Sawan is the time of promotion and protection of nature, hence one should express one’s gratitude towards nature by avoiding tasks like cutting trees or digging soil.
Rule 3: Surefire ways to get rid of Kaalsarp and Pitra Dosh
The day of Nag Panchami is no less than a boon for those people who are suffering from Kaal Sarp Dosh or the ill effects of Rahu-Ketu in their horoscope. On this day, it is considered very auspicious to go to Shiva temple and offer a pair of snakes made of silver or copper. Along with this, by chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra regularly and donating food and clothes to the poor, all kinds of material and mental troubles are removed. On this day, follow a sattvik diet and do not allow any kind of negative thoughts or anger to enter your mind, because only with restrained conduct can one attain the full spiritual fruit of worship.
Rule 4: Take special care of puja material and method
The worship of Nag Panchami should be performed with full devotion and correct rituals. After taking bath in the morning, wear clean clothes and take a pledge to fast. Be sure to include paddy lava (kheel) along with flowers, sandalwood, Akshat (rice), turmeric, incense, lamp and naivedya in the puja thali. During the puja, light incense sticks remembering the nine main serpents – Anant, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambal, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshak and Kaliya. At the end, perform aarti with full rituals and pray for the protection and good health of your family. This festival of Nag Panchami not only teaches us religious rituals, but it also gives a beautiful message of living lovingly with the living world and nature.