Introduction:

NAGAPANCHAMI is a very famous festival, celebrated in a humble way towards the end of July every year everywhere in India. Especially in Maharashtra, it’s considered a very important festival which involves praying at the special temples for serpents. On this day of NAGAPANCHAMI, nagas cobras and all snakes are worshipped in the specific Naga temples, with flowers, milk, sweets, lamps and even sacrifices to Nagas or serpent deities made of stone, silver wood or paintings on the wall which are first bathed with water and milk and then worshipped, reciting certain Sanskrit mantras. Now let us peep into the story/legend behind the beginning of this popular national festival for snakes. India is one of the very few countries where NAGAPANCHAMI or serpent festival is celebrated.

What is NAGAPANCHAMI?

The legend behind this festival:

NAGAPANCHAMI is the festival for snakes, celebrated on the fifth day among the fifteen days of the moon’s waxing or waning. Means The special day of the moon’s waning in the lunar Hindu month of Shravana or July/August. 
Hence, this day is called NAGAPANCHAMI Day. 
According to the Hindu puranas, rishi Kashyap, grandson of Brahma married the two daughters of Daksha Prajapathi viz, Kadru and Vinata. Kadru gave birth to the race of Nagas while Vinatha gave birth to Aruna, who became the charioteer of Surya. Besides, Kadru also gave birth to the great eagle Garuda who became the vehicle of Lord Mahavishnu. 
Agni Purana, Narada Purana and Mahabharata give details of the history of snakes, extolling the worship of snakes.

Origin of the story:

In the MAHABHARATA epic, Janamejayan, the son of Parikshit, of the Kuru dynasty was performing the Sarpa Satra or Naga yajna to avenge the death of his father Parikshit who was bitten by Takshaka, the snake king. This was due to the curse of Shrungi, the son of a rishi, around whose neck, Parikshit had put a dead snake when he was in a deep meditative state. Shrungi on seeing this had cursed him that Takshaka, the snake king would bite him within seven days from that day. Parikshit who was in a hunting spree had sought the rishi some water to quench his thirst on his way back to the palace. But as the rishi was in a deep penance or meditative state at his Ashram, he did not pay any heed to his request which angered Parikshit and so he put a dead snake around his neck which the rishi himself didn’t know.  

Takshaka, as per the young rishi’s curse, had bitten Parikshit, on the seventh day by coming in the form of a tiny worm in a fruit in spite of taking so much precaution by sitting in a secluded and well-guarded place and the king died instantly. King Janamejayan wanted to avenge Takshaka and the entire reptile clan for his father’s death. 
Accordingly, a sacrificial fireplace was prepared and a Sarpasatra yaga was commenced by a galaxy of learned sages. The sacrifice, commenced in the august presence of the king Janamejayan, was so powerful that it caused all snakes to come and fall in the flaming yagnakunda. The priests observed that only Takshaka, who had bitten the king had not turned up but, had escaped to the netherworld of Indra, seeking his protection from the yagagni or sacrificial fire! 

Then the priests, as ordered by king Janamejayan, intensified the tempo of reciting the mantras to drag Takshaka to the sacrificial fire. Takshaka had coiled himself around Indra’s chair. King Janamejayan, then ordered the priests to increase the power of recitation to bring both Indra and Takshaka to the fireplace.  The power of the mantras was such that both Indra and Takshaka were soon dragged together towards the sacrificial fire. 

This scared the Gods who appealed to Manasa Devi, the queen of the snakes, to interfere and resolve the crisis soon. She advised the learned rishi Asthika, her younger son, to go to the Yaga site and appeal to the king Janamejayan, to stop the ongoing Sarpasatra and save the life of Takshaka. Then the smart Asthika went to the site of Yagna and praised the king Janamejayan, about his many noble qualities like kindness, magnanimity, good administration, popularity etc. King Janamejaya who was very much impressed and pleased with Astika’s conversation, asked him to seek some boon from him. Then Astika requested the king to stop the Yaga forthwith. King Janamejayan, unhesitatingly consented to stop despite the priest’s strong advice not to relent at his instance. Consequently, the lives of Takshaka and Indra as well as the lives of other snakes were saved/spared. 
The day according to Hindu calendar happens to be the NADI VARDHINI PANCHAMI on the day of Shravana during the monsoon season and the day has been considered a festival day of nagas as their lives have been spared. on this day, it is believed, Indra also went to Manasa Devi temple and worshipped Her devoutly. 
According to Garuda Purana, offering prayers to snakes on this day is considered very auspicious!

NAGAPANCHAMI is celebrated in Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra towards the end of July during the Krishna Paksha being the lunar month of Shravana every year! Idols of snakes are made in silver, wood or stone and given a reverential or ceremonial washing with water or milk and worshipped piously. Even live cobras [whose fangs or poisonous teeth are removed first] are also given similar ceremonial washing with milk or water with the assistance of a snake charmer.  

Conclusion:

This message also carries the victory of good over evil as snakes are considered divine and protective. In addition, this information also emphasizes the importance of feeding the brahmins who perpetuate the Vedas and Puranas and the customary practices from generation to generation flawlessly!

Note: 
Uthungan is the name of the rishi who told king Janamejayan that his father Parikshit was bitten to death by Takshaka the snake king. 
Chanda Bhargava is the Rishi who performed the elaborate Sarpa Satra. 
Asthika is the rishi who requested king Janamejayan to wind up the Sarpasatra yaga and protect the lives of snakes. 
                
This is all about the popular festival NAGAPANCHAMI celebrated in India!

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