Nagula Chavithi 2024

Nagula Chavithi – The Worship of Snake Gods

Serpents are worshipped in the form of demi-gods by the devotees across our country twice a year. The fourth day in the month of Sravanam (Chavithi) and the month of Kartika are celebrated as Nagula Chavithi.

Nagula Chavithi 2024

The next days of these respective months are Garuda Panchami and Naga Panchami.

The worship of serpents is considered a dutiful prayer to obtain health, wealth, vitality and good children. Especially for farmers, snakes are considered their benefactors as they protect the crops from rats and other creatures. They also pray to them very reverentially to protect them from their anger in case they hurt the snakes inadvertently.

The worship of the snake gods has been amply described not only in ancient literature but also in traditional paintings, art and culture. There are two forms of adoring the snake-gods. They are prayed in the form of a statue installed in a temple, mostly under the tree or in their natural habitations called snake pits. During these festive days, devotees offer milk, eggs, a sweet made of jaggery and ‘til’ or sesame seeds to the snake gods.

They decorate the snake pits with turmeric, kumkum and flowers. The two major ‘doshas’ are attributed to the snake god when He is angry. They are Naga Dosha and Kalasarpa Dosha. It is believed if any ancestor killed the snake and its siblings, the members of his family would become childless.

Rahu represents the head of a snake and Ketu represents the tail. They are worshipped to avoid delay in the marriage of children and childbirth.

Nagula Chavithi – History

Kashyapa married two daughters of Prajapati Daksha, named Kadru and Vinata. While granting boons, he asked his wives what type of children they desired. Kadru requested her husband to get many number of valiant children. As per her wish, she became the mother of the Naga race. The names of major Nagas are Sesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, Astika and Kaaliya.

Lord Sesha also known as Adisesha formed as a bed for Lord Vishnu when the Lord takes rest in the Ocean of Milk. It is believed that he bears the universe on his thousand hoods. Whenever Lord Vishnu took incarnations of Rama to protect ‘dharma,’ Adisesha also took the form of Laxmana in Tretayuga. Vasuki is associated with Lord Shiva.

He also helped the Devatas and Asuras during the churning of the Milky Ocean. He was used as a rope to get ambrosia for immortality.

Ksheera Sagara Madhanam (Churning of the Milky Ocean) - Goddess Lakshmi

Takshaka is the valiant form of all snake gods. He was the king of Khandava Forest. In retaliation for Arjuna’s act of burning the woods, he slays his grandson. Astika is another famous snake god and is the son of Jaratkaru and Manasa. He protected the Nagas at the instance of his mother when Janamejaya conducted ‘yagna’ to destroy the entire clan of the serpents in revenge for Takshaka killing his father Parikshit.

The recital of Manasa Devi Stotram is said to ward off evil from the snakes. The great Yoga Sutras were written by Patanjali, who is the incarnation of Adisesha. They are for awakening the Kundalini Shakti through practice. The Seven Chakras represent the shape of a snake and one is said to have attained the same if one completes all the Chakras.

Nagula Chavithi – Performance of Puja

In the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva explained to Parvathi how to perform the prayers on the day of Nagula Chavithi or Naga Panchami. The devotees have to wake up early in the morning, take a head bath and draw pictures of snakes on either side of the threshold.

They should pray to them with reverence. People also go to the snake pits, decorate them and pray to the snake gods to protect them, their children and family. It is believed that a prayer to the snake-gods gives growth in the family and the removal of diseases, especially earaches.

This is one festival which is participated by elders, children, men and women irrespective of creed and belief. One can see the gods in physical form when one worships snake gods. The snakes have more powers than human beings because they are associated with Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Subrahmanya and Mother Manasa Devi.

Nava Naga Strotram

Anantam, Vasukim, Sesam,
Padmanabham cha Kambalam |
Sankhapalam, Dhrtarastram,
Taksakam, Kaliyam tatha |

If one chants the Nava Naga Strotram, the snake-gods will be pleased and they bless the devotees with children, protect the family, remove all worries and grant success in all their efforts.

The Significance of Naga Chathurthi & Garuda Panchami

Naga Chathurthi & Garuda Panchami

Naga Chathurthi or Garuda Panchami is one of the most significant festivals of the Hindus. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Garuda, an ardent devotee and the divine vehicle of Lord Vishnu.

  • On Sravana suddha Panchami, Garuda Panchami is being performed.
  • Naga Chathurthi is a very ancient festival and women observe the day as a ritualistic day by observing fast and praying for the prosperity and welfare of their children.

It is a common sight to see the icons of Sesha Naag in a slab form under the tree ‘Asvattha’ in all the temples of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva worshipped by women. Devotees feed the snakes with milk, yoghurt and honey through the opening of the ant hill and also worship it as well as circumambulate it.

