Legends Behind Celebrating Nag Panchami

A number of tales and legends are attributed for the celebration of Nag Panchami. The following are a few.

A Farmer and A Serpent

According to one tale, a farmer had accidentally killed few little serpents, whose enraged mother serpent avenged their death by biting and killing the farmer and his family members. However, one of his daughters, who was worshiping the Nagas is believed to have been spared from the snake. The daughter’s devotion towards the snake gods is said to have revived the farmer and the others back to life. Since then, people all over India has been celebrating Nag Panchami seeking to get  protected from the snake bites.

Lord Krishna And Kalia Naga

Yet another popular legend pertains to the victory of Lord Krishna over the evil snake king Kaliya. According to Hindu Mythology, the evil five headed snake Kaliya once lived in River Yamuna. He would often scare and endanger the lives of Vrindavan’s residents. One day, the young Krishna and his friends happened to play near the river banks. The ball with which they were playing, got struck to a tree by the side of River Yamuna. When Krishna attempted to retrieve the ball back, he slipped and fell into the river. Kaliya, who was waiting for someone as prey, started attacking him, but failed to win over the little boy. Krishna then happened to perform “Kaliya nardhana” (divine dance on Kaliya) on the snake king. Having understood that he wasn’t an ordinary boy, Kaliya pleaded Krishna not to kill him. Krishna later revealed his true identity to Kaliya and spared him from punishing, on the condition that Kaliya wouldn’t harass the people anymore. People who had witnessed this divine event started celebrating Nag Panchmi then on, as a mark of Lord Krishna’s victory over the serpent Kaliya.

Another ritual for the protection of brothers is also celebrated on this day.

-Radhika T V