CA.kaya

Chartered accountant

3990 Points Joined April 2009

thank u.. and wish u the same ..

b.sreenivasa rao

Employee

445 Points Joined October 2008

thanx and wish u the same

Akhil Gupta

Manager F&A

856 Points Joined August 2007

Naga Panchami is dedicated to the worship of Nagas, or Snakes, and is an important festival in India in Sravan month. Naga Panchami 2010 date is August 14. Nagas are worshipped in Hindu religion and snakes are always depicted with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, two of the most popular Gods in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu lies on Snake Ananta in the milky ocean and Lord Shiva has snakes as ornament and this close association has deep symbolic meaning.

Naga Panchami is observed in eastern parts of India on all the fifth day in Ashar and Shravan lunar fortnights. The most important Naga Panchami, which is observed through out India, falls on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Shravan month. In Gujarat, the festival is observed 15 days later.

Manasa Devi, the snake goddess, is worshipped on this day in Bengal, Orissa and several parts of North India. Special idols of Goddess Manasa are made and are worshipped. Nagaraja, Ananta and other Snake deities are worshipped on the day in other regions.

People also observe Naga Panchami Vrata on the day – some Hindu communities fast during the daytime and eat food only after sunset. Some people avoid salt and deep fried on the day. Some people fast on Naga Chaturthi day, which falls a day before.

Some Hindu communities in South India have an elaborate oil bath on the day. There is a belief that unmarried women who undertake Naga Panchami Vrat and do the puja to Nagas will get good husbands.

Popular belief is that Lord Krishna defeated snake Kaliya on Naga Panchami day. The monsoon season is at is peak during the period (July – August) and snakes move out of their burrows, which are filled with water, and occupy spaces frequented by human beings. So it is widely believed that Naga Panchami is observed to please the Nagas and avoid snake bites during this season.

In many places, two idols of snakes are drawn on both sides of doors using cow dung on the day. Five-hooded idols are worshipped in many regions. The idol of five-hooded snake is made using mud, turmeric, sandal and saffron.

Please Don't Feed Milk To Snakes

Milk is offered to the snake idols on Naga Panchami. In some extreme form of worship people feed live cobras – offering milk and eggs to the snakes, especially to cobras near snake pits. Some people also decorate snake pits, known as Valmeekam or Puttu. Snake charmers also bring cobras to villages and towns which are fed with milk by devotees. Such practices should not be encouraged as it endangers the life of snakes.

Forcefully feeding snakes, pouring milk into snake pits and bursting crackers should be discouraged. This only leads to the death of snakes. Snakes don’t drink milk but the practice has been encouraged by popular beliefs.

Worship of Nagas is a constant reminder to humans to live in harmony with Nature. And the ideal way to worship Nagas is by protecting the forests and grooves that are home of snakes and other animals.

Akhil Gupta

Manager F&A

856 Points Joined August 2007

Naga Panchami Myths

Nag Panchami festival observed in India during the Shravan month is a classic example of Hinduism’s deep rooted connections with Nature. Local folklore in India is full of stories associated with Nagas or Snakes. In South, the Nag Panchami festival legends revolve around the brother sister relationship. An important ritual in South Indian on the day include rubbing of milk or ghee on the back, spine and navel of brothers by sisters.

An important story or Nag Panchami Katha goes like this. Once a young girl asks her brother to get some Ketaki flower for Naga Puja. Screwpine or Ketaki is used to worship Nagaraja (Snake God). But unfortunately the brother who went in search of Ketaki is bitten by a snake and is killed. The sister then prays and performs Vrata and propitiates Nagaraja and the brother is brought back to life.

There are numerous such stories in local folklore and in most stories the sister resurrects the dead brother. Thus on the Nag Panchami day in some regions the brother visits his married sister and she applies milk or ghee on the back, spine and navel of the brother and she prays for his long life. The rubbing of milk symbolically reminds the umbilical connection.

Another popular legend is that during the Samdura Manthan (churning of ocean), Lord Shiva drank the poison ‘halahala’ and stored it in his throat to save the world. But a few drops fell on the ground and the snakes are believed to carry it around still. People propitiate the Nagas (Snakes) on the day to avoid snake bites and also as a thanksgiving for not letting the poison spread on earth. It is believed that the Samdura Manthan episode mentioned in the Puranas happened in the Shravan month.

Akhil Gupta

Manager F&A

856 Points Joined August 2007

On August 14 along with Naga Panchami there is KALKI JYANTI also.

Kalki Jayanti celebrates the expected arrival of Kalki, the tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In 2010, the date Kalki Jayanti is August 14 in India. It is believed that in Kali Yuga, the present Era, Lord Vishnu will appear for the total annihilation of evil and the establishment of ‘Dharma.’ Vishnu devotees believe it will take place on the sixth day in the bright fortnight of Shravan month.

The Kalki Jyanthi is a unique observance as it celebrates the arrival of Lord Vishnu in future. It is also believed that Kalki Avatar will totally destroy the present world.

Since the world has gone utterly corrupt with adharmic activities, it is believed the Kalki Avtar will bring an end to the present cycle of the universe and after a span of darkness creation will begin once again.

There is also a certain section in Hindu society that believes that the avatar has already taken place. Kalki Purana narrates about the Kalki incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is said in Bhagavad Purana that he will appear in Sambhala village.

It must be noted here that all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu was not in human form and it is believed that he can appear in any form – unimaginably small to unimaginably big. So what is going to appear in Sambhala Village can be a ‘virus’ that might wipe out the entire human race similar to what happened to Dinosaurs.