During the Brahmotsavams in Tirumala, Malayappa Swami and His Consorts are taken in procession on Sesha and Garuda. On the day of Naga Chathurthi, snakes or their idols or their pictures are honoured and worshipped as they preserve environmental balance and protection. According to mythology, ploughing fields are forbidden on the auspicious occasion to save the snakes and their progeny.

Chinna Sesha Vahana Seva

Periya Thiruvadi

On the auspicious day of Garuda Panchami Sri Garudalwar, who is also called with the name ‘Periya Thiruvadi’ is worshipped with devotion and piety. This worship is done by women for the betterment of their children for their bravery and boldness.

The newly-married couples perform their worship for their bright and happy married life.

Lord Vishnu has Adisesha as his couch and Garuda its arch enemy as his vehicle. It shows that Lord Vishnu is the Lord of Balance and Harmony which is an essential quality for one responsible for sustaining the multifarious universe. He is described as Vishnuratha, Amritaharana, Suvarna-kaya, Gaganeswara, Rasaayana, Pakshiraaja Uragaasana and Saalmalistha. In the Rigveda, Lord Garuda is known as Tarkshya.

In the X chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna enumerates His effulgent existence in the forms of various living and non-living beings in the creation at the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

He says:

Ayudhanamaham vajram, Dhenunamasmi kamadhenuk / Prajanascasmi kandarpah Sarpanamasmi vasukih// (The Gita:10-28.)

(Of weapons I am the thunderbolt. Of cows, the wish fulfilling Kamadhenu. Of progenitors, I am Cupid and of serpents I am Vasuki.)

He further says:

Ananthascasmi naganam/Varuno yadasamaham/ Pitrnamaryama casmi casmi yamah/ Samyamatamaham// (10-29)

(Of Nagas I am Anantha. Of Water-Gods, I am Varuna. Of the ancestors, I am Aryama and of those who punish and reward I am Yama).

He remarks: Prahladascasmi daityanam, Kalahkalayatamaham ‘Mrganam ca mrgendro’ ham vainateyasca pakshinam// (10-30) (Of demons’ progeny, I am Prahlada. Of calculators, I am time. Of animals, I am the lion and of birds, Garuda.)

Sloka

Namah pannaganaddhaaya vaikunta vasavardhineh
Sruti-sindhu Sudhothpaada-mandaraaya Garutmathe

I bow to Lord Garuda, the One with the beautiful wings, whose limbs are adorned by the mighty serpents, who he has conquered in battle. I bow to the One who is forever in the devotion of Lord Vishnu. He is as adept as the Mandara Mountain, in churning the ocean of the Vedas, capturing the very essence of their wisdom.

Lord Vishnu on Adisesha

Lord Vishnu reclining on Adisesha with closed lids is a common scene in many Hindu Temples. He is also called Lord Sesha-sayee, Lord Padmanaabha and Lord Ranganaatha. According to the Mahabharata, Lord Adisesha, who is Omnipresent and Eternal, holds the entire world on his head.

Lord Vishnu - Karthika Masam
Our Puranas mention that Adisesha approached Lord Vishnu reclining on the waters of the Milky Ocean and offered his services to the great Lord. He employed his body as a cot for him and spread his hoods on his head as a shade.

 

He is also identified with the firstborn child of Kasyapa the son of Marichi by Kadruva the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Kadruva gave birth to one thousand serpents of which Adisesha was the eldest.

The other significant children are

  • Vaasuki,
  • Airaavata,
  • Takshaka,
  • Kaarkootaka,
  • Kateeya,
  • Kalmaasha,
  • Nahusha,
  • Kunjara,
  • Kumuda and
  • Kumudaaksha.

The word Ananta means endless or infinite and it is one of the names of Lord Vishnu. In Kukke Subrahmanya Swami temple in Karnataka, Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped as Lord of all Serpents. As the legend goes when Vaasuki and other serpents were threatened by Lord Garuda they sought refuge under Lord Subhramanya.

Before starting the worship on Naga Chathurthi day, it is customary to remember all the divine serpents celebrated in the Puranas and worship them with obeisance.

Anantam Vaasukim Sesham Padma Kambalakau tathaa |
Kaarkotakam Naagam Bhujasavatarau tathaa |
Dhritaraashtram Sankhapaalam Kaaleeyam Taksahkam Tathaa |
Pingalam cha Mahaanaagam sapatneekam prapoojayet ||

Rahu and Ketu

The two shadows of the ‘grahas’ namely Rahu and Ketu are often represented as snakes. They have a huge influence on the mind.

To achieve Moksha one has first to stabilize one’s mind properly. Naga Chathurthi Pooja is aimed at reaching this goal. It is on Sravana Sukla Panchami Garuda brought the pot of Nectar after a great struggle to release his mother with a great fight risking his life. This day is a day of celebration of affection between a mother and her child.

It is the celebration of the bond between a mother and a child. Naga Chathurthi or Garuda Panchami is observed with reverence and piety by married women for the better health and future of their children. They pray to Lord Garuda to make their children as bold, strong and sharp as Garuda.

Garuda Statue, Alipiri (The Significance of Naga Chathurthi & Garuda Panchami)
There is a huge gigantic statue of Garuda in Alipiri, on the way to Tirumala with folded hands resembles – “I am here to move forward all your requisitions to Lord Venkateswara”.

This Worship is observed by newly-wed couples for their married bliss and prosperous life. If any Naga Dosham is found for any of the family members, it is believed that the Dosham will get vanished if the Garuda Panchami vratam is to be performed.

Garuda Vahana seva

Garuda Vahanaseva to Sri Venkateswara Swami is more special among all the Vahanasevas performed during Tirumala Srivari Brahmotsavam. Every month on the Poornima day, Garuda Vahana Seva will be performed to Sri Malayappa Swami. Lord will come out in a procession in Mada streets on this day to bless the devotees.

PUNNAMI GARUDA SEVA - Tirumala

Let the devotees be blessed by the Nagas and Garuda in their lives to attain spiritual bliss and salvation.

Garuda Panchami

Garuda Panchami in Tirumala temple

On the day of Garuda Panchami, special worshiping is being conducted for Garuthmantha, who has an inseparable relationship with Tirumala Hills. In the evening, Sri Malayappa Swamy is taken out in a procession on Garuda Vahana around four Mada Streets.

statue of Garuthmantha
The statue of Garuthmantha in Namaskara posture (Folded hands) opposite to Sri Venkateswara Swamy in the Gantamandapam of Anandanilayam.

GARUDA PANCHAMI VRATAM

According to saying “Vedamaya Vihangeswaraha” Garuthmantha is said to be an image of Veda. There is an interesting story behind the commencement and celebration of Garuda Panchami Vratam in the name of Garuthmantha.

Maharshi Kasyapa had two wives called Vinatha and Kadruva. Garuthmantha is the son of Vinatha. Those, who were born to Kadruva are called Sarparajas.

Garuthmantha – Winning over Indra and Others

Once, there occurred a competition between Vinatha and Kadruva. According to this, the loser in the competition should do slavery for the winner. As such, Vinatha was defeated in the said competition and started doing services as a slave to Kadruva.

Garuthmantha, who was known for his great strength and power, decided to look for the various ways by which he could free his mother Vinatha from slavery, finally, he decided to go to Swarga Lokam and bring Amrutham from Indra on the advice of Narada Maharshi.

In his attempt to bring Amrutham from Swarga lokam, Garuthmantha fought with all those, who tried to prevent him including Indra. Defeating them he brought Amrutham for his stepmother Kadruva and thus freed his mother Vinatha from slavery. The day on which Garuthmantha brought Amrutha from Swarga Lokam to free his mother from slavery is Sravana Shukla Panchami.

Further, it is believed that it is also the Birthday of Garuthmantha and as such, the Vratham is celebrated in memory of Garuthmantha.

Garuda
The natural mountain resembles the GARUDA. It is situated on the way to Tirupati from Tirumala.

The procedure of the Vratham

This Vratham is to be celebrated by all married women who have brothers. While celebrating this vratham, these women have to lay rangoli with rice flour in the sacred place of worship pour some rise in the middle, and establish a statue of Adishesha, which is made of Gold / Silver / Copper or even mud.

And, under the hood of this Adishesha, the image of Gouri Devi, which is made out of turmeric powder should be kept. At first, these women should perform Lord Vinayaka followed by the Phani Gouri Devi, and offer Naivedyam.

Later, they have to prepare Thoranam and wear it to the Right Hand. While wearing the Thoranam, they should read the following Slokam.

“PHANI GOURI
NAMOSTUTE
KAILASA NILAYE STHITE
LOKAMAATRNAMASTUBHYAM SOUBHAGYAM
DEHIME SADA”

After that, they should read out the story of Vratham and thus end the Vratham. Further, they have to give Tambulams to the women and get their blessings.

Like this, the Garuda Panchami Vratham should be followed for Ten years. By observing this Vratham all sorts of goodness will be there with families of either side and the Sowbhagyam of women will remain for a long period.

Specialty of the Vratham

If we carefully observe this process of the Vratham, we find that the name is that of Garuthmantha while the worship is only to the Adishesha. There is enmity between the king of the snakes and Garuthmantha, but on the day of Garuda Panchami, worshiping Adisesha is as good as worshiping the enemy.

But this teaches us a moral that we have to treat everyone with equal value and thus spread goodness among the people.

KUNKUMAANKIGA VARNAAYA KUNDENDU
DHAVALAAYACH
VISHNUVAAHA! NAMASTHUBHYAM
PAKSHIRAAJAAYATHE NAMAHA!!

*Data Source – Saptagiri Magazine