Kalki is usually depicted riding a horse with a drawn sword. Lightning, thunder, heavy rain and harsh sun are frequently associated with this avatar. Symbolically, the ancient seers are indicating the destruction of Nature, which sustains life or a method Nature might use in its eternal flow to annihilate unwanted elements, which unfortunately is the human beings.

Santhosh Poojary

SIEMPRE AHÍ PARA TI

15607 Points Joined December 2008

Originally posted by : Akhil Gupta
	Naga Panchami is dedicated to the worship of Nagas, or Snakes, and is an important festival in India in Sravan month. Naga Panchami 2010 date is August 14. Nagas are worshipped in Hindu religion and snakes are always depicted with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, two of the most popular Gods in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu lies on Snake Ananta in the milky ocean and Lord Shiva has snakes as ornament and this close association has deep symbolic meaning. Naga Panchami is observed in eastern parts of India on all the fifth day in Ashar and Shravan lunar fortnights. The most important Naga Panchami, which is observed through out India, falls on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Shravan month. In Gujarat, the festival is observed 15 days later. Manasa Devi, the snake goddess, is worshipped on this day in Bengal, Orissa and several parts of North India. Special idols of Goddess Manasa are made and are worshipped. Nagaraja, Ananta and other Snake deities are worshipped on the day in other regions. People also observe Naga Panchami Vrata on the day – some Hindu communities fast during the daytime and eat food only after sunset. Some people avoid salt and deep fried on the day. Some people fast on Naga Chaturthi day, which falls a day before. Some Hindu communities in South India have an elaborate oil bath on the day. There is a belief that unmarried women who undertake Naga Panchami Vrat and do the puja to Nagas will get good husbands. Popular belief is that Lord Krishna defeated snake Kaliya on Naga Panchami day. The monsoon season is at is peak during the period (July – August) and snakes move out of their burrows, which are filled with water, and occupy spaces frequented by human beings. So it is widely believed that Naga Panchami is observed to please the Nagas and avoid snake bites during this season. In many places, two idols of snakes are drawn on both sides of doors using cow dung on the day. Five-hooded idols are worshipped in many regions. The idol of five-hooded snake is made using mud, turmeric, sandal and saffron. Please Don't Feed Milk To Snakes Milk is offered to the snake idols on Naga Panchami. In some extreme form of worship people feed live cobras – offering milk and eggs to the snakes, especially to cobras near snake pits. Some people also decorate snake pits, known as Valmeekam or Puttu. Snake charmers also bring cobras to villages and towns which are fed with milk by devotees. Such practices should not be encouraged as it endangers the life of snakes. Forcefully feeding snakes, pouring milk into snake pits and bursting crackers should be discouraged. This only leads to the death of snakes. Snakes don’t drink milk but the practice has been encouraged by popular beliefs. Worship of Nagas is a constant reminder to humans to live in harmony with Nature. And the ideal way to worship Nagas is by protecting the forests and grooves that are home of snakes and other animals.

Santhosh Poojary

SIEMPRE AHÍ PARA TI

15607 Points Joined December 2008

Originally posted by : Akhil Gupta
	Naga Panchami is dedicated to the worship of Nagas, or Snakes, and is an important festival in India in Sravan month. Naga Panchami 2010 date is August 14. Nagas are worshipped in Hindu religion and snakes are always depicted with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, two of the most popular Gods in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu lies on Snake Ananta in the milky ocean and Lord Shiva has snakes as ornament and this close association has deep symbolic meaning. Naga Panchami is observed in eastern parts of India on all the fifth day in Ashar and Shravan lunar fortnights. The most important Naga Panchami, which is observed through out India, falls on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Shravan month. In Gujarat, the festival is observed 15 days later. Manasa Devi, the snake goddess, is worshipped on this day in Bengal, Orissa and several parts of North India. Special idols of Goddess Manasa are made and are worshipped. Nagaraja, Ananta and other Snake deities are worshipped on the day in other regions. People also observe Naga Panchami Vrata on the day – some Hindu communities fast during the daytime and eat food only after sunset. Some people avoid salt and deep fried on the day. Some people fast on Naga Chaturthi day, which falls a day before. Some Hindu communities in South India have an elaborate oil bath on the day. There is a belief that unmarried women who undertake Naga Panchami Vrat and do the puja to Nagas will get good husbands. Popular belief is that Lord Krishna defeated snake Kaliya on Naga Panchami day. The monsoon season is at is peak during the period (July – August) and snakes move out of their burrows, which are filled with water, and occupy spaces frequented by human beings. So it is widely believed that Naga Panchami is observed to please the Nagas and avoid snake bites during this season. In many places, two idols of snakes are drawn on both sides of doors using cow dung on the day. Five-hooded idols are worshipped in many regions. The idol of five-hooded snake is made using mud, turmeric, sandal and saffron. Please Don't Feed Milk To Snakes Milk is offered to the snake idols on Naga Panchami. In some extreme form of worship people feed live cobras – offering milk and eggs to the snakes, especially to cobras near snake pits. Some people also decorate snake pits, known as Valmeekam or Puttu. Snake charmers also bring cobras to villages and towns which are fed with milk by devotees. Such practices should not be encouraged as it endangers the life of snakes. Forcefully feeding snakes, pouring milk into snake pits and bursting crackers should be discouraged. This only leads to the death of snakes. Snakes don’t drink milk but the practice has been encouraged by popular beliefs. Worship of Nagas is a constant reminder to humans to live in harmony with Nature. And the ideal way to worship Nagas is by protecting the forests and grooves that are home of snakes and other animals.